Fork corrosion

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So the bikes been sitting in the garage a long time (many years) unloved.  I'm trying to get her road worthy again to take the kids out (they've never been on a bike despite me owning the Millie their whole life & the oldest being 13!) & then sell before I do any more damage to her.   

The black paint on the forks is seriously peeling off.  Is there a temporary fix I could make to stop things getting worse?  Assume the only true fix is to get the forks anodized?

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skeldol Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List L Plates Joined: 14 May 2018 Status: Offline Points: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote skeldol Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Fork corrosion Posted: 20 Aug 2022 at 19:06
	So the bikes been sitting in the garage a long time (many years) unloved. I'm trying to get her road worthy again to take the kids out (they've never been on a bike despite me owning the Millie their whole life & the oldest being 13!) & then sell before I do any more damage to her. The black paint on the forks is seriously peeling off. Is there a temporary fix I could make to stop things getting worse? Assume the only true fix is to get the forks anodized?

IanG Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Premium Member Joined: 04 Oct 2010 Location: N Wales Status: Offline Points: 10767	Post Options Post Reply Quote IanG Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 Aug 2022 at 01:30
	At least it won't effect the fork action,it's only cosmetic If you wanted you could probably sand down all the corrosion and if the result wasn't too deep maybe build it back with body filler and spray the legs
	www.apworkshops.co.uk www.apriliaforum.co.uk www.apriliaownersclub.co.uk Looking forward to the next track day

redratbike Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group The Collector Messiah Joined: 07 May 2008 Status: Offline Points: 16331	Post Options Post Reply Quote redratbike Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 Aug 2022 at 13:14
	you need to get in there and see how bad it is , lots of people have had this and if it’s too far gone then another fork leg will be needed , it seems to corrode in layers and can be deeper than you realise you can’t get new fork legs now even though it was a common part across piaggio and some ducati’s


constant Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Premium Member Joined: 27 Jun 2014 Location: south london Status: Offline Points: 1072	Post Options Post Reply Quote constant Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 Aug 2022 at 14:04
	I also had this on my mille behind the mud guard it was like someone had hit it with an axe and i had my forks off the other week and it had started on these too so i got it in time a rub down and spray with hammerite smooth satin

skeldol Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List L Plates Joined: 14 May 2018 Status: Offline Points: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote skeldol Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 Aug 2022 at 10:00
	Thanks for the replies everyone.

Stevex Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moto GP Alien Joined: 05 Jul 2016 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 1481	Post Options Post Reply Quote Stevex Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 Aug 2022 at 15:12
	Exfoliation corrosion, very difficult to determine the depth without a) scanning the fork or b) digging down until you hit solid alloy. The only way to fix it is remove every bit of corrosion; with exfoliation that is difficult as it travels along the grain of the metal. Had similar problems when I worked on aircraft. Of course the depth and length could eventually lead to failure. For some reason the Showa forks on the Aprilias are prone to this type of corrosion.
	People say I don't know Jack Sh1t; but I do, he lives next door.

IanG Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Premium Member Joined: 04 Oct 2010 Location: N Wales Status: Offline Points: 10767	Post Options Post Reply Quote IanG Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 Aug 2022 at 12:47
	Ain't that the truth? You think you'll just clean away some powdering and suddenly you have a trench in front of you ,far better to just replace in that case. At least in the case of Showa they're readily available as were fitted to countless makes and models,indeed even the radial versions are popping up cheap these days as people search out Ohlins instead.
	www.apworkshops.co.uk www.apriliaforum.co.uk www.apriliaownersclub.co.uk Looking forward to the next track day