zinc plating lowering links

[snowy]

Hello

Sunday afternoon I  had my first try at zinc plating! Its a kit my son got off ebay. I took some photos and I am trying this flikr thingy as well, I feel a head ache coming on.
Anyway, Mrs Snowy wanted her wee lowering so I got some 1" links off ebay, but she wants to try a little lower, don't fancy going as far as 2" so I have made some 1.5" and thought I would try plating instead of painting.
This is one of the polished links before plating.


IMG_0537 by snowy650, on Flickr

Plating tank. With aquarium heater.


IMG_0536 by snowy650, on Flickr

Plating tank with the links in it. Notice the fine bubbles around the suspending wires where they enter the liquid.  This is a good sign, it means plating process is taking place. The zinc comes from the plates at each end of the tank.


IMG_0538 by snowy650, on Flickr

Anther view showing the variable resistor. The instructions show you where the various crocodile clips go according to the surface area of metal you are plating, larger area= more amps required. The power comes from the ancient battery charger or a charged up battery, a modern "thinking" battery tender won't work. The links took just over 4 amps and I left them in for 40 minutes


IMG_0539 by snowy650, on Flickr

I also plated a nail and put it in water with an unplated nail.


IMG_0540 by snowy650, on Flickr

Here they are 24hrs later. Plated nail still bright and shiny, unplated rusty already.


IMG_0542 by snowy650, on Flickr

Finished links hanging up to allow the plating to harden.


IMG_0541 by snowy650, on Flickr

Photo of links after a light polish with sol-vol. I will leave them outside until I fit them to see what happens.


IMG_0543 by snowy650, on Flickr

Thanks to Mrs Snowy for helping with the computer stuff

[Gassoon]

I like it!  I feel a little tingle of excitement and a sudden urge to zinc-plate lots of things...How thick is the plating you achieved , do y'think?

[WeeStromer]

Great work Snowy. I couldn't trust myself with that toy, half the house would be nickle plated.

[greywolf]

Be careful. Starting at about 1-1/8" or 29mm of rear end lowering, the tyre can contact the mudguard at full travel. Also, even in stock condition, the fairing will act as a lifting body at high speed. Increasing the fairing angle of attack by lowering the rear makes it even worse. I would lower the front 19mm as well on most rear lowered V-Stroms. Be aware though, 7-10mm is the maximum with a fork brace on 2007-2011 650s with ABS due to the brake line junction under the lower triple clamp. A Scotts steering stabiliser will prevent tank slappers the high angle of attack can invite but it is expensive.

I even like lowering the front 10-15mm with a stock rear if the clearance is available. That and a fork brace make the bike feel more planted, especially in high or gusty wind conditions, even with the resultant quicker steering. Front lowering is a free and easily reversible modification if the rider doesn't like it.

[snowy]

I like it!  I feel a little tingle of excitement and a sudden urge to zinc-plate lots of things...How thick is the plating you achieved , do y'think?

I don't think it will be more then a few microns thick.

[snowy]

Great work Snowy. I couldn't trust myself with that toy, half the house would be nickle plated.

that's why Mrs Snowy made me do it in the garage.
couldn't use the kitchen as she was making mince pies which were very welcome at the end of the plating session.

[snowy]

Be careful. Starting at about 1-1/8" or 29mm of rear end lowering, the tyre can contact the Mudguard at full travel. Also, even in stock condition, the fairing will act as a lifting body at high speed. Increasing the fairing angle of attack by lowering the rear makes it even worse. I would lower the front 19mm as well on most rear lowered V-Stroms. Be aware though, 7-10mm is the maximum with a fork brace on 2007-2011 650s with ABS due to the brake line junction under the lower triple clamp. A Scotts steering stabiliser will prevent tank slappers the high angle of attack can invite but it is expensive.

I even like lowering the front 10-15mm with a stock rear if the clearance is available. That and a fork brace make the bike feel more planted, especially in high or gusty wind conditions, even with the resultant quicker steering. Front lowering is a free and easily reversible modification if the rider doesn't like it.

Thanks for the information
The front has been lowered but I will check for ABS pipe line clearence although no fork brace is fitted.
Is a "Scotts steering stabiliser" a hydraulic steering damper?

[greywolf]

Thanks for the information
The front has been lowered but I will check for ABS pipe line clearence although no fork brace is fitted.
Is a "Scotts steering stabiliser" a hydraulic steering damper?

A brace is an asset. The Scotts is a hydraulic damper made by Ohlins. http://scottsperformance.com/stabiliser ... _ID=134469

[Juvecu]

I've thought about cleaning up and zinc plating downpipes before. Do you have a link to the eBay item?

[Steve33]

... I feel a head ache coming on.

That'll be the zinc fumes then  

[snowy]

I've thought about cleaning up and zinc plating downpipes before. Do you have a link to the eBay item?

Hi

My son can't remember the name who he got it from as he has had it a year or so but there are some on ebay at the moment try under "zinc electroplating kit". The plating tank with this kit isn't big enough to take downpipes although you could use a plastic washing -up bowl, and I don't know if the heat of the exhaust would upset the plating. The links have been outside for a couple of days now and show no sign of rust. The plated nail in the water is still shiny.

[greywolf]

The exhaust pipes are already stainless steel. Zinc does not hold up well to heat and single wall SS exhausts can get red hot.

[Gassoon]

Guess its back to using the brillo pad, Juv!

[greywolf]

Guess its back to using the brillo pad, Juv!

Don't use anything with steel in it. It will deposit small bits of steel in the surface which alters the chemistry of the stainless, allowing it to rust. Stick to synthetic pads and metal polish.

[snowy]

Hi

Nice and sunny this morning so did some bits to the bikes. Put the zinc plated lowering links onto Mrs Snowy bike, these have been outside in the weather for a couple of weeks and seem none the worst for it.

Difference in length between 1in lower link off Ebay and the one I made.

IMG_1311[1] by snowy650, on Flickr

OEM link on top of other two. Hole centers are 140, 144, 147mm

IMG_1317[1] by snowy650, on Flickr

Link fitted.

IMG_1318[1] by snowy650, on Flickr

Front suspension lowered.

IMG_1319[1] by snowy650, on Flickr

It has lowered the bike by this amount at the end of the back mudguard.

IMG_1324[1] by snowy650, on Flickr

This is how much the bike rises when turning the rear shock adjuster through its full travel.

IMG_1329[1] by snowy650, on Flickr

Will now have to wait for Mrs Snowy's approval before judging this as a success !

[snowy]

Hi

These are the same nails as above after being outside in water for 4 months. The one I plated still looks good, so the plating works


IMG_1722[1] by snowy650, on Flickr

Mrs Snowy likes the height of the bike.

[greywolf]

2007-2011 ABS equipped bikes with fork braces, which are highly recommended, are limited to about 10mm of fork tube raising or the brace can hit the brake line junction box under the lower triple clamp.

[snowy]

2007-2011 ABS equipped bikes with fork braces, which are highly recommended, are limited to about 10mm of fork tube raising or the brace can hit the brake line junction box under the lower triple clamp.

Hi

Thanks greywolf but no forkbrace fitted.

Have you read this for potential disaster.

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