Z1OwnersClub GB

Hello,

I have an 4/1 exhaust on my 1000J which could do with a re-crome. The pipe is solid but has got some general wear & tear. Can anyboby recommend a good 'cromer' ? Also any idea how much this process generally costs?

thanks

Eddie

Angeleddie, it'll be difficult to find a chrome plater who will tackle a used exhaust, they don't like doing 'em once they're sooted up

Angeleddie as pigford said some folk are reluctant to re plate used zorst.
The last i heard some charge ?10 @ inch.
Turnround
Some can take as long as several weeks.
you could try classic chrome 02476683624 (Coventry)
hope this be of help.

Speak to club member MIKEY as he's a professional polisher/plater and he know's his stuff

Phone around the platers, and find out who is going to empty their tanks shortly. They will sometimes put a rotten old set of pipes in last thing before they empty, I doesn't matter that their "fluid" get all contaminated at that stage of the game.

Hi Angeleddie

There an excellent company on the outskirts of Coventry called Marque Restore. speak to owner Alan. I came across them cus they specialize in resto stuff - ie they're not commercial platers who do cash stuff on the side. They're also happy to take in exhausts - even 2 stroke!!
Thing is, it's not gonna be that cheap to re-plate and it's also difficult to prep properly around the collector where the downpipes join, so you might get rust recurring in that area. Might be better to find a good used 4/1 ?? - they're always loads advertised.

I would go for a replacement such as vance and Hines, will work out cheaper than re chrome- Try Z1 Enterprises for V&H very cheap with dollar exchange at present.

Eddie, it'll be less than ?200 delivered, from Jeff at Z Enterprises

Why not strip the chrome off it and paint it with VHT black paint for that race pipe look.

I bought a ratty 'arris on e-bay and got a quote to have it stripped, polished and rechromed. There is a chemical strip required to get the cack out before the platers will touch 'em. It was extremely expensive so I wait 'til they resume making new 'arrises. Twas in escess of five hunded swids for the whole job, but still a couple of hunderd for strip and rechrome. The finish you polish on is the finish you end up with. Many, many years ago during my apprenticeship at British Aerospace, I briefly worked in the plating shop. We only did industrial chrome which wasn't very as shiney like show chrome. We plated copper first, then nickle and then the chrome. The best bath there was the trich bath used for edgreasing, though hanging my zed casings in it would probably cause grief!
The most expensive part of the process, apparently, is the polishing, which can be done at home.
My back mudguard has bubbling chrome but is otherwise in good shape. Just saw a mudguard with a starting price of ?149 on fleabay so I think that re-chroming mine is viable, but I'll give the polishing a go myself.

Ha the old trich bath I remember it well,I did my apprenticeship with Hawker Siddely at Kingston who then became British Aerospace, used the bath a lot,stories abound about a troubled sole who commited suicide in it many moons ago........................didnt even find the bones spooky.
Where were you based? ours only had a good cadmium plating shop and spray shop,excellent place for homers.

Filton near Bristol. Used to be BAC. We had Rolls Royce (aero engines) sort of joined onto the edge of our site. I never quite understood why/how but Bristol Cars were also there as well. Getting stuff cad plated was easy, but there was a greater reluctance to allow bits of bike in the chrome section. I think that management were aware that everyone and his brother had some thing that wanted bright chrome and kept an eye on what was going through. The requirment for three coatings made it a harder thing to slip in and out anyway. We called jobs for ourselves 'foreigners'. There were stories about a chap who leaned over the thrich bath, was overcome by the fumes, fell in and died. Vaguely remember something about only finding the skeleton, but was many years ago and my memories for those days weren't helped by my diet of dope and beer. There were many 'industrial tales' at BAe in those days, especially about what was done to apprentices before my time including one about smearing Micrometer Blue over their nuts, which seemed pretty aweful. I remember a safety lecture where we were told of an apprentice who had been killed by someone sticking an airline up his arse for a joke! Not a pretty picture!

I've just had some stuff done by Marque Restore , the finish was very good but they lost the payment . I sent the stuff to them 1st April , let them have a look at it to check it was feasible , sent payment in early June and received the parts , beautifully polished and packaged , in late Nov. Bit too slow for my liking
Gray

Heres a PARTS WASHER for ?85 http://www.gremlinracetech.com/product/WSH002

I bought a cheap and nasty Clarke job from machine mart. But I'm not impressed by the degreasing power of the jollup they sell to go in it. Is Jizer any better or just more expensive. I have been getting pissed of with the stuff and have been using gun cleaner which makes my wprkshop and house of rthat matter stink and is probably harmful, but it doesn't half work. I haven't put it in the parts washer as it needs to be contained better and I suspect it would destroy the pump - it certainly eats johnny gloves.