Pattern in Chrome on Forks

[drumdoctor]

I have a mystery on my hands...

If you look at the picture I have posted with this post, you will see that there is a pattern in the chrome on the forks of a 2005 Fatboy.

I have tried polish, car wax and steel wool, but nothing affets it.
It is a though the pattern is "IN" the chrome not on it.

The chrome is perfectly smooth--there is no feel to the pattern.

Has anybody ever seen this before or know what it is?
Anyone know how to remove it?

Thanks and happy holidays to all!

[tom w]

I have a mystery on my hands...

If you look at the picture I have posted with this post, you will see that there is a pattern in the chrome on the forks of a 2005 Fatboy.

I have tried polish, car wax and steel wool, but nothing affets it.
It is a though the pattern is "IN" the chrome not on it.

The chrome is perfectly smooth--there is no feel to the pattern.

Has anybody ever seen this before or know what it is?
Anyone know how to remove it?

Thanks and happy holidays to all!

never seen anything like it.

[GARYD]

WTF!!!!! That is gross.

If I had to guess(not being there and seeing it in real life) I'd guess air was infiltrated sometime during the chroming process. Was it like that when you bought the bike(I hope not), was it a replacement, did it just suddenly show up, how long has it been like that- - - - need more info.

[drumdoctor]

Yes I bought it that way.
The pictures from the owner were not too clear, so when I saw it, I thought that I could just polish it off.

I have been riding motorcycles for over 50 years, worked at a Harley dealership and a motorclcle salvage yard and I have never seen anything like this!

I was told that it is not a replacement and I don't think that it was in the chroming process because it is a stock fork leg off a 2005 Harley Fatboy and if that pattern had been in the chrome, that fork leg would have been rejected and sent back for re-chroming.


That Harley front end was off a damaged
Fatboy and was put on the trike last year.

But---when I look at that pattern,it looks like
"Bubble Wrap"---
Don't know nothing else---
that's just what it looks like.

Happy Holidays!

[Pegasus1300]

It does look like bubble wrap. It looks like the part sat hot while wrapped in bubble wrap and it partially melted on it staining the chrome. I would try Goof Off or Goo Gone.

[sandrooney]

"the leg would have been rejected and sent back for re-chroming"

Don't count on it.

[KJB]

If today was April 1st and not Christmas Day I would say this is an April Fool joke. Sorry man, that does not look good at all and I'm clueless.

[trikermutha]

The picture is a bit grainy .Do you have any better pictures?

[GARYD]

It does look like bubble wrap. It looks like the part sat hot while wrapped in bubble wrap and it partially melted on it staining the chrome. I would try Goof Off or Goo Gone.

He said it was not on he chrome so I don't think it was something melted on, but it sure does lo like bubble wrap.

Drumdoctor, did you negotiate a lower price?

[Sully]

Yep, I'll second the Bubble wrap idea

[drumdoctor]

Pegasus1300--Why would goof Off or Goo Gone remove it when car wax along with steel wool did not?

Trikemutha--Sorry, that is the only picture I have.

GaryD--yes I did get a better price.

Sandrooney--There is no way that fork leg could get through the quality control at
Harley-Davidson.

I am going to check with a couple of chrome shops and see what they think.

[GARYD]

Pegasus1300--Why would goof Off or Goo Gone remove it when car wax along with steel wool did not?

Trikemutha--Sorry, that is the only picture I have.

GaryD--yes I did get a better price.

Sandrooney--There is no way that fork leg could get through the quality control at
Harley-Davidson.

I am going to check with a couple of chrome shops and see what they think.

Good luck and make sure you let us know what you find out.

[GARYD]

Pegasus1300--Why would goof Off or Goo Gone remove it when car wax along with steel wool did not?

Trikemutha--Sorry, that is the only picture I have.

GaryD--yes I did get a better price.

Sandrooney--There is no way that fork leg could get through the quality control at
Harley-Davidson.

I am going to check with a couple of chrome shops and see what they think.

Good luck and make sure you let us know what you find out.

[Pegasus1300]

Pegasus1300--Why would goof Off or Goo Gone remove it when car wax along with steel wool did not?

I don't know that it would but its cheap and easy. They are both stain removers and I have had polishes just make stains shineyer but not remove them.

[RatRodMan]

Drumdoctor

That's a strange one. It does kinda look like a bubble wrap pattern. Get you some Flitz polish and try that. I have had real good luck with it. Should take it off if it's not some kind of defect in the chroming process. If it's a defect in chroming you know what you gotta do there.

RRM

[rhino 2]

And the Mystery continues........

[Sully]

And the Mystery continues........

The Shadow knows.....

[drumdoctor]

RatRodMan,

I will try the Flitz.
That was always a great product.

It HAS to be something that got ON the chrome as the front end was stored for around 2 years in a motorcycle salvage business.
Maybe if the front end was covered in bubble wrap and there was some kind of chemical fumes in the same room... Who knows?

These forks are off a 2005 Harley Fatboy and if the forks would have has some problem in the chroming process, they would have been rejected by quality control and not assembled.

[RatRodMan]

Were you able to resolve the problem.
Inquiring minds would like to know. Lol.

RRM

[drumdoctor]

So far nothing has had any effect on the Pattern in the Forks.

As soon as I have the rewiring finished, I am going totake it to a couple of chrome shops and see what they say.

The mystery continues...