Galvanising trailing arms

[what2do]

A bit of advice required please. I'm soon to send a pair of spare arms off to be blasted and coated, what precautions are necessary to protect the areas where the bushes fit? I've been told that there is a type of marker pen that you can use which will stop the galv from sticking to designated areas. Anyone else aware of this? What have others on here done. Thanks in advance. Mitch.

[silverbullet]

Nothing stops hot dip galvanizing. Get them blasted first and see what you get back. They could be full of holes and not worth the work. Always fit new spring plates, there will be rusty scale underneath on even any good ones you may find.
The galv isnt so thick that rubber bushes wont go in, the blasting will take that much off!
PS you will have to tap out the M14 x 1.5 holes afterwards

[itchyfeet]

If you get bit drips or lumps of galv where you don't want it you can file it down.

[marlinowner]

Can you use a bolt to protect the threads and remove it afterwards?

[clift_d]

I seriously don't think you'd be able to get the bolt out afterwards - it would effectively be zinc brazed in position. Much better to run a tap through afterwards as above - it's an easy job if you take a bit of care.

[silverbullet]

Been there, done that... accidentally left the centre M8 nut on a wbx engine bar... propane lamp to soften the zinc and still had to run a die down it.
Blebs can also be floated out with use of a decent sized gas lamp, if applied with care.

[Oldiebut goodie]

I recently saw a post that someone had used caustic soda to remove some of the galvanizing on their arm as the bush wouldn't go in - easy enough to do if you can shield the area that you need to keep galvanized. I have used caustic a lot when stripping paint from doors and if there is any galvanized fittings it soon removes the galvanizing. No need to mess about with mechanical means to remove it. A syringe full will soon fill any bolt threads to remove it.
Can't remember where I saw that post though - had a quick search on here and didn't find it here.

[clift_d]

It was here:

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... 0#p8049248" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[CovKid]

Fairywinds galvanized his trailing arms (and wheels) and then sold them on I think. Excellent job made too.

[Oldiebut goodie]

It was here:

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... 0#p8049248" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Nope - that thread has never been part of my reading regime, that only mentions using acid not alkali - the alkali will not affect the steel unlike the acid.

[silverbullet]

I had to replace one of the trailing arm bushe tubes in a swingarm with a bit of scaff tube. Slightly smaller I/D plus a layer of galv but the bushes fitted just fine.
"Dont over think the task" would be my advice.

[CovKid]

That was my conclusion with headlight bezels too to be honest.

[what2do]

Thanks to all, appears that I may not need worrying much after all. Looking forward to a pair of shiny arms and other bits to bolt on in the near future.

[silverbullet]

That was my conclusion with headlight bezels too to be honest.

Always nice to do a "complete" job though