[Hlep] Body work on fender

 

My wounded Thruxton had no front fender when I got it.
However the chromed metal fender from an '83 Sabre fits it...
almost. Problem is the Honda fender is a bit too wide and
although it fits ok between the mounting points (ie, threaded
holes in the fork castings) it can't clear the bulges
in the forks which are about an inch or so higher up.

To fit better it needs a slight depression on each side just
above the new mounting holes which I will have to drill.
I suppose I could take a hammer or some other blunt instrument
to it, but with little knowledge of body work I'd very likely
create what TOG calls an unsightly "bodge".

But since I can't afford to have it done professionally right now
I need some advice on the best way to go about it on my own.
My best guess is I'll need some kind of backing material (wood?)
with a depression of the required shape in it, and to pound on
the chromed metal with something soft enough not to scratch it
or bend it too sharply....(?) But the fender has quite a complex
shape; it's not only curved, there are several surfaces at angles
like the hull of a sailing dinghy.

Advice appreciated so's I don't totally fubar this item,
SQ

 


I've no idea about metal-bashing. I will only warn that when I tried
to straighten a slightly bent chrome component, only last month, I
managed to straighten it but the chrome peeled off. I'd seek another
fender.

 

TOG@Toil wrote:


Did it peel off before you straightened it... or only after?

What I intend to do is "slightly bend" a chromed component.
Maybe, with chrome you get one and only one free bend;
after that, it peels in protest. (?)

The bulge in the fork casting is circular, so I need a semi-circular
depression, and only about 1/4" max depth. Therefore I suppose
I'll need a cylindrical-shaped planishing hammer.

ps. One of the planishing sites I found with Google talked about
shaping Medieval suits of armour. And apparently there are still
craftsmen around who can fabricate them, even though it's been
a long time since 'Enery the Eyeth.

SQ

 



Well, "as" really.


--
BMW K1100LT  Ducati 750SS  Honda CB400F  Triumph Street Triple
Suzuki TS250ER GN250  Damn, back to six bikes!
Try Googling before asking a damn silly question.
chateau dot murray at idnet dot com

 

On Jun 15, 10:44 pm, totallydeadmail...@yahoo.co.uk (The Older
Gentleman) wrote:

Sounds pretty unavoidable really.

The chrome sheet isn't likely to stretch or
compress with the metal that it's layed down on.

If the chrome adheres to itself more strongly
than to the part it's applied to,  there doesn't
seem to be any way to avoid the peeling.