'64 BSA Lightning Rocket - Chrome Parts

The front rim ready for lacing....OEM lettering intact. 

Chrome work is one of the most expensive items of a bike restoration. I inspect parts to see if they can be cleaned, polished, and reused. If so they get reconditioned and put on the shelf. If there are issues they will be repaired and re-chromed. When all if this fails it's time to search for replacements or reproductions. This BSA was a mix of all worlds. Here's what I found.

The front fender was dented, cracked and  twisted....time for a replacement. 

Both of my BSA's have had cracks on the fork shroud fixing tabs. I attempted to weld them on my first go around with no success. (a better welder may have been able to accomplish this task). As a result of that experience I  decided to "restyle" the grooves to remove the cracks on this go around as they were small. The results look good and no one will notice. Let's see how it holds up.

Extending the tab groove a bit to remove the stress cracks.  
In theory it sounds like a great idea... 

The offending area taped off for enlarging...

Lengthened and ready for chrome...

The final parts looking as new. 

Fixing several small dents in the rear fender...

The chain had violated the fender and it was squared up a bit....

The rear fender ready to go.....

I have two die cast air levers and both have base metal which is beyond repair. I have found reproductions that are very good with the exception of the center screw which is domed while the original unit had a flat top fastener. My solution was to re-tap the hole in the reproduction body to fit an original screw which had been re-plated.

The reproduction choke body with the original re-plated screw. 

Parts saved via the Ultrasonic & buffer ....

On to the chrome plater with these bits....

Back from plating and looking good. 

Off to a Plating with this batch...

Back from plating and looking great. Time to put the chrome bits on the shelf until the rest of the build catches up. Next in line is the frame and all its painted parts. 

Killing time during Coronavirus lock down. 
Hoping it won't be long until the bikes are out.