Brake caliper cap finishing??

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Hobot

Hobot

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What do youse guys do to get a nice looking caliper cap? Mine get rusty and a gold painted attempt just flaked and bubbled ugly pretty quick. I think I might like an Al or SS version - if strong enough to take the force to remove it later. Never seen Al one yet
 
My original one was looking pretty funky so I replaced it with a Stainless one. I would think you could bead blast yours to clean it, maybe polish it & clear coat it with something that was made for painting calipers? Good steel polishes up real nice if you have the buffer, polisher etc. Or replate it like stock. SS was expensive but gave me a smile to look down & see a clean caliper for a change.
 
Oh yes I've polished them up nice and clear coated but still looks kinda grayish and then more crappy as time goes on. I was guessing SS ones available just ain't seen where they are offered yet. SS ok for my special but hesitate to start the endless upgrades on my factory Combat. I assume while crying in my beer, only way to keep it pleasing to me is every other year take it off to flush out fluid and re-do the finish. May try the bake on clear coats along lines of GutKote. Who sells SS caps?
 
Ugh, its not the master cylinder cap I keep messing up by hitting the ground, its the caliper cap/plug on fork slider. I looked through 10 pages of this vendors items for sale but no luck on a Caliper Cap. Will search ebay or call list of vendors, but really would like one in Al but may have to settle for SS for Peel and just touch ups for factory Trixie. Ror fun and holey tradition and future removing I had Peel's steel one drilled with two more take off holes, old ones were a bit traumatized. Hm wonder it a primary inspection cap might work.
 
Oh goodie, I'm so glad Phil is around for us. He's the one who told me Atlas gearbox shell is same thing as CDo's w/o the stupid notch for thick washer at 1/2 the price.
I may have gotten my SS pucks from him. But he wants $35 for his SS plug and I see it on ebay for $25. This would solve Ms Peel's almost Norton beauty, but still leaves plain old Trixie to spiff up. Anyone can get a new cad plated original but rather not as hardly anything is new on her but tank paint and head lamp. Will repolish as not rusted yet but oxidized extra dull gray. Then DupliColor clear and rub shiny when seen at an angle in light. Will hair dryer it good and hard too. Hope not to mar it installing good and tight.
 
Yes Steve, I knew that you needed the other cap but BSANUT has sold these in the past and has the direct connection to these China made parts. Just not up on an auction now. Sorry for confusion.
 
Ok thanks guys, I'd found that SS $25 ebay cap last pm. Fine for Ms Peel -who anything goes but prefer to stick with factory parts on Trixie. I tired gold paint on Peel and looked good for a while but paint didn't hold up to long and if not about perfect its more a cheap bodge distraction that nice detail. Will just polish Trixie's again, clear coat, rub out and repeat every couple years when flushing system or rust edges showing again.
 
I had mine chrome plated in '98 along with the whole lot of parts getting re-chromed for the restoration. Still looks good after 13 years and 28,000 miles.

Brake caliper cap finishing??
 
Dang that's nice bright spot to see down there Dave. Tempts me no end for Peel but I'm not going to go far from factory on Trixie, partly for my no brainer parts ordering, partly to please some future owner and partly to have base line Combat to compare to Peel in mass and feel and handling. At least I'm keeping the Lockheed calipers on both bikes as throw back art deco objects that work pretty well.
I'm crossing fingers Trixie's caliper is removable by normal heat and strain as only ~3 yr since last opened and SS pucks in there so no rust to spread.
 
My combat has the original front brake parts, no sleeved master cylinder and it works fine for me. I hear terms like "wooden feel" about the stock brake, but no complaint from me. If I grab a hand full the front wheel locks, how much better is there with that skinny tire? Do you have the same experience?
 
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