I've been an idiot....

[iansoady]

.... and had the forks on my Francis Barnett grit blasted without masking the bits ptoperly. Of course the grit has got everywhere including inside the sliders, which are essentially steel tubes blanked off at the bottom, with drain screws.

My question is, what's the best way to clean them inside? I think the actual bearing surface is OK but there's oily grit lurking everywhere. I've tried squirting brake cleaner etc down and trying to clean it with a bit of rag on a long pointed stick but with limited success.

My thoughts are to take it to someone who does engine steam cleaning and get them to have a go. Thoughts anyone? The forks are a bit of an abomination anyway, having the stanchions welded in to the top & bottom yokes and the bronze bushes soldered on to them....

[Rockburner]

Do you have a Karcher pressure washer? By the sounds of it you're going to need to blast the internals out completely clean to be sure there's no grit left.

I'm not sure that regular mains pressure and a Hoze-Lock 'jet' nozzle will be enough.

[iansoady]

Yes, I do have one lurking somewhere and was considering it but it is quite basic - no hot water etc.

[JackyJoll]

Bottle brush and kerosene, repeat many times.

[Rockburner]

Yes, I do have one lurking somewhere and was considering it but it is quite basic - no hot water etc.

Maybe feed something like parafin through it via the soap drawtube as well?

Then just put the tubes on a rad for a few days to dry out.

[iansoady]

I think a combination of methods may work - bottle brush (which I have no idea where to get) and Jizer to start with then jet wash to flush. I'll continue to poner - no great rush.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Remove any rubber bits and get them pressure steam cleaned

[iansoady]

That was my first thought. All rubber has been removed.... I need to find somewhere local to me (sunny Redditch).

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

That was my first thought. All rubber has been removed.... I need to find somewhere local to me (sunny Redditch).

You try finding somewhere to do anything like that in Suffolk - I only know about it because the lawn mower factory I used to work at did it with all engine parts to remove swarf, unfortunately they no longer make engines so I can't get anything like that done by them.

[cheb]

Would a pressure washer drain cleaning nozzle fit up/down it? The type with one forward facing jet and several rear facing. If yes, could you connect the pressure washer directly to a hot tap?

[iansoady]

It might if I had such a thing. Thinking about it, the ordinary pressure washer lane should get into the nooks & crannies. I'll try that first.

[David]

I went to school in Redditch....many years ago.

[KungFooBob]

There's a 'Spoons in Redditch called The Royal Enfield

[iansoady]

True but slightly off the point. Before lockdown I had a nice steak there for very little money....

[David]

I also worked at the Enfield in the school holibobs....