Where the
world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989


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Triple tree chrome failure

My after market, aluminum, chrome plated,triple trees are three and half years old. The chrome has started to lift in the fashion of 36 grit sandpaper. There are also some very small blisters. The original Harley chrome is as new. The bike is kept in an unheated garage in the Philadelphia area. Should I expect my $650.00 trees to look better than this?

Bill Myers
consumer - Malvern, Pennsylvania, USA
2007

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Look around at all the chrome plated aluminum auto wheels, many more than three years old, and exposed to much harder service than your bike parts. Also look at the genuine Harley chrome plated aluminum on your bike.

Draw your own conclusion about the quality of aftermarket chrome plating versus OEM. OEMs have detailed standards which spell out pretreatments, thicknesses, corrosion resistance. Aftermarket, some is excellent, some is junk.

Jeffrey Holmes, CEF
Spartanburg, South Carolina
2007