Front Forks, interchangeable?

[Dumbledore Calrisian]

Hello there folks,
New to this forum, just picked up an nc30 vfr400, has some issues which i will need to sort out before i can ride the thing.
So, as the title suggest, the front forks have a little bit of rust spots on them, bikes been sitting in a shed for 18 months, thers a set going on the bay off an 88 model, advertised for 16" front wheel, i'm assuming this means it's off an nc24, i did try and search the forums before posting up stupid questions however,
will these forks fit seeing as the front wheels a different size? can i gently try and sand the rust away on my existing forks? do the nc24 forks not have the adjustments available on the nc30 forks?
If this has been covered before, please point me in the right direction otherwise all help is welcome.

[Cammo]

Welcome!

You need nc30 forks, the nc24 brake caliper and wheel setup is different to say the least so you'd need all those pieces as well.

There are sure to be some cheap used ones on the site.

[Jon]

Where abouts is the rust, if it asbove where the seals run at full suspension travel no problem.

Give the rust spots a sand with fine wet and dry, when you have the visible signs of the rust gone check to see if you can feel it with your fingernail.
If you cant feel it there is a fair chance that your forks wont leak.

regards
jon

[Neosophist]

Lots of differences, the main one being that their 37mm instead of 41mm, you'll need the following to retrofit them.

NC24 forks = 37mm, Different Yokes, Different Handlebars, Different Switchgear & Controls, Different Brake Calipers, Different Wheel, Different Disc.

There also 50mm longer than the NC30 forks.

As said before if the pitting isn't in the suspension travel it won't harm anything just clean it up as best as possible, some ultrafine scotchbrite or some really high grade sandpaper very lightly.

[Dumbledore Calrisian]

wow,
u boys are a gold mine of info.
ok, no go on the swap.
about half a dozen small rust spots on each fork, unforunateley, they are in the range of suspension travel,
i'll try and use your methods of repairing the forks.
Thanks again boys.

[Psychosomatic88]

wow,
u boys are a gold mine of info.

Welcome. Thats because a lot of us have either been there and done it, or read about it on here!

Are the forks actually leaking? As you said its been sat then there should be a chance that they are still fine. Hopefully you should be able to sand it down gently and all will be well.

[Dumbledore Calrisian]

as far as i can tell, seals haven't started to leak as of yet, bike not ridden since rusting occured,
i'll try and sand it back, my understanding of forks is that the surface ahs to be perfectly smooth so i'll try aand be oh so gentle.
will post pics in the coming days of my bike/wreck and see if the sanding will work.

lots of work to go on the bike so lots more questions to come