would anyone know the best way to remove rust from forks? there's not a lot, but i'd like to get it off before i damage the seals, or anything else.
also....can i just repaint over the spots once the rust is removed?
thanks

The short version.
Oh yea ... you would likego to a nice tall builing or damn or mountain, Take those forks and hold it in 1 hand, and spin it above your head 3 times, and let it go.

Long version.

Regular chrome you can buy, like the kind the bling bling brothers like to put on everything, estended swingarms (yes estended - they like estend them 6-12 or 48 inces ...) grab bars, handlebars, pants and helmet, its all divalent chromium. It holds on to the parent molecule with 2 arms per atom.

The stuff you have on tools (not chineese made harborfreight crap) and hydraulic assemblies and by context association your forks, is hexavalent chromium. Its holding on with 6 electron bonds per atom. It is strong as well ... chrome and on there like well ... chromium. Of course it will bnd better to pure clean smooth steel far better than it will bond to shitty crappy imperfect steel and well, all steel ina GS was crappy, so there you are.

Wire brush the thing with a dremel tool, goop up the seal with fork oil and slide it on and pray. Or better yet, try it on from the bottom. Dust covers too.

Cool.
Buddha.

ok...thanks.
i was curious. it's just a spare set i have sitting in my garage

Well where is the rust. If its in the lower 4-5 inches part under the lower triple, its junk.
Else it can be used. I'd still re-seal it from the bottom up though.
Cool.
Buddha.

take some steel wool to it, i got off quite a bit of tiny rust spots with it.

Short thread jack....Buddha what is the easiest way to replace the seals? I need to but keep procrastinating because I have never actually done it myself before.