Topic: Repainting Black Engines

[Orcinus]

I'm a little confused, I thought I'd read on this forum that the black engines on F2/F3's was anodized black instead of paint.  My F2 is losing it's black in spots that doesn't appear to have lost any material like I would have thought would happen if you are removing anodizing.  http://www.sohc4.us/gallery/v/members/personal/Orcinus/Picture+017.jpg.html  So is it paint? or anodizing?  Also, I've seen some wonderful restorations of the black engine in the Gallery, MrZxp's 78 comes immediately to mind.  To the guys that have already restored the exterior of their engines, how did you do it? Any tips? (I think this would make a great FAQ)

[Bodi]

All I can say is that i doubt if they are anodized. I tried to anodize cast aluminum stuff a few years ago and they just looked terrible, regardless of alloy the finish came out blotchy and ugly. The shop said it had to do with the metal grain alignment, that extruded pieces - ie anything made from billets - have aligned grain and anodize smoothly whereas cast stuff has random grain and doesn't anodize well.

[MrZxp]

Hmmm - don't know about whether the F engines are anodized or not  - when I did my engine the old stuff (paint?) came off quite easily with the help of a brass brush on my trusty electric drill - the only tricky bit to do was between the fins which I achieved by using a small brush on my dremel... washed with warm water and thoroughly dried with the wife's hairdryer, then a couple of coats of high temp gloss black (after masking off the chromey bits of course) for the result below.... BTW I noticed your query on your gallery page regarding the front turn signals on your bike - they look suspiciously like DOHC CB750K ones to me, around '79/80...
Cheers, Phil

[turtle]

I'm in Australia and we use a lot White Knight products too. So far they have worked really well.

[MRieck]

All I can say is that i doubt if they are anodized. I tried to anodize cast aluminum stuff a few years ago and they just looked terrible, regardless of alloy the finish came out blotchy and ugly. The shop said it had to do with the metal grain alignment, that extruded pieces - ie anything made from billets - have aligned grain and anodize smoothly whereas cast stuff has random grain and doesn't anodize well.

Bodi, I've had cast pieces polished than hard anodized which produces an acceptable finish. I know you are saying about straight cast pieces turning out lousy.

[Terry in Australia]

Nah, they're not anodised, I just use plain ol' paint stripper (not caustic) to get 'em back to bare metal, and it rips the OEM paint right off. Cheers, Terry.

[dusterdude]

there goes terry with that stripper reference again.

[MRieck]

there goes terry with that stripper reference again.

...and notice phrases like "rips right off".

[mick750F]

   It's definitely paint on there. I've used PJ1 paints with good results. I used their satin case(500º) paint as I found their gloss to be too shiny for me. I think our engines are somewhere in between when new. They also have high temp exhaust(1,500º), gloss black epoxy frame and wrinkle finish. Dennis Kirk is one source.

Mike

[Orcinus]

Thanks for the quick replies.  MrZxp, I'm a little surprised, at first I thought you'd painted your motor during a teardown.  I just realized that it's still masked in the photos.  Also, thanks for the info on the turn signals, looks like you have the same problem, just at the other end.  My rear signals are stockers.

[BobbyR]

Terry, the strippers are becoming organized. You cannot simply toss them away when you feel they are empty.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

I just had my front caliper and disc powder coated (much more expensive than a squirt can) and had, what they refer to as, 80% black used. It is really nice looking. It is shiny but not like shiny gloss black. I'd bet this is closer to a stock black. When I get my new engine ready to assemble I'm taking it back to the powder coater. I'm going to have it silver and black. I will probably use a 60% black and silver with very fine metallic particles. The coater tells me that when you coat the engine the proper procedure is to use a thinner coating than you would on a frame so you get better heat transfer.
Jerry   

[Bob Wessner]

and disc powder coated

 

[BobbyR]

Now that powder coating is the latest rage, people who I know who have used it extensively are having some second thoughts. While the surface remains intact it is a fine looking finish and protective. Powdercoating is not immune from dings, chips or scrapes or any other damage paint can suffer. The problem is fixing the damage easily or cost effectively. Paint can be easier to repair.

[Terry in Australia]

Terry, the strippers are becoming organized. You cannot simply toss them away when you feel they are empty.

Quite the opposite mate, when I toss 'em away they're full up, ha ha!

[BobbyR]

Terry, the strippers are becoming organized. You cannot simply toss them away when you feel they are empty.

Quite the opposite mate, when I toss 'em away they're full up, ha ha!

Always good for a quick return Terry, missed you calling mate. 

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

and disc powder coated

 

The old DOT3 brake fluid ate up the paint on my caliper and disc. My powder coater taped off the actual disc portion and coated the inner "spoked" area of my disc. Looks really nice. I used DOT5 when I rebuilt the leaking caliper so no more paint issues. It's working really nice with the DOT5.
Jerry

[Terry in Australia]

Good move Jerry, I powdercoated my complete brake assemblies (front and rear) on a Kawasaki Z750L2 a few years ago, the powdercoating was so cheap I had the M/C's, calipers, disc carriers, brackets, torque rods etc done, powdercoating is impervious to brake fluid, and the parts came back looking like new! Cheers, Terry.

[MrZxp]

MrZxp, I'm a little surprised, at first I thought you'd painted your motor during a teardown.  I just realized that it's still masked in the photos.

Nope, haven't pulled that sucker apart at all (yet!!) - hope I don't/won't have to too! All I've done to it (apart from painting of course) is to remove the starter motor and give it a thorough cleaning to remove all the rust etc...

Cheers, Phil

[Orcinus]

I'm tempted to break mine down before I paint, I've got a couple small oil seeps around the head and valve cover area.  (haven't looked close enough to figure out what's oozing yet.)  Seems a shame to clean and paint only to have it oily again.