Sorry, I didn't take pictures of this but....
I usually take down my engines and paint them while they are apart. This engine had only 2K on it and was carefully removed from a Harley mechanic's friend's 500 after a wreck in hopes of finding another frame for it. Never happened , said the friend had the livin' sh!t scared out of him and never rode again. So he's been storing this complete engine for years, in his shop, turning it over regularly and dropping motor oil down the cylinders. I said really? He said he is neurotic that way , and it got done a few times a year. Checked...all plugs were loose and there was some oil on the piston...not that I don't trust anyone, just checking out the story.
So anyways, this one is just getting a paint refresh. I leave it together except for the chain side cover, that comes off so's to clean the sprocket area. you can tell it's a low miler by the amount of chain lube left behind, you can tell it's chain lube and not 90 w because it's really sticky . The sprocket was like new,but not. The charging system wiring was barely dirty but dirty enough to say it hasn't been cleaned. wires were soft, rubber gasket pliable . After a quick wash with mineral spirits the paint inside there looked new. Looks like original factory grease on the the clutch mechanism, not allot of it and no crud or crust. ( double checking the story, think it's true)
So that and the entire engine gets a quick paintbrush bath in mineral spirits to loosen up oil residue and road dust, then a check for flaking. This one is just discolored and the factory paint is still bonding great. A rough up with a scrongee pad , another paint brush bath. a good air blow down, one more bath just to find any hidden stuff and the final blow down. I let it sit out in the sun for a while to cook dry.
So the clutch side cover could use a bit of polish so that comes off too. Of course the gasket will be worthless and hopefully it doesn't get all stuck to the case between the clutch and the lower crank case cause that's a #$%* to get clean, cant get a removal tool in there without removing the clutch. Okay , so this one was stuck right there and the clutch was coming out . Just as well, I can check it's condition and nose around for ware and dirt...(I really do believe this PO , I just can't help it) Everything looked fresh and clean. That area gets newspaper and tape before the clutch goes back on.
The two aluminum caps on the heads were removed before for polishing , the points cover is loosened and taped up, the generator has been loosened ( just to be sure it will , because it'll come off after paint for polish) and taped. The engine is on a motorcycle jack on blocks of wood, under the front mounts and one side to side across the oil pan.I picked up 8 corks at the local hardware store years ago, they fit nicely in the intake and exhaust openings.
So to recap, I cover the open spots that are on the engine with tape and paper. Plug the intake and exhaust with corks. leave the electric covers on but loose and tape them cause they will be polished later. I didn't mention , I change the tappet caps and vent top cover with crappy ones that I have painted on before, that way the originals are fresh and ready to polish during down time. Engine was blocked up on a cycle jack from the start, now the engine is ready for paint.
I like to let the engine warm up in the sun because Duplicolor can get runs easy and I can't be everywhere with the hairdryer all the time to stop a run and aid in drying at the same time.
I do a light coat in all the hard spots first, then light coat the entire engine a couple of times moving quickly around and under it just to get an even base, while it's tacking up I take my time and give it a smooth cover coat ( a wear coat depending where you live), then check for holidays, full panel touch up if needed so the coat stays looking uniform.
Heat the engine with sunlight and a hairdryer the entire time while painting. When you stop painting it leaves one hand free for a beer while the other will be hairdrying a while longer. Stop when paints dry or you're drunk, whichever comes first.
There it is, that's how I do it, works for me , hope it can help someone else. If anyone finds an easier way, please let me know.
