Topic: best and cheapest way to get engine ready for paint at home

[reddyvv]

After degreasing spray the engine down with Aircraft Stripper. It will lift up all the paint and you can then hose the remnants off.

[Bru-tom]

"Perfect" accurately describes your bike, Bru-tom. Remember. Nobody likes a show-off

thanks i think. nah dude, just showing what normal automotive paint can do.

how do others keep their high heat painted motors from being harmed by solvents?

[Stoli]

Only the fins are sanded on my engine.  Sun reflection make it look like the cover lines and letters are sanded.  I left them black.
I sanded it a few times during cleaning so the ends were flat and all shaped nice. 
Med emery paper to shape, and then 800 wet to finish.
This made light work of paint removal once cured.
I figured there'd be paint chipping if you were taking the paint off AND creating the flat on the fin edge.....

Got it. Thanks. Must be the lighting in the pic but it looks like the "SOHC" on the valve cover is bare aluminum as well.

** Sorry for the hijack. We are talking about engine paint though so sort of on topic. 

[Stoli]

thanks i think. nah dude, just showing what normal automotive paint can do.
how do others keep their high heat painted motors from being harmed by solvents?

I used duplicolor engine paint on my first build and it holds up decent to gas. Have had a few drops come down from the carbs with no ill effects.

[Bru-tom]

thanks i think. nah dude, just showing what normal automotive paint can do.
how do others keep their high heat painted motors from being harmed by solvents?

I used duplicolor engine paint on my first build and it holds up decent to gas. Have had a few drops come down from the carbs with no ill effects.

thats great! is it high heat or dedicated engine enamel though?

[Bru-tom]

thanks i think.

It was totally meant as a compliment. And well deserved too.

hahaha thanks brother, i didnt mean it to look like i was showing off though.

back on topic, nice thing about the 2k paint is, you can get any colour you want, any amount of metallic or matting agents mixed in to give you the exact look you are after. resists heat very well, i mean, we had a close to 40deg Celsius day in summer and i rode in quite congested traffic for quote a while and no problems with the paint thus far. only downside is, is that a compressor and spray gun are required.

[Stoli]

Engine enamel. Rated to 500 degrees.

[flybox1]

Engine enamel. Rated to 500 degrees.

+1....and a light wipe of kerosene doesn't bother it.  Simple green and the like are fine, too.
Acetone on the other hand would wash it right off 

[Grinnin]

I'm not looking for cheap, but this looks like the most recent near match for my question.

But my question is more about what to paint or not paint on the 750 K5 engine.  Do I paint the shift-linkage cover?  The engine has been painted black.  It was either badly or many hard miles ago.  The cases are entirely apart and I'll spend most of April prepping for paint.

I always put boot rub marks on paint. If I use high-temp paint or engine paint on the cases, I will end up with boot marks beside the shift lever.  THAT case is currently a stock clear-coated piece and looks OK.  I'll be using a stock clear-coated valve cover too.  The right boot won't leave rub marks on the engine at all since the outer sheet-metal covers are chrome.

I think the engine looks weird with mostly black block, chrome covers in 3 corners, and a clear-coated aluminum cover at the 4th corner.  But painting that cover is asking for a ratty look down the road.

What do others do to have a wear-resistant shift linkage cover?

Thanks.

[Lostboy Steve]

be careful of high heat paint, if you mess fuel on it, it will lift and melt off. I use 2 pack automotive paint and a very good epoxy 2 pack etch primer. been 2000km so far and its perfect still!

Can we talk abotu that airbox real quick? What is it, besides spectacular?

[Phinn]

Is high temp paint needed on the 4 engine covers, or just the case/cylinders/head/valve cover?

[mrfish2]

Can we talk abotu that airbox real quick? What is it, besides spectacular?

That's exactly what I was thinking. That carbon fiber is sexy.

[Lostboy Steve]

I was wondering if that air filter element is just metal like a Puch moped. lol Seriously is that airbox hand laid carbon fiber?

[jamesbekman]

Never underestimate the power of an angle grinder and a brass wire wheel...  Cheap and easy and works like a charm...  Same with stripping down the frame.