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Author Topic: engine case anodizing  (Read 1520 times)

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fuzzybutt

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engine case anodizing
« on: September 25, 2007, 02:37:03 PM »
has anyone tried this, seen it done or even heard of it being done? getting ready to build an 836 motor and we thought that might be a possibility.
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Offline Bodi

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Re: engine case anodizing
« Reply #1 on: September 25, 2007, 03:23:29 PM »
You can be the guinea pig!
I've done anodizing on cast aluminum and had really poor results. It works great on machined billet stuff, but cast parts (basically little cast alloy electronic boxes) came back really splotchy and awful looking. Maybe the Honda alloy will take better, or maybe some surface prep will make it go well... dunno.
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Offline Bob Wessner

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Re: engine case anodizing
« Reply #2 on: September 25, 2007, 03:25:47 PM »
Doesn't anodizing add a small amount of material to the surfaces also? Would it be enough to pose problems with the case mating surfaces if not evenly distributed?
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Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: engine case anodizing
« Reply #3 on: September 25, 2007, 03:54:53 PM »
Nah, it'd be fine Bob, anodizing can be measured in microns, so not enough to affect the seal of mating surfaces.

Contact Andy Morris, AKA 736cc on this site Fuzzy, he runs a Honda 750 restoration business, and has developed a case coating system, that looks like the cases have been highly polished, and I think he does a "changeover" deal?

He sent me some pics of a complete coated CB750 engine awhile ago, and from memory, they looked really good! Cheers, Terry. :)
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fuzzybutt

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Re: engine case anodizing
« Reply #4 on: September 25, 2007, 03:57:40 PM »
metalhead and i were talking about it today, he has a machine shop and access to all sorts of folks that do coatings and platings.
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Offline aptech77

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Re: engine case anodizing
« Reply #5 on: September 25, 2007, 04:20:47 PM »
You can NOT anodize cast aluminum with good results. To much Zinc in cast aluminum. It will turn blackish.
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Offline MRieck

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Re: engine case anodizing
« Reply #6 on: September 25, 2007, 04:34:37 PM »
 I agree with Bodi and Aptech. Cast parts come out awful IMO.
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Offline Bob Wessner

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Re: engine case anodizing
« Reply #7 on: September 25, 2007, 04:36:24 PM »
So what was the original finish on the control housings and M/C's? I thought they were anodized and weren't they cast?
« Last Edit: September 25, 2007, 04:42:28 PM by Bob Wessner »
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Metalhead

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Re: engine case anodizing
« Reply #8 on: September 25, 2007, 04:41:39 PM »
What about the top tree its cast and the controls on the handle
bars, maybe these are of a differant alloy
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Offline MRieck

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Re: engine case anodizing
« Reply #9 on: September 25, 2007, 06:24:29 PM »
Quote from: Bob Wessner on September 25, 2007, 04:36:24 PM
So what was the original finish on the control housings and M/C's? I thought they were anodized and weren't they cast?
If you polish the surface it does come out much better Bob BUT, as someone said, there is a lot of zinc in these castings. That in itself isn't bad except the factory often did a lousy job of mixing the materials before the pour. Consequently you get pockets of zinc. The rough surface is a killer too. I'd paint it.
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fuzzybutt

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Re: engine case anodizing
« Reply #10 on: September 25, 2007, 06:29:28 PM »
possible bead blasting then smoothing with scotchbrite?
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Offline Steve F

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Re: engine case anodizing
« Reply #11 on: September 25, 2007, 06:37:00 PM »
Anodizing is meant for aluminum, and the engine cases are primarily zinc, and they won't come out with decent results.  BTW, anodizing prep will REMOVE material in the acid etching process.
I had made some pieces from cast aluminum and tried to have them anodized, and even THEY didn't turn out well.  It was surprising to see the difference between cast and billet aluminum parts after anodizing.
Talk to people that have applied oxide coatings to parts, and ask them about how zinc reacts to this process.  It's a blackening process.
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fuzzybutt

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Re: engine case anodizing
« Reply #12 on: September 25, 2007, 06:47:15 PM »
ok i htought the cases were cast aluminum only, learn something new everyday
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