Topic: Pain in the @$$... but worth it...

[KB02]

So, I have decided to paint my engine black and red. The cases will be red and all side panels will be black (Front chain Gaurd will be red as well). I kind of like the look.

Here are the left side covers after I am calling them "almost" done:


I screwed up a little bit on the first "A" in Japan where it says "Made in Japan," so I may have to go back and fix that. We'll see how much it bugs me later. You can see my tool of choice in the foreground.

Rattle can Engine enamel. I think it's coming out well.

[754]

Just paint the whole letter area, and wipe off the lettering you want to show.. make sure the underneath color is cured.

If the cover is cromed and you paint the letterrs you can wipe off with clean steel wool.

[KB02]

Yeah, I kind of screwed up. I should have painted the red first, but I painted all the black first. I had masked off the inlet areas so they wouldb't get painted. Then I masked off all the black and painted the inlet area red. Painting the letters (and numbers) was all done by brush.

The black has all come out very nice. The buggest question that I have is on the Valve cover. The cover itself is black, I have painted the Tapet adjuster covers red. I just don't know what to do with the top cam tower cover. SHould I paint it? Black, red? leave it bare aluminum?

[754]

I meant black first..cure..then red. now wipe it carefully while wet and hopefully it will flow out  use like a rag wrapped around paper towel roll.

I used to use Humbrol model paint with a brush  it flows out real good. I did finned chrome covers with no prep in 83 I think and over half of it is still on.. left outside a lot too..

Top cover same as main one makes it diappear.. painting an opposing color draws attention to the part.. not away from it.

The red covers are going to be screaming out and it will look like an anamita muscaria!!

More subtle will look more refined like gold tappet on chrome cover or satin finish or scotchbrite tappet covers on black valve cover..

To many people chrome parts or paint a wild color, then making them stick out like a sore dick rather than blend in to the surrounding parts.. bike ends up looking clutttered like  a whole bunch or parts plastered on rather than a nice clean flowing assembly where things complement each other rather than stick out and attract attention..

Unless of course you are trying to get on at the circus... ...

[Raul CB750K1]

This is how I have painted engravings in the past. Paint the "holes" first, then, steel wool so the paint remains only in the engravings. Then, cover the lettering with thick grease, and thorougfully clean the surface to leave the grease at surface level. Paint the whole part. Once dried, just use a toothpick, tooth brush or the like to remove the grease and clean well.

[cafe750]

The black has all come out very nice. The buggest question that I have is on the Valve cover. The cover itself is black, I have painted the Tapet adjuster covers red. I just don't know what to do with the top cam tower cover. SHould I paint it? Black, red? leave it bare aluminum?

Maybe black with some sort of a red "racing stripe"?

[KB02]

Well, this is what I've got so far:


I wasn't sure about the tappet covers at first, but the more I look at them, the more they grow on me, you know?

I'll have to paint the "OHC 750" lettering to match the side covers, but I'm getting pretty god at that.

[cafe750]

Looking at the pic, I'd make the breather cover black, otherwise I think that there would be way too much red on the top of the motor....but, that red and black looks really good!

just my .02

[OldSchool_IsCool]

I agree, breather cover black.  Yes, paint the lettering red.  With as often as you will need to remove the tappet covers, are you planning to do anything to them to prevent your wrench from marring the surface?  Just going to touch them up if they do chip?

[KB02]

yeah, I agree. Black. After thinking about it, no one is really going to see it anyway.

[754]

Try a roller to do the lettering then touch up the misses.

 
 I would not highlight the ribs and letters.. too cluttered..takes away from the cleanest valve cover out of Japan. I ground mine off and the letters and run all chrome caps ansd covers.. for a smooth clean seamless look..