Topic: VHT and Duplicolor Question about Clearcoating Engine

[Dave-and-his-550]

So, I got VHT's Aluminum and gloss black engine paint. The aluminum looked like #$%* compared to my bike. Didn't match at all. So I went with duplicolor's aluminum and it worked perfect. I'm gonna use VHT's gloss black on the head and then sand the ends of the fins for a look similar to this:


 
The question is, can I use either brand clear coat over both paints? I want to clear coat the head once I sand the fins, and I'm thinkin I can just use Duplicolor's clear coat. That way I can cover the head, and the rest of the engine.

So, anybody tried using one brand of paint over another? Any issues?

[Toxic]

Go to their website, they have a forum section where you can ask a question.

I've done it twice and both times they responded within a day.

If you take someone's advise on here and it doesn't work out, you just made a heck of a mess.

Ask the experts that made the paint.

[mystic_1]

Take some small junk parts and test spray them with your various combinations, see how they turn out.  Good opportunity to test your method of spraying/curing too.

mystic_1

[Dave-and-his-550]

Good ideas. Although now I'm thinking of just returning the VHT black and getting Duplicolor black and a can of Duplicolor clear coat. Save me any hassle.

Although...when I mentioned how VHT's aluminum didn't match...I did spray the oil pan, and the oil filter cover with it. Decided it wasn't the way to go, and just sprayed Duplicolor aluminum right over it. Haven't had a problem yet, but then again, I haven't ran the bike...

[srook]

The clear will eventually yellow.  Do a search on engine paint here, there are tons of posts.
Scott

[Bamboozler]

Don't know if this will help or not.  A friend just painted his Yami RD350 head this week the same color scheme (black with polished Al fin tips).  He polished the tips before painting, painted the parts, and then right after painting wiped the paint off the polished tips (which came right off due to the smooth surface).  May save you the hassle of getting sanding debris on your freshly painted parts if anything.

[Dave-and-his-550]

Thanks for the tip Bamboozler.

Srook, I'm a little concerned about this. I want to clear the engine to prevent the aluminum paint from chipping or flaking against bugs, road grime etc. I kinda thought the paints now-a-days are anti-yellowing formulas and would be ok to use, but whatta i know 

Didn't Honda apply clear coats from the factory when these bikes were new? If so, I never noticed any yellowing on my bike. Of course, maybe the clear was so completely gone I wouldn't have noticed anyway.

I might not bother with the clear though. It says to apply all coats within an hour. If not, then you gotta wait 7 days for the paint to cure before you apply more coats. By cure I wonder if they mean just drying time, or baking by heat...

[Johnny5]

I sprayed my jugs and head with VHT paint without primer and the paint's held up great after 1000 miles.

[srook]

I'm not trying to be a jerk, but do a search for "clear engine".  This thread was the 2nd one http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=11044.0
Scott

[Dave-and-his-550]

I'm not trying to be a jerk, but do a search for "clear engine".  This thread was the 2nd one http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=11044.0
Scott

not at all man, thanks for the heads up! yikes...I'll skip the clear I guess 

[mystic_1]

If you heat cure it, be careful of the temps or you can turn the regular duplicolor paints brown also.

Use a cooking thermometer (the dial type not a meat thermometer) inside your oven to monitor the temp.

mystic_1

[heyjones]

Did you use the Dupli-Color® Engine Enamel with Ceramic (DE 1615) or the Dupli-Color® High Heat Paint with Ceramic (DH 1606)?

[seaweb11]

 

Uh...........nice photo, but that guy should clean his work bench   http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=17831.msg214016#msg214016

P.S. as said above.........Don't sand the edges, just use a rag and some acetone or varsol and wipe it off gently when paint dries up a bit. If you polish them 1st the paint won't stick very well and the paint comes off easily.

[dave500]

i did my whole motor with vht universal aluminium three years ago and its still perfect,done nearly 20,000 kays with it now,the entire motor was bead blasted first so it had a nice clean start,when i had new rims i also had the hubs blasted and painted them with the same,petrol dosent affect it at all,i like the colour.