Topic: Okay, Since This Is In Reference To My Super Hawk, Guess This Is Where To Put It

[bill440cars]

    Could pertain to ANY bike though. I'm thinking about doing my Super Hawk engine in a Satin Black, with some of the small covers and the edges of the fins on the head (and maybe the edges of the fins on the cylinders polished to set it off. Bear in mind that this is going to be a Cafe'/Custom build And that would have the engine looking like a smaller version of this:

                                 

                               





    I want to know, from those of you who have painted the engine, what steps you took to ensure a good bond for the paint? What did you use to clean the engine enough and how did you do it? What kind of paint and materials worked for you? IF I decide to go this route, I want to be confident that the paint won't flake off or turn ugly. So, let's hear from YOU.

[bill440cars]

       Of course, I'm working with an engine like this and basically a style of bike like this one as well:

                                




                 Here's another one that I lik SOME of the details of also: (I also like the pipes on this one too!

              

                I like this one, but can't see myself swinging one of those gastanks though.

         
                            

               BTW, I'm STILL looking for any and all photos with ideas,  because I haven't fully decided on ALL of the details of THIS one!

[kirkn]

That's my favorite motor look.

My own Honda 125 single cafe will have that look, although I'll only polish the edge of the head fins, leaving the cylinder fin edges black:







And, do whatever you have to do, WHATEVER you have to do, to NOT wrap the headers!!  JUST SAY NO TO BURLAP HEADERS!!

 


And, there are quite a few others straight from the OEM:

[tbpmusic]

Bill -

It's all in the prep work, like all painting.
Make sure it's squeaky clean, then rinse well with acetone.
I normally use a thin coat of self-etching primer, then paint.
And if you want shiny edges on your fins, do all the filing/grinding/sanding on the edges before you paint.
That will make it easy to get the paint off the edges without making a mess - just takes a quick swipe and minimizes handling of your newly painted pieces.......

[bill440cars]

That's my favorite motor look.

My own Honda 125 single cafe will have that look, although I'll only polish the edge of the head fins, leaving the cylinder fin edges black:







And, do whatever you have to do, WHATEVER you have to do, to NOT wrap the headers!!  JUST SAY NO TO BURLAP HEADERS!!

 


And, there are quite a few others straight from the OEM:

           Hey Kirk, appreciate your input here. Not sure whether the cylinder fins will get polished edges or not, but I can tell YOU that, before I go wrapping ANYTHING on the exhaust, I'll go with a satin Black first! I will NEVER wrap pipes. Just isn't in my plans and never will be! Now, I'm not trying to persuade anyone else, but I just feel like it makes the job look "Unfinished" and takes away from all the work that is put into the rest of the bike.Can't afford rechrome OR ceramc coating, so that's out!

[bill440cars]

Bill -

It's all in the prep work, like all painting.
Make sure it's squeaky clean, then rinse well with acetone.
I normally use a thin coat of self-etching primer, then paint.
And if you want shiny edges on your fins, do all the filing/grinding/sanding on the edges before you paint.
That will make it easy to get the paint off the edges without making a mess - just takes a quick swipe and minimizes handling of your newly painted pieces.......

           Thank you for that Bill, I value your opinion as well. You've put out some choice stuff yourself!

[Old Scrambler]

Bill is right on about the paint and preparation...............I wish I had known some of those trick before I started doing custom work...........my avitar photo may interest you.  It is a CL77 frame. The tank is vinyl so it is OK with modern fuel. I took a 3rd place trophy at the 2008 Mid-Ohio Cafe Show.

[bill440cars]

Bill is right on about the paint and preparation...............I wish I had known some of those trick before I started doing custom work...........my avitar photo may interest you.  It is a CL77 frame. The tank is vinyl so it is OK with modern fuel. I took a 3rd place trophy at the 2008 Mid-Ohio Cafe Show.

  Old Scrambler, I have to apologize for not getting back on this, in a timely manner. I sure meant to tell you that the bike in your avatar, is tough and would like to see (and hear about) more of THAT one.

   Feeling pretty good about now, I had previously gotten a CL head that is in Great shape, but I really wanted the CB head so I could run the tachometer. Now You, me and some others know that all you need to be able to drive the tach, is the left side of the can, along with the end plate with the hookup. Well< i had already come up with the endplate (complete with drive gear and all) AND just yesterday, I won the bid on all of the internals of a CB77 head. So, I'm getting closer to getting on with this one.
Finally!    

[OakBehringer]

Here's what I did, with pics. Looks and holds up GREAT:

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=51875.msg553250

[bill440cars]

Here's what I did, with pics. Looks and holds up GREAT:

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=51875.msg553250

          Thanks for that, OakBehringer! Very NICE job at that!

          I have kinda thought about prepping the cases major parts, painting and then assembling it. But, I'm betting that it would be better to at least assemble the crankcase, prep, paint aqnd then final assembly. Am I right? At least, with the engine hanging in the frame, there should be considerable less chance of messing up the paint job.

        By the way, I really do appreciate the input on this, I hope to only have to do the job once! Hopefully!  

[kirkn]

Hmmm......  painted bolt heads - just not my thing.

On mine, I painted the case halves, then assembled.  Then assembled the cylinder onto the cases.  But then again, I used chrome case bolts so I didn't really have a choice.

But, I'm still not partial to painted bolt heads.  It just screams out "painted as a lump afterwards".  Kinda like an Earl Schieb paintjob:  masking is extra.

Just my two cents.   

[bill440cars]

Hmmm......  painted bolt heads - just not my thing.

On mine, I painted the case halves, then assembled.  Then assembled the cylinder onto the cases.  But then again, I used chrome case bolts so I didn't really have a choice.

But, I'm still not partial to painted bolt heads.  It just screams out "painted as a lump afterwards".  Kinda like an Earl Schieb paintjob:  masking is extra.

Just my two cents.   

            Yeah,  I see what ya mean about the bolts. I really hadn't thought about that, but I don't want them painted either. So, I guess the cases and side covers, that will be painted, will be painted before assembly.