Topic: Preventing further rust

[The Lone Builder]

In the meantime .... I’ve started restoring the CB400F2 I picked up a couple of years ago. Like I said at the time, she is rusty - now there’s a good name! 

I’ve removed various parts and, using vinegar and a scotch pad removed a lot of the surface rust. Apart from some holes  in the rear fender, all the parts are quite solid. I don’t have time or funds to get it all rechromed, so I want to use them as are. I’ve thought of painting them, but this too is a time consuming procedure and would prob not be much cheaper in the end. Oh, and I need to do the rims as well.

So I’m looking for a way to prevent or at least slow considerably, the flash rusting that occurs once they are dried off. WD40 Keeps it at bay for a while, but I guess that wold just wash off in the first rain.

So does anyone have any tricks for keeping these looking ... presentable is not quite the right word, but you know what I mean.

[calj737]

Spray them down with CRC SP350. Leaves a decent protective film and you can spray them periodically. I use it on my fab table often.

[Stev-o]

She is Rusty!   You present a good question but unfortunately, I do not have an answer for you.

In my part of the world, replacement parts would be sourced for reasonable cost and those tossed in the bin.
But that is not the case for you.  Seems blasting and powdercoat would be your best best if you can have it done at a reasonable cost?

[disco]

This works well for me and can be painted over.

[flatlander]

tectyl has a transparent spray that leaves a very strong, durable protective layer on the surface. it can protect even from salt corrosion and such.

having said that... you may be paying more for the rust protection than those things are still worth 

[Doobie]

I think paint is the only answer, but Silkolene and other companies make spray protectants that might work.

[Alan F.]

What kind of finish quality are you looking for?

I want to recommend a vinegar soak to remove the rust, scrub lightly with scotch brite or a plastic brush no need to exert yourself, then a quick rinse spray of distilled water, then place them directly into a DIY zinc plating bath. You don't need to get all of the chrome off, the loose stuff will fall off though. With clean rust free steel the zinc plating will bond well and will protect from further rusting. The finish will polish up but will dull quickly out in the elements.

No need for expensive DIY plating kits, it can be accomplished sufficiently with commonly available items very cheaply resulting in a fairly durable finish.

Shoot me a PM if you need more info.

[MauiK3]

for areas not seen such as the inside of fenders, rims and the frame brush on POR 15.

[HondaMan]

Duct tape. Both sides...even comes in colors.

"Rusty" is a perfect fit!

[Spanner 1]

Move out of Belfast, rust capitol of the world to the mountains of Spain, driest place on earth !.. lol.

[Stev-o]

Duct tape. Both sides...even comes in colors.

Funny you should say that HM.  I have a small work cart in the garage that I picked up for free, was sitting outside for quite some time and rusty, so I wrapped the frame in duct tape!

[The Lone Builder]

Thanks all for the helpful, as well as the not-so-helpful, suggestions; I was actually thinking of the hills in SW France, Spanner. Would the duct tape go clockwise along the rims, Mark, or should I to wrap it round and round over the tyres too.

The last pic I posted is after treatment with vinegar and scotch pad. They are still not looking too bad a week later after a spray with WD40, but I don’t think that’d be too good in the rain. I checked out the CPC350, and the same guys, https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/rust-corrosion-inhibitors/8232536/ in the UK, do another product CRC SP400 which is billed as a long-term protector so I might try that.

In the end I thought painting might be the best option, though I’m none-too-sure how it’ll look. So I’ve got a hole repair kit from Isopon and some rust treatment and paint from Hammerite. I’m going to try a small part first - maybe the brake pedal - and see how it goes.

[The Lone Builder]

Although this post is a bit old, I thought I'd just post a few pics to show what the end result was.

First is the rear mudguard (fender) which was repaired using Isopon and then sprayed in my cardboard paint cabinet.

The other, more solid, chrome parts I decided to powder coat; the result was clearly not concours, but looks good enough from a few feet away.

[Tim2005]

Nice work, that came out well

[grcamna2]

Nice work, that came out well

Yes it did 

[BenelliSEI]

+. Nice!

[HondaMan]

Nice recovery!