xs1100 restoration

[duc]

Hey guys,

I've had my XS for quite a while now but have never ridden it before - purchased as bit of a basket case. Since then, I've stripped it down and slowly building it back up.

Well, its been about 6 months since Ive actually made any progress. Ive finally got around to getting the frame and tank painted today thanks to my brothers mate who's a painter and the use of his bosses workshop.





That said. I have a question with regards to the engine. So I've sanded back the engine to be repainted. What I'm wondering is if anyone has sprayed canned their engine's?

Ive done a test spray previously before re-sanding it but it seems the frame's 2pak is quite shiny and glossy. I was wondering if a spray can job could match it a bit - to extend where the engine, once painted doesnt look out of place.



Any ideas would be great.

Thanks,

Duc

[BillyRok]

Hey Duc,

Looks great so far, shiny! I was in the same place you are now a few months ago, and for what it's worth I'll tell you what I did. And by the way, all of this was on the advice of others after seeing pictures and reading posts. Imitation IS the sincerest form of flattery!

I power washed my motor, dried it with compressed air, used a small flat blade screw driver to clean hard to reach places, scuffed with 0000 steel wool, then used a paint brush and paint thinner to clean the motor all up.

After removing side covers and doing some taping, I used a high temp silver paint on the cases...here it is all prepped, notice the dowels through the motor mount holes so I could tip the motor to get the underside--

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

Then I taped off everything but the jugs and used a small brush to apply a flat black Rustoleum for BBQ grills, was tedious but avoided the over spray drips I was trying to avoid. Finally I sanded the black paint off the fins and put the polished and painted side covers back on. Here's how it looks now--

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

After I get it all back together I'll need to cure the paint, hopefully it stays looking decent. The farther back I stand the better it looks.

Good luck with yours, keeping posting pictures of your progress!

[duc]

Billy,

Your looks great. The silver looks very nice.

I'm wondering if I should go silver or gloss black for the engine. Looking at the frame I need something with a color that isn't dull - he gave it 3 coats making it rather shiny. Whether that's a good or bad thing I'm not sure yet, since it kind of forces you to make other parts of the bike sort of match it.

Btw did you put down a primer coat prior to your paint? And I'm assuming that you used a spray can?

I'm picking up the tank and side covers Monday, so will mock it up.

[BillyRok]

I used the steel wool to scuff the cases and then used high temp silver from a spray can, no primer. My frame is a gloss black (used POR 15 and the Hardcoat top coat, all brushed on. Neither the silver or the black on the motor is glossy, but I prefer the contrast. And once everything is back together, your eye is drawn to everything but the frame, JMO.

[jjz28]

very nice! That will be a bike to be proud of.

[Eveready1100]

Hi Duc,
VHT satin black is an exact match for the original finish on your motor. Just prep for paint as per previous advice then it's rattle can time. Easy as!

[duc]

Thanks boys.

Its getting to the end of winter here so I might wait out a few more weeks for much ideal conditions to spray the engine under warm weather. Although having said that, initially when I spray canned the frame with 18 odd degrees temp, it turned out fine.

Picking up the tank and side covers before work tomorrow so will post up a mock fitting that afternoon.

[duc]

Here's what the tank and side covers look like on the bike.

[Yahman]

If your looking for a black like this...



You'll want to use "PJ1 Coatings Fast Black engine and case paint". I purchased it from Z1 Enterprises at this link. I used about 2 cans total.

http://www.z1enterprises.com/ItemDet...item=TU53-6022

Larry

[duc]

that black is awesome looking. only one problem, the brand that you posted is not available in Australia.

[jjz28]

Is that a chain conversioned xs in the background? I wonder how much "noticeable" power is gained with the conversion.

[fredintoon]

Is that a chain conversioned xs in the background? I wonder how much "noticeable" power is gained with the conversion.

Hi Jeff,
you'd lose a fair bit of an XS11's HP with that bike because it's an XS650.

[GLoweVA]

Hey Fred, just so everyone knows what we're talking about, it's the bike in the background here:


I thought the 650's had spoke front wheels?
Did they have dual calipers up front too?
But yeah, definitely not and 11, not enough cylinders.

[fredintoon]

Hey Fred,
I thought the 650's had spoke front wheels?
Did they have dual calipers up front too?
But yeah, definitely not and 11, not enough cylinders.

Hi George,
Only the US version had the megaspoke wire wheels, Even my Canadian version had 7-spoke cast wheels.
Australian version XS650 (indeed, every version except North American) had dual front disks.
That bike seems just about identical to my 1984 Heritage Special.

[GLoweVA]

oops, i didn't see that duc was from down under. That explains it all.