Painting an Engine

[trbig]

Problem is, Bondo will not hold up to 400 F degrees. I was considering Lab Metal but would like a choice.

I thought the big thing was it needed to be metalic so a current can pass through it?


Tod

[Geezer]

Please give us feedback on how the JB Weld holds up. I am expanding a tank at present and want to powdercoat same. Problem is, Bondo will not hold up to 400 F degrees. I was considering Lab Metal but would like a choice.

If you're doing the filling on the side cases not the head or cylinders, JB Weld or Marinetex will hold up. Neither are cheap but they will do the job...

Geezer

[barberad]

Hey Dan,

Leaving the engine in the frame, did you mask the frame, if so how did you get the front of the engine painted, where the twin frame comes down near the header outlets, and how did you do the bits where the engine mounts are?

Cheers
Lou

Lou, I used lots of newspaper and like four different sizes of tape. I just painted the front of the frame the same color for now (because of the paint remover incident), the rest of the frame I masked/papered. It is pretty excessable to the front of the engine with the headers removed. You just have to move around from one side of the tire to the other. I actually did the left side of the engine one day, the right side the next and then the front side last. I also used this stuff called mask plus, which is a role of masking tape with 18 inch plastic sheeting on it. I put the masking lightly over the areas I had painted the day before and just followed the front fin lines. I have to do the back side of the engine still, but that will be pulling the carbs and tank off so thats for a snowy time of the year.
Just mask off the engine mounts and anything else you dont want painted or oversprayed on. Like I said, I used a lot of tape and I took my time. 2 hours of masking and like 20 minutes of painting on three different days.
Good luck and take your time, you'll be happy with the results.
Dan

[mro]

Please give us feedback on how the JB Weld holds up. I am expanding a tank at present and want to powdercoat same. Problem is, Bondo will not hold up to 400 F degrees. I was considering Lab Metal but would like a choice.

I'd call the powder coating company and ask if JB Weld would work or if there are alternatives.
JB comes in different varieties, not all will go as high as 500.

I used JB because it was there and it should hold up for what I’m using it for. If the muff’s get to 500 degrees I don’t think I’ll be worry about the JB bondo job.


mro
Oil filter cover

[Geezer]

I'd call the powder coating company and ask if JB Weld would work or if there are alternatives.
JB comes in different varieties, not all will go as high as 500.

I used JB because it was there and it should hold up for what I’m using it for. If the muff’s get to 500 degrees I don’t think I’ll be worry about the JB bondo job.

mro

As far as I know, powder coat will only stick to metal. You would have to weld up any voids you want filled if you intend to have it powder coated.

Geezer

[barberad]

MRO,
How did you prep your headers before you sprayed them with the 1200 deg paint? Steel wool? and how are they holding up to the heat?
Thanks,
Dan

Dupli-Color 500 degree engine enamel
Ford Semi-Gloss Black

Exhaust done with 1,200 degree "satin black".
Dents and a scrapes on the muffler filled and fitted with 500 degree JB Weld.

Stuffed plastic bags in head (tightly)
Left in spark plugs.
First pre-cleaned with carb cleaner.
Then pressure washed.
Then cleaned with laquer thinner and an assortment of brushes.
Rinsed with pressure washer.
Final rinse with ether.

Mro
BTW, could not help myself.
Polished the fins on the oil filter cover too

[trbig]

mro
Oil filter cover

And the angle of that shot is juuusst about where you need to be to see the filter cup. lol.

I shined mine all up one time, stood up to take a look, and thought to myself.. "Gee.. that was pointless!" I also got a stainless steel screw set for all the cases and covers. I put the oil pan ones on too since they were in the set. Yup... pretty much pointless also! lol.


Tod

[mro]

I spent a bit of time on the exhaust.
Used a hand grinder with a wire wheel to remove surface rust, wire wheel on a hand drill to get hard to get spots. Even tho no one will ever see spots under/inside headers/collector etc. all rust was removed. Real PITA but I’m XSive . Ground down the real bad rust pits some, then used files to get it a little closer, Entire surface (including muff’s) sanded with 80 grit sand paper, then 100 grit.

Primed with a high temp adhesion promoter, then painted.
The jury’s still out on how long it will hold up.
Doubt that it will look as good as it does now a year after use, but as long as you don't let the rust come back it will be easy to repaint then with minimal prep needed.

If I had the money (any money ) I would take em to a powder coater and have it done with their high temp coating. There are some that can handle 1,000 to 1,200 degress now.
__________________

As far as I know, powder coat will only stick to metal

Don’t know limitations on powder coating.
Do know that it can be done to some plastics tho.


mro

[mro]

Yup... pretty much pointless also! lol.

NOT pointless at all !!!

I know it's there.
And yes, there be SS allen heads on the cases, cam cover and carb tops.
Ran out of em for the float bowls tho.


mro

[trbig]

Ran out of em for the float bowls tho.

Ya know.. just in case someone stands on their head to look at your bike.. (OK.. so I have stainless float bowl screws.. so what!)


Tod

[Ivan]

Ya know.. just in case someone stands on their head to look at your bike.. (OK.. so I have stainless float bowl screws.. so what!)


Tod

Or if you get rear ended on your scoot and it ends up laying on the side, at least you won't be embarassed about the nasty looking oil filter cover and rusted out float bowl screws. I hadn't taken the time for these details and, well, honestly, the pain made me not really care, but it would have been nice if someone would have said, "Hey that filter cover looks nice."

[barberad]

Or if you get rear ended on your scoot and it ends up laying on the side, at least you won't be embarassed about the nasty looking oil filter cover and rusted out float bowl screws. I hadn't taken the time for these details and, well, honestly, the pain made me not really care, but it would have been nice if someone would have said, "Hey that filter cover looks nice."

So, not to poke fun, but it's kind of like your mother always telling you to wear clean underwear.

[Ivan]

So, not to poke fun, but it's kind of like your mother always telling you to wear clean underwear.

I avoid that situation completely.

[barberad]

Does that mean you dont have an oil filter cover on your bike?

[Ivan]

Does that mean you dont have an oil filter cover on your bike?

Ehm, yeah. I run a SOFA.