Tank and Side Cover Emblem Restoration?

[zookey]

I like your brass one, but honestly don't think your original one looked all that bad......


Well here is todays progress on the emblems.... they have a few flaws but those can be touched up easily enough.

<<click thumbnails for larger view>>

[ESJr1642]

Nice!

Very nice work, those look great!

[zookey]

Thanks!

There are a few touch-ups to be done, then on to clear coating and putting them back on the bike.

I filled the back of the tank emblems with epoxy putty to stabilize the 30+ year old cracked, aged plastic. Was wondering if I should put something behind them when re installing them so as not to scratch the tank....

Any ideas or suggestions?

[EricHa]

I like your brass one, but honestly don't think your original one looked all that bad......

That OEM badge is off a spare cover, the ones from the bike were shot. I honestly like the brass look better than the gold chrome look. Plus my bike is far from a restoration, more like a resurrection.

Your badges look great Zookey. As for what to put behind the badge, I wouldn't worry about it. Nothing will show behind the badge. Otherwise, you could put a small piece of foam two sided tape back there. You can get it at any hardware store.

[zookey]

Acrylic or Enamel Clear Coat

I do like the brass color too..... husband prefers the gold tone though.

I was thinking maybe putting a small piece of felt behind the badges just to keep that epoxy putty from scratching the paint, husband thinks that the felt will get wet and hold the water on the tank though. The double sided foam tape might be a good idea if I can find it in black.

Thanks for the idea!

One other question for you all.....

To clear coat these when the touch ups are done. The gold leaf says to spray it with Clear Acrylic paint to avoid the gold from tarnishing. I have enamel clear coat and was wondering if it would really make a difference or should I pick up some Acrylic Clear Coat? Not sure if there would be any kind of reaction (undesirable) between the gold and the Enamel....??

[EricHa]

Others can better answer the clear coat question, but the foam tape won't show behind the badge.

I supposed electrical tape would work as well.

[bikerphil]

I have ruined the paint on a badge before by applying a non-compatible clear coat over the paint. Test their compatibility before doing the actual finished badge.

[Lbrown311]

excellent work on the badges zookey. I definately think the way to go is black then paint the letters now. Did you brush the letters or paint stick? I am thinking of redoing mine again but I want them chrome instead of the gold. Just don't think the gold goes with anything on the bike. My brother is blasting my tank tomorrow so when I get home from this out of town job I will be able to paint it this weekend. Can't wait. Its pretty much the only thing left I have to paint. Pretty excited to get her all put together and see what she looks like. I took a 79F and am doing gloss black with chrome emblems.

BTW...I like the rubber ball idea in the gas tank opening. Brilliant!

[jimbyjimb]

I'm soon going to begin blacksmithing as a hobby and the first thought I had was to forge a couple of badges to replace the emblems on my side covers. I was thinking 'XS' or euro-style '1.1' or something along those lines.

I think some clearcoated hand forged steel would make the bike have a bit more of a raw look.

[EricHa]

Or something like this...........

[zookey]

I have ruined the paint on a badge before by applying a non-compatible clear coat over the paint. Test their compatibility before doing the actual finished badge.

I can totally appreciate that!! Painted our bed frame (old steal bed) all shiny chrome about 15 years ago.... FIL suggested that I clear coat it to help preserve the paint job..... Using the same paint from the same company it reversed my Chrome to end up looking like a shiny primer grey color. Yes that was very aggravating.... to say the least.

I used a cap off of a grease tube to pour my gold leaf paint into for dipping my brush..... Might have to take that out to "Clear Coat" first, just to see what the reaction will be before I "endanger" my emblems.....

excellent work on the badges zookey. I definately think the way to go is black then paint the letters now. Did you brush the letters or paint stick? I am thinking of redoing mine again but I want them chrome instead of the gold........

BTW...I like the rubber ball idea in the gas tank opening. Brilliant!

I painted the letters with gold leaf and a foam brush. I bought both at ACE hardware. If I were to do it over again I would get a "test paint kit" that I saw at ACE.... it contained a foam brush, a paint pan, and a very small paint roller. I think the roller would leave less paint getting into the grooves and need touching up. I did learn that if you have a tooth pick handy while painting and if you get paint in the crevices you can pick it out quickly and do little damage to your black. ACE also has Silver Leaf as well as gold and copper..... I would definitely suggest using one of these paints. Cost here was $5.45 for the gold leaf and you will have enough to paint A LOT of these.

OH and heads up on the rubber ball idea....... Make sure not to put too much pressure on the ball while it is in the filler opening. The filler hole has a "lip" that sticks down into the tank about 3/4 of an inch and makes ball retrieval next to impossible. Learned this the hard way.... so suggest pushing a chunk of wire all the way though the balls center to prevent accidentally knocking ball into the tank.

[jetmechmarty]

OH and heads up on the rubber ball idea....... Make sure not to put too much pressure on the ball while it is in the filler opening. The filler hole has a "lip" that sticks down into the tank about 3/4 of an inch and makes ball retrieval next to impossible.

My local Ace Hardware has rubber plugs that fit the tank filler. It looks a bit like a big wine cork, but tapered.

[zookey]

I thought about a rubber plug but all that I found were just not big enough for the filler hole..... with a bump they would have fallen in too.... that is when I went to the rubber ball. Honestly am not sure how the one got into the tank, but sure was a challenge getting it back out!

[jetmechmarty]

I just repainted a couple of badges. Here is what I did.

The stuff.


Ugly badges.


Resurfaced with 400 grit sandpaper after mending cracks with Super Glue.


Plastic primer


Satin black


Paint applied with gold leafing pen


Sprayed clear

Someone with more patience and a steadier hand can achieve better results than I did.

The cost of materials to do this job was over $30 and I have enough stuff to do a box full of badges. Bottom line, buy new badges. These look OK if new is not an option. These came off an XS11 for which reproductions are not available. I'm pleased with the results considering my complete lack of patience and unsteady hand. I'll try to get my daughter to do the next pair.

[MaximPhil]

Hi Marty,
Looks pretty nice to me.
Phil