Engine work

[trbig]

Nate,

On other thought. In my experience, powder coating is a bit thicker than high temp paint and can make an engine run a little hot. Fried an old Sportster once and think the powder coating contributed to my problems.

Aches n Pains

+1. If it were mine, which it isn't, I'd stick with a high temp paint on the head/cylinders.

[CKlamer]

I know people that have powder coated their engines and is fine since they were show bikes and didn't ride them a lot. My engine builder on my cafe racer recommended against it.

But for everyday riding I would recommend against the powder coat on the engine.

It is way thicker than a couple of coats of paint and keeps the engine from dissipating all of that heat.

I believe the baking temp for powder coat is around 250 degrees.

[Pizzaboy]

Hey XSives!

I'm actually from Fond du Lac, south of Oshkosh, 15 miles. But yes I am familiar with the area, as I do route Pizza sales for many years now. Finding this forum very helpful in getting my 81 Venturer ready for duty this up coming spring. Had to and have to work through a few bugs, first started with a Battery (bought a good one, glass mat) then bought a starter solenoid, but I think the problem was corrosion in the starter button assembly, so it cranks now....fired up but only on 2 cylinders, am in the process of working through that problem, Andreas out in Washington came to my beckon call with parts that are due in the mail this week. And then the last problem will be getting the front Calipers unstuck, and I should have a road worthy touring machine...I HOPE! Anyway I apprciate all the people helping out and maybe I'll get to ride it to one of the gatherings this upcoming summer?!

Mike

[crazy steve]

Can the engines be powdercoated with everything in them? Wasnt sure how the gaskets and anything rubber inside would handle it.

In a word, no. There's two temps used in powdercoating; the 'flow-out' temp which melts the powder so that it achieves it's designed finish, and the 'cure' temp used after the part 'flows out'. The first is generally about 450 degrees, too hot for rubber parts/seals as well as turning most lubricants into gummy goo. Even the cure temp is 350, still pretty hot. The flow-out temp is hot enough to damage the temper on springs, causing them to collapse after coating.

Another issue is part size; 'cure' time after flow-out is usually fixed (about 20 minutes), but flow-out time can vary depending on the part. Larger, heavier parts can take longer to flow-out and if you have smaller parts attached, those can 'burn' before the larger parts are ready for curing.

There's other issues too; contaminants coming out of seams/joints under heat, the extreme difficulty in disassembling powdercoated 'assemblies', the difficulty in getting powder into all the nooks and crannies.

For a durable painted motor, look here: http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...e+paint&page=2

... and here's another with some powdercoated parts: http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...e+paint&page=2

[Tat2demon]

Hadnt considered heat issues. Thanks for the links.

[Rasputin]

Can the engines be powdercoated with everything in them? Wasnt sure how the gaskets and anything rubber inside would handle it.

According to the guy I use for my powder coating, It is simply not done. He says he will not do it, no way no how.
I would wonder how it would look if you had to remove the clutch cover after it was done as a unit? I think the powder coat would not come off easily nor would it be a clean break where it did come off unless each piece was done separate. YMMV

[Geezer]

There are so many good high temp engine paints and some 2 part epoxy ones that all spray on at room temp and don't have to be baked on are all very good. I wouldn't consider powder coating engines a reasonable option.

Tony

[Tat2demon]

Yeah its looking that way. On a semi related note, Ill also be dropping in one of Geezers regulators and a set of Dyna coils.

[mharrington]

I believe powder coating the engine cases and engine side covers is a great idea but not the cyl and cyl head. The cooling fins are heat sinks and must function- high temp paint lets them do that. I use PJ1 engine case black- and while I think its the best there is out of a spray can it will suffer from extended exposure to fuel-brake fluid where powder coating will be fine. If I were to ever tear down an engine COMPLETELY- Id have the cases, side covers and probably the tappet cover powder coated. What did the factory use on their blacked out engines?

[trbig]

What did the factory use on their blacked out engines?

Probably really good stuff... that the EPA would never allow these days. lol.