Spray painting and polishing

[Frog]

Hi all,

I'm part way through spraying and polishing various bits of my CB400, and have a couple of questions.

Pease note, however, that I am a complete newbie. I've never attempted anything mechanical before, and am learning on the job

1. I've removed all the rust off the shocks (without removing them from the bike, as I believe I need a spring compressor to put them back together again?), but they rusted up within days (should have thought of that). What would you coat them with?

2. Respraying the rear cowl and front fender is going pretty well so I'm going to attempt the tank next. It's mainly crazy paved lacquer, but with big chips that go through to the metal. Presumably I just primer and filler primer the chipped bits, scrub down through the lacquer, respray, then petrol resistant lacquer on top, or do I need to take it all back to metal because of the depth of the chips?

3. I need to do something to the forks, the paint is chipped. I'm not sure about spraying them (although this is an option if it turns out to be be the best option), but instead have thought about polishing. Would they need a protective coat once stripped, sanded, and polished using autosol?

Cheers in advance.
____________________
CBT 23/09/10 - Theory 19/03/11 - Mod1 19/04/11 - Mod2 06/05/11
Bikes: CBF125 (sold 30/10/10-25/09/12) - CB400 24/06/11 (broken) - ER6-f 25/09/2012

[hazza]

1. they will rust up unless you coat them with something. The units will come off as one without the need for a spring compressor. have you looked for new shocks on ebay?

2. As long as its flat and you can't feel any difference in height it should be okay. You may think you have finished the prep until the first coat of primer goes on and you see all the lumpy bits. Don't be tempted to carry on and things will only look worse.

3. yes and no. You don't have to but unless you want to re-polish them every time it rains then i would. (when i did mine, i didn't, and they stain quite easily). Also doing the polishing by hand will be very time consuming you ideally need a buffer.
____________________
3 Honda NC50's(Sold)-->'72 Puch Maxi S (Sold, want it back!)--> '90 Yamaha RXS 100 (Stolen)--> '87 Honda Cub 90(Sold) --> '95 Kawasaki Eliminator (Sold) --> '98 Bandit 600 (Sold) -->'07 SV650S (Current)

[Frog]

[hazza]

Personally for that price, id go cheap and cheerful and if they last two winters you have your monies worth.

Clear coating should be fine.

Good luck


____________________
3 Honda NC50's(Sold)-->'72 Puch Maxi S (Sold, want it back!)--> '90 Yamaha RXS 100 (Stolen)--> '87 Honda Cub 90(Sold) --> '95 Kawasaki Eliminator (Sold) --> '98 Bandit 600 (Sold) -->'07 SV650S (Current)

[Frog]

Cheers hazza, I'll give that a go.
When this bloody wind stops so that my shed is safe to go in
____________________
CBT 23/09/10 - Theory 19/03/11 - Mod1 19/04/11 - Mod2 06/05/11
Bikes: CBF125 (sold 30/10/10-25/09/12) - CB400 24/06/11 (broken) - ER6-f 25/09/2012