Engine Painting

[JamesKMX99]

Hi,

So coming to paint the motor for my cafe.

What are the steps involved in doing so? Do I need to remove all the paint, prime, respray and clear coat?

Or can I degrease, respray and reprime?

Ideally I do not want to take the engine apart

Thanks
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Kawasaki!

[Teflon-Mike]

I tend to spray an engine as a whole, rather than take to to bits; saves a heck of a lot f masking, and gaskets!
1/Engine 'out'; on an upturned staka-box;
2/ plug vent holes like the crank case breather and the rocker cover breather ad ay others like radiator hose ports, cylinder head inlet ports and exhaust ports. (Make sure you plug holes with stuff you can get back out after, and doesn't get in the way of what you want to pant!
3/ pressure wash; degrease; (Cheap big box bio washing powder is great and cheap degreasant!) pressure wash; strip with nitromors! Pressure wash again! More big box bio to be sure to be rid of grease.
Apply more nitromors.. more pressure washing.. you get the picture!
4/ When you have the motor good and clean and stripped back to bare alli..... wipe over with white vinegar to 'etch' the metal and get a good key for paint.... allow to dry
5/ chuck preffered brew of high temperature pat at the motor, from an aerosol in THIN coats... leave each to dry.. buld up coats. YES straight on the metal!
6/ HT paint usually needs to be got to operating temperature to cure, and some xan stink bludy awful o first ru of the engine, whilst cooler parts of the motor, like clutch cover may ot actually get hot enough t properly cure pait, so I will usually do a force cure, using electric pant stripper gun, to get the engine casing and paint to the curing temp, all over, whlst its still on the staka-box... whe the motor starts to sag, cos the stakka-box is getting a bit warm... good hit the motor has bee farly well 'cured'

I do NOT prime engines; It's not really helpful, and can act as an isulator to help Keep heat the engine, rather than let it out.

Which grade of HT paint you use can be a bit of a conundrum, and depends on the engine. Water-cooled engines shouldn't really get much over 88Degres C the regulated temp on the thermostat; you could i theory use a half decent two-pack panel paint as for car doors etc on them; air-cooled engines dont have a water-jacket they do tend to get pretty hot, and probably do need a dedcated HT paint; but ot necesserily VHT or very hgh temp paint sold to spray exhaust headers and such with, that d get incredibly hot! On a cylinder barel that stuff will probably never get ht enough to cure even if you hit t with a blow-torch!

On a water-cooled engine, I have had good results with cheap silver or black 'wheel-paint' itended to touch up manky rims. It's not partcularly heat resistant, but ntended to withstand the local heat from brakes, tends to be OK.

On air-cooled engines, for similar low rent 'blow-over' DIY Store BBQ paint is reasoable for a freshen up; may be a little between matt and silk in finish, and often doesn't last astoundingly, but t is cheap.

For a more pukka finish on ar-cooled motors I have always found PJ1 'porcelain' finsh for air-cooled motors, teds to give a close match to most black factory finshes, and looks pretty god and lasts pretty well.

I was recomended an alternatve a while back, when had a supply issue with euro-labeling! I cant remember which one it was; PJ1's main rival! Some-one will no-doubt remind me! Seems to give better coverage and more even finsh, but decidely 'matt' and not been on long enough to comment on long term durabilty.

But as all paint-work, quality of finish starts in the prep, and making the motor as clean as you can before you start.

Here's the air-cooled Seve-Fifty engne, in PJ1 during coat-builds.
https://scontent.flhr3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10441271_815344398490479_1102821816716678738_n.jpg?oh=14f1bad141cdbddd82888819884a0da0&oe=59E00A3E
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[MCN]

***Deleted Puny Post***
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[terrytibbs]

[Pete.]

I don't see much of a problem with pressure washing engines so long as all the holes are plugged and you keep away from the sensors.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[chris-red]

I've pressure washed all my bikes, the only trouble I had was with water getting into an alarm on one. The alram now lives in a carrier bag.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[JamesKMX99]

Well I followed his guide and the engine looks pretty sweet. Did not pressure wash as my outside tap is broken, just a lot of scrubbing to get grease and dirt off!
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Kawasaki!