Engines and paint

Ref: CB400f

Engines and paint; the guy I had hoped to restore the factory finish on my
400/4 engine cannot do it for "months", so I will have to do it myself. I
am proposing to use Nitromors to get the old paint (it had been painted with
black hamerite) off, along with a jetwash. The black paint is very loose,
as it was never really the paint for the job.

The 400-4 engine I am told was originally bare alloy with painted casings.
If so. any good ideas on how to achieve and preserve that finish?

Had a victory yesterday in that the last exhaust stud came out. I asked the
question how several weeks ago. After my experiences, turning one nut
against another was bollox that cause the studs to break in half. Heat, a
hammer, a cheap "Do it all" plumbers wrench, penetrating oil, and patience
has worked a treat. I am v glad to see the back of that one.

Regards to all, its a sunny day and I should be out on the VFR

 

Nitromors doesn't shift Hammerite. I hate to say this, but bead blasting
or similar is the only way. Otherwise there'll be bits of black left in
all the nooks and crannies. Trust me.

Gardener's lime is good at bringing up naked alloy, and there are
various commercial preparations. Wonder Wheels is one such. For painted
cases - aluminium paint and lacquer. I'd leave them naked alloy, though,
and just invest in Solvol shares.

Heat, hammer.... Ah, poetry.

 

You will not be able to return the engine to factory finish without
spending a lot of money and IMHO that's not worth it.You can however
make it good/better.You have choices.
Buy some decent wire brush drill attachments.Brass based are best.
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/search.asp?q=wire+brush&p=2
For larger areas of the engine to take paint off.
And for the nooks and crannies,
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/search.asp?q=carbon
small de-carbonising attachment/s.
There is skill in using these and,"Always" wear safety goggles.
These can also be used carefully to,"Burnish"areas however once paint
and crud removed you can use a couple of pounds of,"Elbow-Grease" and
some Scotch-brite and Wd40/parraffin to get a nice semi-matt/silk
finish to the alloy.You will get into the area of personal cosmetic
choice e.g what do you like?
You can go further and use some 500 wet and dry and polish the alloy
and then Brasso it to a mirror finish in the areas that alloy to
physical access however this is a very labour/time intensive job.

Or you can,once the paint and crud is removed,go for the quicker but
very nice option of Satin Black Engine look.
This can be done well and cheap using U-pol Acid 8#(Brand name but
there's a lot cheaper and just as good) Acid Etch Primer and then B&Q
high-temp Barb-B-Que paint.
You don't actually need the Acid etch but it does stop re-oxidization
of the alloy and allow better bonding of the high-temp paint.

I do not recommend any,"Silver" engine paint in any form as I have yet
to see one that does not look,"Cheap" when applied.


HTH

 

On a 400 Four this looks gash in the extreme.

Best to leave it naked alloy.

 

On a 400 Four this looks gash in the extreme.

Best to leave it naked alloy.[/QUOTE]

You may be right but then that's only a matter of opinion and is the
engine actually seen if hidden by fairing?

 

You may be right but then that's only a matter of opinion and is the
engine actually seen if hidden by fairing?[/QUOTE]

It's a 400 Four. What fairing are you talking about?

 

You may be right but then that's only a matter of opinion and is the
engine actually seen if hidden by fairing?[/QUOTE]

It's a matter of majority opinion, because I've only ever seen a couple
of black-engined 400 Fours, and as Timo says, what is this fairing of
which you speak?

 

go for the quicker but

Its because some prat painted the engine black that I am in this dilema.
Well the cylinder case anyway, and he used shite paint, but with any luck
that will help when trying to get it off

 

<VBG>

I know, I know..... Don't blame me, blame Shep.

 

Merely if the user had fitted any after market fairing the engine
would not be seen.

 

<VBG>

I know, I know..... Don't blame me, blame Shep.[/QUOTE]

Don't blame me,I didn't put the paint on<EBFG>

 

<Holds head in hands>

 

<Holds head in hands>[/QUOTE]

Got bad neck muscles?
It's an age thing ;-)

 

May as well just go the whole hog and ride it around with a canvas cover
on.

 

Is that a bare,"Alloy" cover or a,"Painted" one?
Heh.Heh

 

not helped by riding all those unfaired bikes...
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.fsnet.co.uk my opinions are just that
Too Busy: Your mind is like a motorway. Sometimes it can be jammed by
too much traffic. Avoid the jams by never using your mind on a
Bank Holiday weekend.
from the Little Book of Complete B***ocks by Alistair Beaton.

 

Sigh.Not even worth the typing :/
Why bother?

 

you tell me, mate.