Painting The Engine ????

[Glass_Darkly]

So the engine enamel is looking a bit rough on my m750 it's bubbling and has come off In places, I am thinking about droppingthe engine out and painting with a high temp black enamel paint (spray). Is this a good idea or should i just get it professionally done ? 

I will post some pics of the current condition of the bike v soon

[He Man]

its a great idea.

[Chris@CycleCat]

Don't use high temp black. It is not fuel or oil resistant and it will look like crap in a short amount of time. I use PPG DP90 on all of my engines. It is a semi flat epoxy primer but holds up well on engines to heat and chemicals. My 996 was painted in 2004 and still looks like the day I painted it. I sprayed it directly over the stock finish. You will probably have $100 in materials. Use a real degreaser available from the body shop supply store you get the paint from. You will play hell trying to fix the rattle can job.

[ducpainter]

I agree with Chris completely about the rattle cans. They simply don't hold up.

I wouldn't leave the DP 90 exposed to UV.

If the bike is parked inside it will be fine.

If it's outside all the time the epoxy will weather/chalk.

You can add a step...and cost...if you spray a coat of black urethane over the epoxy. It can be done wet on wet and will make the job indestructible.

[Glass_Darkly]

okay kool what is this black urethane does it come tins ? how do i apply, any good makes/brands you could recommend ?? I'm just looking at sites to buy the ppg to prime with. cheers 

[ducpainter]

okay kool what is this black urethane does it come tins ? how do i apply, any good makes/brands you could recommend ?? I'm just looking at sites to buy the ppg to prime with. cheers 

PPG topcoats work well.

You can spray them over the DP primer after a 30 min flash time.

The shop can add a flattening agent to give virtually any gloss level.

Keep in mind the numbers of the products may be different in England.

[Glass_Darkly]

Okay kool I'm thinking of going for a matt colour but have heard this will show up dirt alot better than gloss.

I reckon matt gives a bit of the bad boy vibes

[ducpainter]

Okay kool I'm thinking of going for a matt colour but have heard this will show up dirt alot better than gloss.

I reckon matt gives a bit of the bad boy vibes

I think it's actually shows less, but is harder to clean.

[Glass_Darkly]

Also one last lil question what is the best tools for stripping obviously sand paper. But would a wire brush be to harsh or the use of a paint scrape ? Also are there any chemicals anyone could recommend in the uk we have something called hydromorse but again will this be to harsh ? And with the super newb question to finish, what exactly is the engine made
Of

[ducpainter]

Does it need stripping? The epoxy primer will stick well to the factory paint

The engine is made of aluminum. I'd avoid stripper unless you are removing the engine from the frame and doing some disassembly.

A wire brush could be used on areas that are peeling or corroded. I wouldn't use it on the good paint unless you're referring to a hand wire brush.

[Glass_Darkly]

Does it need stripping? The epoxy primer will stick well to the factory paint

The engine is made of aluminum. I'd avoid stripper unless you are removing the engine from the frame and doing some disassembly.

A wire brush could be used on areas that are peeling or corroded. I wouldn't use it on the good paint unless you're referring to a hand wire brush.

I was planning on taking the engine out yes well as it is bubbling and a little lumpy in places I thought I would have to strip it all away in order to get a new look finish. I'm thinking just sanding down the bubbles/lumps will create kind of craters ?

[ducpainter]

I was planning on taking the engine out yes well as it is bubbling and a little lumpy in places I thought I would have to strip it all away in order to get a new look finish. I'm thinking just sanding down the bubbles/lumps will create kind of craters ?

Chemical stripping requires lots of work to clean up after.

If you remove the loose paint and 'feather' the edges back before priming it will look fine.

It's your choice.

[Glass_Darkly]

Sorry what does feathering involve ? 

[ducpainter]

Sorry what does feathering involve ? 

It means to sand the blunt edges of the peeling areas so you can no longer feel them.

If the engine was primed when you were done you would see different color rings of the different materials.

Search for feather edging paint on YouTube. They show machine methods, but it works the same by hand.

[Glass_Darkly]

I cannot find any ppg products to buy off the Internet anywhere there is loads of high temp engine paint I have found. But all the suppliers I have spoken to just say it's a one coat job. Indent believe the high temp paint job is going to be hard waring enough. Could anyone point me in the right direction for theses ppg primers and top coats ? I would prefer to be able to use them with an air gun + compressor if possible. I have also been looking at the option  of soda blasting as a way of stripping the current enamel off.