Repainting engine, painting the crankcase, air cleaner cover.

[greenbarn]

Again, thanks everyone! Have a whole list of things to do this spring:

—paint engine
—install new Nomad seat
—modify my F&S seat (shave down some foam on the pillion for the wife)
—purchase and install fender flaps
—get bars, cables, and grips installed
—install new levers and mirrors
—new tank bib
—bag for between the handlebars (not sure what it is called exactly)
—purchase and install Brake-Away throttle lock
—possibly new paint job this fall! (I want to go with a green/cream two tone paint) Wife said "do it now before we have kids, or you'll always find something else to spend your spare cash on" Love that woman!

Its going to be an expensive and AWESOME summer!

EDIT: I worked up an image in PhotoShop as to what type of colors I would like. If anyone else is thinking of painting and would like me to make a "mock up" of your bike with different colors, I'd be happy to do so . . . its fun for me!

That's looking sharp.   Looks like you've got quite a list there, Raveen....   Should keep you busy for a while!    I like the green and ivory - I just love a two-tone Drifter.  I almost chose a green/ivory scheme for the 800, but I think I've settled on something else....   I just might take you up on that offer, though...   

[Troll]

The elephant ears is part of my winter front. When it finally gets hot up here (late June) I take them off. They make all the difference in the world when the temps are below 50.....or it's raining and below 50, or snowing...or...Yes, they work. Got them from a guy in Canada off eBay back in 2010. Well made and easy to put on/take off!

[Reveen]

Having painted quite a few parts in the engine compartment of my Mustang, I would recommend against using a brush. I didn't do a full teardown of the engine when it was out, and as such had to use a brush on some of the parts I couldn't spray since I couldn't mask off the areas. I'm glad that you really can't see many of those parts I used a brush on. Glancing under the hood when they're fairly hidden they look okay, but up close they don't. If they were easily visible, they would not look very good and I would have had to take a lot more time to spray them. I didn't have stuff like finned cylinder heads to paint, so you might end up using a combination of a brush and spraying. If you decide to paint, you might have to find a place and try out different ways to see which one you like best. I'm also guessing that you will want to remove the engine to paint unless you just want to paint the visible places.

Whatever method you use, be sure to thoroughly rough up and clean everything. If you don't it won't matter how you paint it, the paint will just end up flaking off.

Thanks for the tips!

Not sure how much experience you have with Platidip, but if very little read up all you can and practice first. I dipped my 800 classic completely and it was a learning process.

I have zero experience with Plastidip but I good buddy of mine dipped part of his HD bobber and it turned out great. He's a mechanic and used to be a airbrusher, so I think I'll lure him over with a few beers and have him give me a hand.

If the paint is just oxidized (as opposed to chipped or worn off) trying using S100 Engine Brighter. http://www.s100.com/s100_eb.htm.  I was amazed how it brought back the black on my Honda Ascot engine.  I use it sparingly as I'm a bit suspicious about what it's actually doing to the paint to make it look like new again, but if your other option is to repaint anyway, I don't think you have anything to loose.

Wow, didn't even know this stuff existed! I think this is going to be my Plan A, as it seems to be probably the best way to start. I really appreciate it!

I have painted a number of both bike and car engines. VHT works well but I prefer POR Black Velvet High Temp Paint.  This paint can be either brushed of sprayed on.  It recommends sandblasting before hand but I have used this on both cylinder heads and exhaust manifolds without great results shout blasting so long as the surface is clean.

http://www.por15.com/HIGH-TEMP_p_104.html

Good to know. I've only ever heard of VHT, but will definately give POR a look as well. Yeah, I could sandblast (buddy has a sandblaster) but I don't know if I will. I guess I'll be able to tell pretty quickly if I need to start over and sandblast it first. Thanks!

I did my engine this past Spring. I used non chlorinated brake cleaner to wash the engine after I'd done a regular cleaning, to remove any residue that would interfere with the paint. I removed everything I didn't want painted, or masked it off to prevent accidental painting. I used satin black Krylon colormaster which has a "primer" built it....Been about 8,000 miles or so and quite a few washings, and the paint is holding up quite well. I got some cheap acetone nail polish remover and after the paint dried for a few minutes, I used it on a clean cloth to clean the edges of the fins down to the original aluminum. It was also used to remove any overspray from some of the hard to mask off parts....First pic is before, just clean. All the rest are after the job was done. No need to create angst where there isn't need ....

Looks great Troll! I like the idea of cleaning the edges of the fins off too. I think I'll just play it by ear and see what I think looks best. Good idea with the brake cleaner to get a good wash on the engine, hadn't thought of that. Do you know how high of temps that paint is good for? Also, I'm really digging that leather over your crash bars . . . does it act kinda like fork lowers and displace some of the wind? Very cool!

Again, thanks everyone! Have a whole list of things to do this spring:

—paint engine
—install new Nomad seat
—modify my F&S seat (shave down some foam on the pillion for the wife)
—purchase and install fender flaps
—get bars, cables, and grips installed
—install new levers and mirrors
—new tank bib
—bag for between the handlebars (not sure what it is called exactly)
—purchase and install Brake-Away throttle lock
—possibly new paint job this fall! (I want to go with a green/cream two tone paint) Wife said "do it now before we have kids, or you'll always find something else to spend your spare cash on" Love that woman!

Its going to be an expensive and AWESOME summer!

EDIT: I worked up an image in PhotoShop as to what type of colors I would like. If anyone else is thinking of painting and would like me to make a "mock up" of your bike with different colors, I'd be happy to do so . . . its fun for me!

[Troll]

  I did my engine this past Spring. I used non chlorinated brake cleaner to wash the engine after I'd done a regular cleaning, to remove any residue that would interfere with the paint. I removed everything I didn't want painted, or masked it off to prevent accidental painting. I used satin black Krylon colormaster which has a "primer" built it....Been about 8,000 miles or so and quite a few washings, and the paint is holding up quite well. I got some cheap acetone nail polish remover and after the paint dried for a few minutes, I used it on a clean cloth to clean the edges of the fins down to the original aluminum. It was also used to remove any overspray from some of the hard to mask off parts....First pic is before, just clean. All the rest are after the job was done. No need to create angst where there isn't need ....

[jmbo]

I have painted a number of both bike and car engines. VHT works well but I prefer POR Black Velvet High Temp Paint.  This paint can be either brushed of sprayed on.  It recommends sandblasting before hand but I have used this on both cylinder heads and exhaust manifolds without great results shout blasting so long as the surface is clean.

http://www.por15.com/HIGH-TEMP_p_104.html

[Bucko]

If the paint is just oxidized (as opposed to chipped or worn off) trying using S100 Engine Brighter. http://www.s100.com/s100_eb.htm.  I was amazed how it brought back the black on my Honda Ascot engine.  I use it sparingly as I'm a bit suspicious about what it's actually doing to the paint to make it look like new again, but if your other option is to repaint anyway, I don't think you have anything to loose.

[moosewing3]

Not sure how much experience you have with Platidip, but if very little read up all you can and practice first. I dipped my 800 classic completely and it was a learning process.

[gdrudd13]

Having painted quite a few parts in the engine compartment of my Mustang, I would recommend against using a brush. I didn't do a full teardown of the engine when it was out, and as such had to use a brush on some of the parts I couldn't spray since I couldn't mask off the areas. I'm glad that you really can't see many of those parts I used a brush on. Glancing under the hood when they're fairly hidden they look okay, but up close they don't. If they were easily visible, they would not look very good and I would have had to take a lot more time to spray them. I didn't have stuff like finned cylinder heads to paint, so you might end up using a combination of a brush and spraying. If you decide to paint, you might have to find a place and try out different ways to see which one you like best. I'm also guessing that you will want to remove the engine to paint unless you just want to paint the visible places.

Whatever method you use, be sure to thoroughly rough up and clean everything. If you don't it won't matter how you paint it, the paint will just end up flaking off.

[Reveen]

I have a '99 1500, so of course it has the "blackout package." The black paint on the engine could use some help. I've heard of people using VHT paint on engines and exhaust, and wondering if anyone here has any experience with it.

I definitely want to repaint the engine to bring back that dark black,  and contemplated painting the crankcase as well (black),  but I'm not too sure if it will look good or not. I think I might also plasti dip the air cleaner cover, just to get rid of that last bit of chrome off the bike. I like that I can remove the plasti dip whenever and not have to worry about not liking it and be stuck with something more permanent.

I just purchased some new black handlebars, black Kuryakyn grips, black mirrors, and black levers.  I am going to do my best to de-chrome as much as I can.

So, does a anyone have any experience with this? I'm assuming I will have to take the engine completely off the bike if I wanted to spray it, but I read in another Vulcan forum where someone painted the engine with a brush and they were pleased with how it turned out.

Any tips, suggestions, or warnings?