Protecting bearing surfaces - Glass Blasting frame

[Seaking]

I've got my project bike stripped down to the frame now and will soon be glass blasting it to remove old paint and copious amounts of rust. In doing so, what's the best way to protect bearing surfaces or other such surfaces (neck bearing, shifter shaft hole etc). Not sure what's the best thing to use in this case.

Suggestions?

Cheers!

 

[Tim]

There's nothing you need to be concerned about on the frame. Neck bearings have races that you'd be installing after the frame is blasted / painted. The swingarm shaft holes and other holes for shafts to go through are not going to be an issue.

The swingarm pivot bolt is stationary - doesn't rotate. The brake pivot shaft might rotate, but very little, not under any considerable force etc. So blast away making sure you're replacing the bearing races in the neck.

More important is to mask some of those areas when you paint or powder coat as bearing races and shafts might not fit once there's thick color coating on those surfaces.

 

[Seaking]

Unfortunately, on this bike the neck bearings and swing arm bearings are the cone shaped roller bearings, no seals or races.. The swingarm bearing are similar albeit smaller.. hence the concern if I accidentally blast glass on their surfaces and mar the finish..

Addendum: Silly me, I thought perhaps those neck bearings came out a little TOO easy, the shiny part in the neck post is actually the outter race of the cone bearing. I had a look at the replacement bearings and see that the 'cup' part is separate from the bearings themselves..

My bad..

http://www.eastcoastphotos.com/gs650g/picture0126.jpg

http://www.eastcoastphotos.com/gs650g/picture0127.jpg