First time painting engine
- Thread starter cb450cf
- Start date
manualofman
i always wind up with extra bolts leftover..
This may seem like a newb question since I haven't painted an engine yet... But do most people paint the engine after it's been taken down piece by piece? Or just dismount and paint it fully assembled, taping off obvious intake, exhaust ports, plug holes, etc... Does it matter either way?
The only thing I worry about is painting over seams and joints of the different engine components. Isn't it a bitch to 1.) tape off the seams and 2.) take it apart when you need to get inside?
I want to paint mine up for just aesthetics sake and plan a rebuild during the winter. I'm wondering if I should just wait to paint or paint it now while the majority of the bike is still coming together.
The only thing I worry about is painting over seams and joints of the different engine components. Isn't it a bitch to 1.) tape off the seams and 2.) take it apart when you need to get inside?
I want to paint mine up for just aesthetics sake and plan a rebuild during the winter. I'm wondering if I should just wait to paint or paint it now while the majority of the bike is still coming together.
Might want to hold off on paint time after the rebuild . Think you can do it either way but your right and if you paint it now then pull it apart later will most likely chip or scuff up the paint and will have to do it again. Think alot of guys will pull there motor apart and once they get everything done will start to paint the motor parts as they go back on the motor . Comes down to what you want to do and how much work you want to do !
The best way to paint an engine is clearly to completely dismantle it, clean it, mask the parts off, paint / bake etc. each part and then reassemble.
I'm not a huge fan of painting an assembled engine - I understand of course why people do it, kind of like I understand why some people spray spoked wheels after lacing them up and with tires already on the rims. It's easier, less work, and who among us actually re-torques their spokes? might be an issue when you go to replace the tires, but that's down the road anyhow.
IMHO if you're going to go to the effort of painting an engine, go all the way. Having disassembled my first engine ever - my XS650 just a few months ago, I can honestly say it's pretty darn simple.
I'm not a huge fan of painting an assembled engine - I understand of course why people do it, kind of like I understand why some people spray spoked wheels after lacing them up and with tires already on the rims. It's easier, less work, and who among us actually re-torques their spokes? might be an issue when you go to replace the tires, but that's down the road anyhow.
IMHO if you're going to go to the effort of painting an engine, go all the way. Having disassembled my first engine ever - my XS650 just a few months ago, I can honestly say it's pretty darn simple.
manualofman
i always wind up with extra bolts leftover..
thanks guys. and i didn't mean to hijack your thread cb450cf.
your engine came out looking pretty good. are you planning to polish those covers too?
your engine came out looking pretty good. are you planning to polish those covers too?