Front cover repaint - 1100?

[MattW]

The engine front cover of my 1100 is getting past its best and I'd like to try repainting it. As I don't want to faff around with removing it / new seals etc I'm going to try and do it in situ.

If I could ask a bit of advice from those who've been there...

From what I've read on here smooth Hammerite silver is the stuff to use - would a primer help? Or does Hammerite stick ok without a primer? There's one area below the alternator belt cover that's slightly pitted - would a primer help fill the pits?

Removing old paint? Is it best to strip it right back to metal or just remove the loose stuff and feather the edges of the remaining paint?

I've never managed a really good finish with Hammerite smooth - any tricks to getting the best out of it?

And finally, case screws - painting round them / masking them is going to be tricky - how many can you safely remove without causing problems?

thanks
Matt

 

[Timolgra]

I tried repainting a mate's 1200 front cover in situ.
Of course being a 1200 it was in a right state even at 10 months old, but found trying to feather the edges didn't work very well and it would have been much better to have removed it and done the job properly.....ie. in the skip

Smoothrite seems to be as near a colour match as you can get and ok from a distance but the finish is dull.

There's a good thread somewhere in the 1200 section regarding a repaint in situ

 

[(RIP) Mark H]

There's a good thread somewhere in the 1200 section regarding a repaint in situ

Link............
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136102

Regarding the case screws, I would leave all the old ones in place when applying paint, and the replace them one at a time after painting with stainless, I have just finished a R1100 front case repaint and found if you remove to many case screws oil starts to seep out which somewhat spoils your paint Finnish.

 

[motobiker]

As and when a job requires the front of the bike to be taken apart.. I'll take advantage of that and replace mine with a BLACK one.. In the meantime the front cover doesn't really figure in my concerns about cosmetics. Rather leave it be than mess about with stripping and painting. I only see it when the bike is washed, after all.

 

[Stewart H]

I tried a test area on my engine using aerosol smooth, it is still stuck to clean and un-primed alloy after three years, I however looked at one that had been "touched up" and the touch up areas seem to stand out like the proverbial dogs bollocks, I am keeping my patina until its in pieces

Stewart

 

[MattW]

Thanks for the input guys.

Great finish on yours Easyrider

 

[chad]

I've always used the PJ1 engine paint from busters £7 a can always a good finish and is really tough too

 

[Canuck]

send a pm to sproggy...

All I know is being aluminium would be best to strip, then acid etch then paint immediately after.