Rocker cover paint/plating

[Teejaye]

Hi all,

I did a search on this topic and only came up with a brief opinion on what to do. My right hand rocker cover on R1100gs is looking a bit rough, there are some bubbles appearing under the paint/coating and some coating is coming away from the ribs. What's the answer? New rocker cover or can you get these recoated? It is a matt finish from factory, not sure what the best thing to do.

Cheers guys

 

[uncle dick]

Aerosol etch primer and Hammerite silver looks great

 

[MattW]

Aerosol etch primer and Hammerite silver looks great

+1
Although I didn't use etch primer, just cleaned off all the bubbled paint, feathered the edges of the sound coating, abraded the lot with a scotchbrite pad and used Hammerite smooth sliver. It's a bit of a faff getting into the fins (I used a combination of brass scrapers and a homemade scotchbrite dremmel tool) but easy enough if you've got the patience.

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/tqeSBpz2ksMabZmquzPE3xJAieIP4IByCYmMpeOVcwI?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-HEdHcq470ns/TG_4HcH44hI/AAAAAAAADpo/EAsrGyxAvsI/s800/IMG_5634.JPG" height="600" width="800" /></a>

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/hbrgsqboHln1wP5PgfCaOBJAieIP4IByCYmMpeOVcwI?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-aNhhS_X-r-Q/TG_4IdIdJJI/AAAAAAAADps/KqVSuGQNdK4/s800/IMG_5641.JPG" height="600" width="800" /></a>

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/l8p_sBe8GWjmiTO5s7EqRxJAieIP4IByCYmMpeOVcwI?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jfXdaSPK7Xg/TG_4J33Bo7I/AAAAAAAADpw/R8oBVARzlFA/s800/IMG_5642.JPG" height="600" width="800" /></a>

 

[jaak]

That is looking really slick!

Did you consider bead blasting?

 

[MattW]

That is looking really slick!

Did you consider bead blasting?

Thanks

I did think about vapour blasting (it would have saved a bit of time) but then I might have well have got them powder coated too (although apparently the colour match is tricky with powder coat). Which would all have added up in terms of cost. That was my fall-back option if my diy job hadn't worked (although I'd done my engine front cover before so had the technique sorted out).

As it was, it cost me a couple of evenings and a can of paint It's not showroom but it's a pretty decent finish and it's a lot better than it was.

They've been fitted for about 8 months now (the front cover even longer) and is looking to be a pretty durable solution.

 

[Teejaye]

Thanks

I did think about vapour blasting (it would have saved a bit of time) but then I might have well have got them powder coated too (although apparently the colour match is tricky with powder coat). Which would all have added up in terms of cost. That was my fall-back option if my diy job hadn't worked (although I'd done my engine front cover before so had the technique sorted out).

As it was, it cost me a couple of evenings and a can of paint It's not showroom but it's a pretty decent finish and it's a lot better than it was.

They've been fitted for about 8 months now (the front cover even longer) and is looking to be a pretty durable solution.

Good job, you answered my next question about how well it was lasting, I wasn't sure how hot the rocker cover gets as I'm a very new gs owner.

Cheers

 

[MattW]

Good job, you answered my next question about how well it was lasting, I wasn't sure how hot the rocker cover gets as I'm a very new gs owner.

Cheers

I fitted some new head guards a month or so ago and had a good look at the rocker covers then - they look the same as the day I fitted them. Same goes for the engine front cover which probably has an even harder life.

I've read of people painting the actual cylinder heads with hammerite smooth so it must be pretty heat proof once cured.

 

[Teejaye]

Great, stupid question coming as newbie to boxer engines.

Can you remove rocker cover easily, not delved into engines before, is it as simple as unscrewing, anything to watch out for.

Cheers guys

 

[Uncle Rob]

you will lose a bit of oil but the main thing is the seal on the inside of the cover it stays in the engine,you need to pull it out ,check its condition and refit to the rocker cover

 

[MattW]

As above, just unscrew and ease it off. There are two seals in the cover - the big one around the edge and a round one in the spark plug tunnel. Make sure that when you refit the cover you fit the spark plug tunnel one onto the cover (don't leave it in the tunnel) and fit the cover in one go. If you have to pull the cover away at all while refitting it, remove it completely and refit the tunnel seal properly to the rocker cover again.

You'll lose an egg cupfull of oil so have something under the head to catch it. Elastic band a freezer bag over the head to keep the rocker assembly clean while you're fettling the rocker cover.

Once you've got the cover off and have manually cleaned all the oil off it that you can (get a can of panel wipe from a car paint supplier), a dishwasher is great for a proper degrease (while the missus isn't watching ).

Then when you've cleaned up all the bubbled paint and are ready to paint it, go over the whole surface of the cover with a fine scotchbrite pad (Machine Mart sell then cheap in big packs) and wipe it all down with panel wipe again to finally degrease it.

 

[Teejaye]

As above, just unscrew and ease it off. There are two seals in the cover - the big one around the edge and a round one in the spark plug tunnel. Make sure that when you refit the cover you fit the spark plug tunnel one onto the cover (don't leave it in the tunnel) and fit the cover in one go. If you have to pull the cover away at all while refitting it, remove it completely and refit the tunnel seal properly to the rocker cover again.

You'll lose an egg cupfull of oil so have something under the head to catch it. Elastic band a freezer bag over the head to keep the rocker assembly clean while you're fettling the rocker cover.

Once you've got the cover off and have manually cleaned all the oil off it that you can (get a can of panel wipe from a car paint supplier), a dishwasher is great for a proper degrease (while the missus isn't watching ).

Then when you've cleaned up all the bubbled paint and are ready to paint it, go over the whole surface of the cover with a fine scotchbrite pad (Machine Mart sell then cheap in big packs) and wipe it all down with panel wipe again to finally degrease it.

Cheers guys!!

 

[iftikartaxis]

paint

top job looks really good