Vapour blasting paint or not paint

[Ken4004]

When I originally stripped my engine down and had it vapour blasted I made the decision not to paint it because the finish was so good.
My reasoning for this was due to the fact that during the vapour blasting  the surface gets bombarded with the particles and hardens the surface , my I tension is to treat it with AC 50 to be on the safe side.

Let me know your thoughts on the subject, worst case scenario the engine will have to come out and get sprayed .

[Nurse Julie]

If you are going to use it regularly and depending on where it's stored when not in use, oxidation sets in quite quickly and it looks bloody awful. It's very easy to keep a painted engine clean, just a bucket of hot soapy water, job done.
Use Simoniz SIMVHT31D, it's a perfect match to original.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Aluminium does not resist oxidation very well, even if you do not expose it to the salt on our roads it also reacts with acid rain not helped by the heat cycles of an engine. AC50 probably works to slow down the corrosion but it will dull so TBH I'm with Julie paint it like it was originally - Mr  Honda knew what he was doing.

[Ken4004]

Ok thanks I’ll look into a paint job once I have got it running I’ll add the job to the long list all part of the learning curve.Not too bad to strip the engine down once you have done it before .
I found it very interesting especially the gear change mechanism form memory there were about 40 parts to it so too lots of photos while I took it apart.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

You can paint it as a complete engine, the problem would be not being able to heat cure the casings, block & head would be fine. There are some engine paints that will become petrol proof without the heating process. My BiL did his engine on a Fireblade with a US sourced block enamel.

[Ken4004]

I wonder if running the engine for a short time will cure the paint food for thought,

It sounds like a lot of hassle but I don’t really mind taking the engine out again if that’s what it needs.

[Nurse Julie]

I wonder if running the engine for a short time will cure the paint food for thought,

It sounds like a lot of hassle but I don’t really mind taking the engine out again if that’s what it needs.

It may cure the head and barrels after a while but it won't cure the crank cases as they don't get hot enough.

[Seabeowner]

I've left the head on my main rider 500 unpainted for 20 years and never had any oxidation and it cleans up fine and no worries of flaky paint. But always painted the cases.

[ozzybud]

Spray can paint unless it's a 2k mix never fully cures! It dries via evaporation of the solvent . Putting the Cases in the oven to "cure" is a waste of time and energy. It does not make the paint any more durable or chemically resistant. If you want a paint that will withstand time and chemically resistant use an Epoxy or a 2 part paint with a catalyzed property
 These paints cure via chemical reaction and are durable for the long haul.

[Nurse Julie]

Spray can paint unless it's a 2k mix never fully cures! It dries via evaporation of the solvent . Putting the Cases in the oven to "cure" is a waste of time and energy. It does not make the paint any more durable or chemically resistant. If you want a paint that will withstand time and chemically resistant use an Epoxy or a 2 part paint with a catalyzed property
 These paints cure via chemical reaction and are durable for the long haul.

Through lots of personal experience, I would dispute most of what you have said. The Simoniz engine enamel (SIMVHT31D) is very hard wearing, retains it colour and finish well, it's easy to keep clean. It is highly fuel and chemical resistant but, if you have a continual fuel leak on it, fix the leak before it damages the paint. Follow the instructions on the can and it's perfect.

[ozzybud]

Spray can paint unless it's a 2k mix never fully cures! It dries via evaporation of the solvent . Putting the Cases in the oven to "cure" is a waste of time and energy. It does not make the paint any more durable or chemically resistant. If you want a paint that will withstand time and chemically resistant use an Epoxy or a 2 part paint with a catalyzed property
 These paints cure via chemical reaction and are durable for the long haul.

Through lots of personal experience, I would dispute most of what you have said. The Simoniz engine enamel (SIMVHT31D) is very hard wearing, retains it colour and finish well, it's easy to keep clean. It is highly fuel and chemical resistant but, if you have a continual fuel leak on it, fix the leak before it damages the paint. Follow the instructions on the can and it's perfect.

It's not my opinion . It's Science.
Spray can paint is just pigment lying on the surface
The. Original honda case paint was some type of epoxy. Fuel can be on it forever and it does not lift. It will discolor a bit.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Spray can paint unless it's a 2k mix never fully cures! It dries via evaporation of the solvent . Putting the Cases in the oven to "cure" is a waste of time and energy. It does not make the paint any more durable or chemically resistant. If you want a paint that will withstand time and chemically resistant use an Epoxy or a 2 part paint with a catalyzed property
 These paints cure via chemical reaction and are durable for the long haul.

Simonize VHT is an Enamel paint, heat curing at the specified levels drives out all the solvent so I disagree with your wide ranging  conclusion.

You could argue that if your 2 part paint is not a 100% eutectic mixture the catalyst action might fail. There are enamel engine block paints that will self cure over time without the need for oven baking to make them petrol proof.

[ozzybud]

Spray can paint unless it's a 2k mix never fully cures! It dries via evaporation of the solvent . Putting the Cases in the oven to "cure" is a waste of time and energy. It does not make the paint any more durable or chemically resistant. If you want a paint that will withstand time and chemically resistant use an Epoxy or a 2 part paint with a catalyzed property
 These paints cure via chemical reaction and are durable for the long haul.

Simonize VHT is an Enamel paint, heat curing at the specified levels drives out all the solvent so I disagree with your wide ranging  conclusion.

You could argue that if your 2 part paint is not a 100% eutectic mixture the catalyst action might fail. There are enamel engine block paints that will self cure over time without the need for oven baking to make them petrol proof.

99% of the solvent s flash off in 24 hours naturally.

I can guarantee you this paint if left out in the elements will oxidized and degrade within 5  years if left out in the elements. And drop some acetone on it and it will immediately dissolve..

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

They have been using water as the solvent base on car body  paint for quite a few years now, I've never had diesel or petrol strip the paint off when fueling as the paints are oven dried at the factory.

[Nurse Julie]

Spray can paint unless it's a 2k mix never fully cures! It dries via evaporation of the solvent . Putting the Cases in the oven to "cure" is a waste of time and energy. It does not make the paint any more durable or chemically resistant. If you want a paint that will withstand time and chemically resistant use an Epoxy or a 2 part paint with a catalyzed property
 These paints cure via chemical reaction and are durable for the long haul.

Simonize VHT is an Enamel paint, heat curing at the specified levels drives out all the solvent so I disagree with your wide ranging  conclusion.

You could argue that if your 2 part paint is not a 100% eutectic mixture the catalyst action might fail. There are enamel engine block paints that will self cure over time without the need for oven baking to make them petrol proof.

99% of the solvent s flash off in 24 hours naturally.

I can guarantee you this paint if left out in the elements will oxidized and degrade within 5  years if left out in the elements. And drop some acetone on it and it will immediately dissolve..

There is no worse storage for bikes than a typical UK  brick built garage in the winter, the Simoniz stays perfect and shows no sign of oxidation after many years. As for acetone, why would you get that near any paint, that's just asking for trouble, the same as if you dropped battery acid on paint?
The main point is that a good quality enamel paint out of a spray can gives an excellent finish and is very user friendly for the DIY'er, which most are on this forum.