Powdercoating Prep Questions

[J_C]

Hey guys, I'm done to the final stages of prepping my stuff to go to powedercoat. As for now, I'm sending the frame, triple clamps, swingarm, kickstand, centerstand, and that bar that goes from the to the rear caliper. I've degreased everything, but I have a few questions:

1. Is there anything I'm missing? I was going to send the peg mounts but they have that little rubber bushing inside and I wasn't sure if I could get it out and then back in again...

2. Does the steering stem remove from the lower triple clamp? If it doesn't, do I just have them mask it off?

3. I'll be removing the bearings from the steering stem... are there any other bearings I need to be aware of?

4. Where is the ground point on the frame? I can't seem to remember :-|


Thank you very much. Any other tips are welcome too!

 

[KEITH KRAUSE]

Don't worry about cleaning things because they're going to blast all the parts anyway.
I pushed out the rubber grommets from the footpegs by using a vice and two sockets. One smaller socket that will fit/push clean through the one side and push the grommet into the larger/deep socket on the other side.
Just mask off the steering stem with the hi-temp tape.
It's a good time to replace the races and bearings but if you keep them, be sure the races are protected from the powdercoating.
Just mask anything where you don't want the thick powdercoat to reach.
Races, inside the swingarm, frame I.D. plate, threaded holes...If your threaded ground location is similar to others I've seen, it should be near the battery on the frame. Mask it off well.
If you're going to Astro's, just ask them to take a quick look to be sure you don't miss something. They're good people.
I don't remember if I masked off the inside area where the footpeg grommets go. The powdercoat is thick hard to remove and you just have to remember that.
I assume you're going with gloss black? I saw a frame, etc, done in a kind of semi gloss/flat black. The owner thought the gloss would be too "shiny"? What a mistake. His parts looked real drab. I just thought I'd mention that.

 

[J_C]

Keith, thanks! I am going to astros, they gave me a good quote and I'm going to go down there with the parts and my rims and a printed picture of what they did on yours to get a quote on that as well. Thanks for the gromet tips, I'll definitely give that a go!

Is high temp tape just available at the hardware store or do I do that at the shop?

Time for my dumb question: what are races?


I am going with gloss black, so thanks for the reinforcement!

 

[morthrane]

Time for my dumb question: what are races?

The solid ring that the balls or tapered roller bearings ride against in the headstock.

I had one of my bikes' frames done in 40% gloss black, and the other in 100%. Yeah, overall, seems like the gloss is better than the flatter black.

 

[edbot]

Not familiar with your bike, but on my 77 750 I had the motor mounting plates and the rear brakeline cover plate done also. Gloss black is definitely the way to go.

 

[KEITH KRAUSE]

Keith, thanks! I am going to astros, they gave me a good quote and I'm going to go down there with the parts and my rims and a printed picture of what they did on yours to get a quote on that as well. Thanks for the gromet tips, I'll definitely give that a go!

Is high temp tape just available at the hardware store or do I do that at the shop?

Time for my dumb question: what are races?


I am going with gloss black, so thanks for the reinforcement!

I've never shopped for the hi-temp tape. You could call them or just go look for some. I'd imagine they would want to use their own (?) if only because some brand you buy may not work a well? You don't have that much to mask and I'll bet they'll do it for you or toss you some to apply yourself when you leave the parts.
The wheel masking is more than I wanted to do but they said it was part of my quote anyway.
Races are, as said earlier, what the bearings ride in.

 

[J_C]

OK great, thank you all. I will simply tape it all up when I get there. I couldnt get the bushings out of the peg brackets, even with the above method, so I'm just going to tape it off and if the rubber is utterly destroyed in the oven (As I expect it will be) then I'll just replace it after I get the parts back.

I also couldnt get the lower bearings off of the steering head stem so I guess they're getting taped with the stem.

I can't wait until next week when I bring all the stuff in!


As an aside, does anyone know how well gloss black engine enamel with enamel clear will match up to gloss black powdercoat? Don't need exact, just making sure it won't clash before I repaint the rotors.

 

[KEITH KRAUSE]

I can't imagine why the bearing won't come out. That suggests they're damaged?? They'll have to be re-greased at least before re-using. The powdercoating will involve 450-500 degrees temps, so the rubber grommets will be ruined. That removal method works if you have a decent size vice. Maybe a little lubrication before squeezing everything? I hope you can find replacements or you're screwed. I'd get them out.
As for the engine cases, to each their own. The factory finish on black cases is a satin. Just enough shine in my opinion, though I don't prefer black engines. I would think gloss black cases wouldn't look right but that's just me. I don't think I've seen gloss black cases actually, just the satin.
As for a match, I think the powdercoat gloss and the enamel gloss would be close enough.

 

[J_C]

Great It wasn't for the engine cases, it's just for the rotors which have lost some of their original black color.

Not sure what's going on with the bearings. It seems like they just cant clear the lip right there... I'll take another look this evening.

As for the footpegs I was pounding on em and no movement at all. I know I can buy replacement parts for them... maybe Ill be able to come up with another way of getting them out

 

[KEITH KRAUSE]

I didn't pound out my peg grommets, just squeezed them out.
I powdercoated my rotor centers too.

 

[J_C]

OK, I'll try them again tonight No harm in trying again.

That makes sense, yours look very nicely done. I'll try painting them. Worst case scenario they don't show up too much...

 

[J_C]

I moved the bearing question to technical since it belongs better there... link : http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?p=503578#post503578

As for the grommets, I just found the two on the swingarm too. None of these guys are moving, and we pounded the hell out of em with a hammer and a ratchet head. Trying pushing them out but that was no good. Don't see a way of pulling them out. Replacements are available from bike bandit, but I need to get these out first, since I dont want to cause a fire in the powdercoat oven or something weird....

 

[J_C]

OK! Bearings removed! I have my final prep questions...

Before powdercoating the rims, do the wheel bearings need to be removed?

Also, are tires something I can get off myself if I deflate them, or will I need to hack them up? (Theyre going to be replaced anyway)

Thanks!

 

[KEITH KRAUSE]

Yes, you need to remove the wheel bearings too.
If you're concerned with changing your own tires, I can give you a number for the tire shop I've gone to now for several years. They're in Van Nuys and they have good prices, and as of my last change (last summer) they remove/install the tires for free if you bring in just the wheels. They use a machine that won't scratch up your wheels and after having them do it once a few years back, I just don't bother to change them myself anymore.
If you bring up your tires on a weekday, you can usually get them swapped while you wait. If a Saturday, you'll be in a line. Let me know if you want the number. I forget their name at the moment and I'm off to work.

 

[anvilman]

powdercoating

powdercoating

make sure that u dont leave ur bike outside alot in the sun cause powdercoating will fade dont let anyone tell u any different i worked at a shop that did it and it will fade.