Removing paint from GS650 engine?

[streetgs]

I'm thinking about buying a GS650g that has an engine that was painted black.

Assuming it's just a spray can paint job, how difficult would it be to remove that? Any suggestions for approaches?

It seems like it could be tricky, there are so many little crevices and nooks in that engine!

[Nessism]

Soda blasting works. You need to seal up all the internal passages really well first.

[Gorminrider]

Ride it around and it'll all fall off. haha. I've never tried soda blasting Sounds great. For me it'd be experiments with solvents:If it is spray bomb, something will lift it...perhaps acetone soaked rags on a popsicle stick and little wire brushes for the rough casting. If you aren't looking for a perfect removal, consider that the darkest places will seldom be seen...or can wait for a dissassembly of surroundings when you have the inclination

[streetgs]

Wouldn't I need to remove and disassemble the engine to soda/media blast it? If I disassemble it, are there certain parts I should just rebuild, like the gaskets, piston rings, etc.?

[oldGSfan]

I'd just paint over it with silver, it comes out great if you take your time. Scuff it up, and bomb away with VHT. I've done it with the engine in the frame, use tin foil and plastic shopping bags around the parts you don't want sprayed. Sure, not show quality but I've gotten good results. I'd only take an engine out if it had other things it needed done that justified the effort or if it was something very special.

[streetgs]

That's actually a good idea. Maybe remove everything I can and then paint it silver. I'll search some pics...

[oldGSfan]

Here's one pic of my GS1000, in this case I did take the head off due to a badly broken off exhaust stud, but I did the lower cases with engine in frame.

It had a deep gouge near the ignition cover and I filled with JB weld and sanded it down, can't see it now.

[sacruickshank]

if you leave it in a non-weatherpoof shed for 20 years the paint will flake right off. Even the factory paint ...
[IMG]PXL_20220221_160041345.jpg[/IMG]

[streetgs]

This looks amazing I just saw it now.

How did you get the lower part to look so polished?

[Rob S.]

This looks amazing I just saw it now.

How did you get the lower part to look so polished?

I was just studying the clutch cover. All scuffed up. It's even got scuffs that look like a motorcycle wheel. And fender. Headlight...

[sacruickshank]

I'd just paint over it with silver, it comes out great if you take your time. Scuff it up, and bomb away with VHT. I've done it with the engine in the frame, use tin foil and plastic shopping bags around the parts you don't want sprayed. Sure, not show quality but I've gotten good results. I'd only take an engine out if it had other things it needed done that justified the effort or if it was something very special.

When doing an in frame paint job, how do you get it clean enough to ensure the paint sticks, especially in tight places like the cooling fins?

Someone did a crappy in frame paint job on my 550T and I've decide just to clean it as best as possible and leave it as is for now.

Here's a section that's not so crappy.
PXL_20220301_124002414.jpg

[oldGSfan]

I use (dollar store) degreaser first, with a long bristle parts cleaner brush.

Once grease is gone I use a brown (red?) scotchbrite pad with a thin flat blade screwdriver poked into the gaps.

I also use a drill with bore brushes. If the fins are oxidized and chalky this works fastest. - https://www.harborfreight.com/engine-brush-kit-20-pc-63732.html

Then I degrease again and use Kleen strip metal prep diluted 3:1 to etch it. I put in a spray bottle.

As for polishing the clutch, stator, ignition and sprocket covers, there are many threads on this site and others, my method is to remove any plastic coating with paint stripper and hit it with wet dry starting at 400 then finer in stages to about 1500 grit, then a cotton mop on a drill with mother's polish.

I don't do same way or use same materials exactly all the time, just what I have on hand or can get cheaply.

When doing an in frame paint job, how do you get it clean enough to ensure the paint sticks, especially in tight places like the cooling fins?

[phydeauxmutt]

I'm thinking about buying a GS650g that has an engine that was painted black.

Assuming it's just a spray can paint job, how difficult would it be to remove that?

Do you know what year engine it is? If it's an '83, it's not a "spray can job", it was done by Suzuki.

[streetgs]

It’s an ‘82 according to both the ad and the owner.

[sacruickshank]

I use (dollar store) degreaser first, with a long bristle parts cleaner brush.

Once grease is gone I use a brown (red?) scotchbrite pad with a thin flat blade screwdriver poked into the gaps.

I also use a drill with bore brushes. If the fins are oxidized and chalky this works fastest. - https://www.harborfreight.com/engine-brush-kit-20-pc-63732.html

Then I degrease again and use Kleen strip metal prep diluted 3:1 to etch it. I put in a spray bottle.

As for polishing the clutch, stator, ignition and sprocket covers, there are many threads on this site and others, my method is to remove any plastic coating with paint stripper and hit it with wet dry starting at 400 then finer in stages to about 1500 grit, then a cotton mop on a drill with mother's polish.

I don't do same way or use same materials exactly all the time, just what I have on hand or can get cheaply.

Thanks, that's very helpful. Also, I think you may have forgotten one key tool ... patience. That may be the hardest one to obtain, for me anyway.