Powder coating

I too am looking to powder coat the frame of my wifes xj750. Did anyone remove the swingarm? and if so does anyone know if there's any online manuals to download for the 83 xj750 midnight maxim????

 

Not speaking from experience but taking apart/removing the swingarm or any moving part for that matter before powder coating and assumably sandblasting seems like a given.
I know someone posted a link to the Haynes somewhere in the mod forum, that's where I got mine, but for the life of me I can't find it anymore.

*EDIT* found it in the "The Barzu Bike - XJ750" links are from Sep '09 so I hope (for you lol)they still work
http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=2 ... t=135.html
4th post down

 

Thanks man I appreciate the assist.

 

complete disassembly is necessary for any type of finishing to have it done right.

with PC oven temps of 400*f, everything needs to be perfectly clean and free of any oil residue or it will burn, smoke, and ruin the finish.

i love looking at all the pretty colors.
www.powderbuythepound.com

 

I figured as much. I'm trying to find someone whose removed the swingarm. That's my goal in order to powdercoat the frame.

 

Once you've pulled the motor, removing the swingarm should be relatively easy, like on a chain-drive bike. I just took a quick peek at the manual, and it looks pretty straightforward.

A thought: Powder-coating is way cool, sexy, and I've got a lot of PC parts on my personalized XJ.

However: They're relatively easily removable parts. Powder coating is great but it will chip if a rock hits it just right. The only REAL touch-up is to have it re-done.

You might consider painting the frame. Easier to fix chips. I guess it would depend on how the finished bike is going to be used...

 

So I can remove the engine without removing the swingarm. I'm an aircraft mechanic by trade, and as a habit I don't like digging into jobs with tech data. While I have no problems separating the engine/frame, I'm new to the concept of shaft drive. Thanks for the knowledge your droppin on me.

 

Lngro, I'm not a mechanic by trade (unless you consider "Shade Tree Mechanic" a part time job ) Like fitz said, if you can pull the engine, the swingarm is a piece of cake. You can remove the engine without removing the swingarm, but you have to separate the driveshaft from the engine.... There should be a rubber boot between the engine and front part of the drive shaft. Probably held on by a small spring tyhat wraps around the tailstock of the engine. Remove the spring from the groove and 'scunch' the boot toward the back tire. There are 4 bolts you take out to separate the motor from the drive shaft. Also remember you have to remove EVERYTHING from the frame to PC, including bearings. Most places that PC professionally will take care of the cleaning/blasting the frame for you. That way they don't have to deal with a shoddy cleaning job and the headaches that would cause...ANYTHING that has a critical dimension or is threaded will have to be protected. Talk to the guys doing your PC and ask how THEY want to handle those areas. That will just save you from having to run a tap through every threaded hole or trying to sand the PC out of the races for the steering bearings... If I can do...you can too....

 

Nice pics. It helps to have visuals. I have access to a blaster, but you brought up an excellent point. Letting them blast/clean the parts is a better idea in case something goes wrong with the application process. I like the "flecked" look you chose. Thanks again for the info and pics.

 

Pulling the swingarm is simple, hear that....SIMPLE.

1. pop the two small chrome side covers off. Using a flathead screwdriver, insert it into the small groove at the bottom of the cover right behind the lip and pop it off. Do the same for the other side.

2. Using a flathead screwdriver and a hammer, flatten out the tangs of the anchor washer that are folded up against the large bolt head.

3. On the opposite side, using the correct size socket and wrench, smack the handle with a hammer to quickly loosen the lock nut. Now use an allen wrench to remove the pivot bolt.

4. Remove the pivot bolt from the first side

5. Pull the swingarm out.

That may look like a lot, but here it is even more condensed--

1 remove the chrome covers

2 pull out the two pivot bolts

3 remove swingarm

Keep us posted on progress, or questions!

Dave Fox

 

I will, thanks Dave.

 

+1 to what Fits said

 

I don't know much about powder coating, but after doing some research (Wikipedia) I found that most of the advantages are applicable mostly to industrial applications, like factories, etc. Some of the disadvantages of powder coating though are cost relative to a good spray paint, and breakdown of the powder coat over 5-10 years.

Which makes me wonder, why not just have the frame spray painted? Is there something I'm missing? How much does a powder coat for a frame cost? How about a pro paint job?

And by spray paint I don't mean out of a can, of course!!! But then again...?

 

Powder coating is pretty expensive. If you were going to have to redo it in 5-10 years, you might as well save the costs and just paint it. You can very easily paint your frame yourself with a gun. It would save you a lot of money. You just really need to make sure that frame is spotless and clean. You can paint it, a lot of members here do it.

As Fitz said..


"You might consider painting the frame. Easier to fix chips. I guess it would depend on how the finished bike is going to be used..."

You could even get good results out of a can, but thats up to you. I say spray it. If a rock hits your frame, its typically going to chip whatever it hits, powder coat or paint.

 

Thanks. And I found some prices regarding powder coating too. That's WAY too much for a daily driver.

For some these bikes are a classic show car. Mine's more like an old pickup truck!

Do you HAVE to take it all apart to spray paint it? What parts can you paint with everything still put together? I ask b/c I don't feel like taking my engine in to get 16 bolts drilled out of it just to ride it again.

 

Anyone Have any pics or stories about rattle can paint jobs??? the good, bad, ugly, and horrific. since this is my wife's first bike and I have all apart, I'm open to suggestions.

 

You could probably get it with everything still on it. If you can see it you can paint it. Just make sure it is clean and mask off everything. A rattle can job would probably be the best way to go.