A little paint.....

I've been off work this week, so I've been playing in the shop. Been through the carbs and they are back on the bike thanks to some super fast service from Chacal on some parts! I'm waiting for the seat cover to get here so I can work on that. The old paint job was pretty beat, so I decided I needed a bike some other color than black anyway! These pics were taken right after painting the last of the clear (which I ran out of, may still do a couple more coats). It actually settled down and smoothed out a bit more as it dried more. I think the actual finished product looks better than these pictures show, so I'm pretty happy for my budget resto.

Before (if you look, you can see the dull and discolored 'stain' from gas or something):


As of last night (Ford Toureador (sp) Red Metallic):

 

I like the color; what kind of paint did you use? Is this a rattle-can job?

 

Yeah, it's rattle can. I used Dupli-Color auto touch up paint and Dupli-Color engine enamel clear (500 degree, oil and gas resistant. It won't "melt" if gas is spilled on it).

I actually have the equipment (HVLP, etc.) to do a "real" paint job, but not the facility. So, I tried to do a decent rattle can job. It's 110% better than it was.

Actually I am looking at a nearly new OEM tank with badges right now along with some other parts. I may be buying it this weekend. Been going back and forth on it, but may be taking the plunge. Kind of throws the "budget restore" idea out the window if I do.

 

looks good would sand it out before putting anymore coats on it otherwise you will be sanding all the clear off to get it smooth. Color is real nice and i have always used engine clear for the same reason i think its a bit harder then regular clear great job

 

What did you use to fill in where "Yamaha" use to be???

skillet
BTW I'll remember the engine clear bit...

 

+1 on the color choice, it looks great!

 

looks to me like that was already done for him.

 

Budget, schmudget. If you plan to keep and ride the bike, go for it. Even if you pull out all the stops and spend money on everything you can think of, you'll still only be halfway to the price of a new bike, or less even.

 

I think the word "Budget" should be removed from the English language. :wink:
In all the forums I subscribe to and all the threads I've read where an individual mentions the word budget, usually about half way through, or at some point at least, "budget" seems to evaporate from the post.
Except when used in conjunction with "There goes the budget" etc. :roll:
Anyway, the paint looks great and I second what cutlass said about the sanding, a bit more work but should make the paint really smooth.
Hope the rest of the build goes as well as the paint.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

 

Looks good,I love that color. Used to have a Ford E150 custom van that color.

 

Thanks all. It looks great in the light. I'm going to wait a few days and do a little sanding and then more coats of clear. I ran out. I'm keeping it and not going to get the other stuff. I really like the color.

This is not my primary bike. I only bought it because I stumbled onto it and couldn't pass it up. I bought it for $200. I am at under $400 so far including buying the bike and all the parts and materials. That includes the seat cover that hasn't arrived yet, carb parts, fuel filter, fuel shutoff valve, paint stuff, oil, etc. I'm anxious to fire it up and take it for a ride. It was actually warm enough today! Gotta be patient, I guess.

Someone removed the badges before I got the bike. I'm not sure what they did. I did another Maxim that I "de-badged", though. I removed the badges and the little brackets that they fasten to. Then I repaired the holes with some JB Weld. Then I used bondo, etc. to fill in the dents.

 

If that was only $200.00 for a titled bike then you scored BIG TIME!

 

It was. I wasn't looking hard (I'm always looking at and for bikes). It just came up on craigslist and I snatched it up. 7,777 miles on the odometer, clean title.

 

I didn't see "rear brake shoes" on your list; you might want to hold off on that "taking it for a ride" thing until you've at least checked the rear brake for delamination. You can't go by how it feels when you mash the pedal, you need to pull it apart and look: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=15874.html

Also, at that mileage, CHECK THE VALVES. My '83 had been neglected entirely and at 7100 miles 7 of 8 were tight; two very tight. No sense hurting a nice tight mill by continuing the pattern of neglect.

7K is just a puppy; you've got a real good starting point there.

 

Can you please post a pic of the bike with the tank and sidecovers installed? I would love to see how it looks!

 

Yup yup. Lots of preventative maintenance on the docket, including valve clearances, brakes, and a good general going over.

I am going to put some more clear coats tomorrow. Once that dries, I'll be sure to post up some pics of them mounted on the bike.

 

Glad to see that this technique has been used, before as that's exactly how I handled mine, too. Can't wait to see the tank and covers on the bike in that color!

 

Color is awesome. Like everyone else i cant wait to see it on the bike. $200 bucks? MAJOR SCORE. My wife would have done backflips if that was what i paid for mine. lol

 

Yeah, im thinkin about that color for my tank aswell, how bout some pic's with it on the bike. :idea:

 

Please be sure to cook the clear with a heat gun ( not too much or it will bubble) or it will fall off as soon as it is touched with fuel. That paint ( as well as VHT paint ) is worthless unless cured.
Ask me how I know...

 

Hmmmm. Not sure what to think about that. I used this same paint on a previous bike and spilled gas on it with no issues. The can says it will cure completely in about a week. I suspect that will be a bit longer since my shop is only heated when I'm either working out there or heating it for some other purpose (like leaving the heat on when the paint was drying initially).

I will be very careful while putting gas in it, but I think once it's cured, it's good. I don't feel comfortable using a heat gun on it. I have used my heat gun to remove paint and it does a dandy job at that! I'm going to let my paint cure for a month or so before I buff it or anything.

 

How to tell if it's really cured, regardless of how long it's been:

Your nose.

Stick your nose right ON the freshly-painted part, if it still smells like paint, it's not cured yet. I often see as long as three weeks for Duplicolor under the conditions you just described (cold unless heated up because you're working out there.)

 

If it's dry enough to handle, why not bring it into the house where it will 1 cure quicker and 2, why would you leave a nicely painted tank and other parts in a cold, dark lonely shop, you should be ashamed! :roll: :wink: :wink:
:twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

 

Ha ha. Actually I'm afraid to bring it into the house where I might drop it or do something stupid. It's definitely nice and dry, but I'm sure it'll be a while to cure.

I got my seat cover today. It looks quite promising. It's smooth, not pleated (or whatever they call the patterned material). Need to buy different size staples for my electric staple gun tomorrow and put the cover on after work. Once that's done I will CAREFULLY put the tank, side covers and seat on and post a pic. Then I'm going to park the bike in a lonely (safe) corner of the garage and make sure that the paint is safe until fully cured.

Pics should be up tomorrow night if all goes according to plan.

 

don't know if i would of used a heat gun either. I always use a hair dryer and keep my distance. There have been times i have used a hair dryer to cure clear when its to thick or humidity is to high and it starts to dry cloudy

 

Grrrrr. I got thinking last night and brought the tank and side covers inside. I sat them on the carpet in the general area of the pellet stove to let them soak up some heat. I was in the process of moving them to the garage this morning (not my shop, the garage is attached to the house) and my goofy dog (12 year old black lab) stumbled over one of the side covers. There are a couple verrrrry light scratches that I'm sure will buff right out. But, dang. I should have left them where I had them!!!! Kicking myself. At least they are barely visible and I know they'll buff right out when I buff them in a couple weeks.

 

Shoulda put the dogs, women, children in the shop to protect the painted parts. :roll:
C'mon man, get the priorities straight! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
Hope they do buff out out, but seriously consider the first sentence.

 

I always wet sanded with 600 grit sand paper between clear coats and it comes out like glass!

 

I used 1500. Was afraid to use anything more coarse. Next time I'll try the 600. I'm calling this one good, as it's an improvement over the previoius job and I'm trying to invest the bare minimum into this bike. I am going to get the title in my name, register it and ride it. But right now the plan is to only ride it a short time, then flip it when the really nice riding weather is hitting.

I did just order a factory service manual off ebay today. That puts my total cost to date at over $400....$421.62 to be exact.

I have the seat cover hanging over the back of a kitchen chair right now, warming up. I'll be on that task very soon.


First I have to put the dogs, cats, chickens, women and children outside....

 

Actually, if my son really enjoys riding the Maxim I may keep it for him to ride. He is currently riding his first bike, a Buell Blast. He really likes the Buell and, though he wants to try the Maxim, said he doesn't plan on getting rid of the Blast.

 

A couple pics. The tank has to come back off. Even with a new o-ring there is a small gas leak around the base of the petcock where it seats against the bottom of the tank. Guess that explains the crap the previous owner had caked all over it. I'll have to use some kind of sealing compound. I'm thinking Honda Bond or something. Any ideas?

Anyway....


One with the trouble maker in it....


And the seat with the new cover. What a pain in the butt THAT was! Pun intended.

 

That seat looks great! I'm waiting for it to warm up again to put my new cover on, any tips? (Paint looks great too)
Did you change the washers on the petc**k screws?

 

Now THAT looks sweet!

 

Looks good now!

 

Thanks all.

The seat was a pain. Results are decent, though. The directions said to get the front and rear of the seat done, then work the sides, etc. I tried, but ended up starting at the rear, getting it lined up where it need to be, and working my way forward. Make sure it's nice and warm and be patient. A lot of smoothing, gentle stretching and stapling. Tedious and frustrating.

Washers?? The screws that were on there were so chewed up and only one had a washer. I replaced them with some hex-head bolts that have the head with kind of a "built in" washer design. Do I need to do something with that, you think?

Once I take the tank back off I'll see if it's leaking out around the screws. That would also explain all the crap the previous owner had all over one of the screw bodies and in the threads....more of the same "sealant" that he had all over the thing.

 

I believe there is an o-ring around the base of the petcock that is used to seal the unit (which I did not trust) I just used RTV silicone (red) to seal mine and haven't had a problem with it for two years so far.

 

nice maxim

what year model of maxim is this?

 

The 2 bolts holding my petcock on have a fibered/composite washer on them that acts as a gasket to seal the bolt head to the petcock body. I don't think they need to always be replaced, but mine continued to seep until I replaced them.

 

That looks worlds better. Awesome results! That looks factory fresh (minus the emblems). Great job

 

Thanks!

zemville, it's a 1982 XJ650J Maxim

 

ahhhhh. i see.

i think we have the same bike. i'm from philippines

 

Looks like it was ment to be that color, nice job, i like it. :wink:

 

one of the bolts is leaking on my virago cant find the felt washer i am going to try some teflon tape on it. I have a petcock rebuild kit in the garage dont think they come with the felt washers either. The color looks pretty close to my maxim x. looks great you did a good job

 

looks great man. nice job