Painting the Frame

I would really like to paint the frame of my bike but, I'm afraid I may not be able to put everything back. Will it be a big job?
Should I do it?

 

go for it.anything worth while is not easy.
but what you are attempting is not that difficult just time consuming.

 

I'll second Meiworld on that. Time consuming but not overly difficult.

 

Upstate New York it says ... beneath the Avatar.

I'm an Upstate NY Guy. Saratoga Springs.
As I recall ... right about NOW is the absolute Purr-fect time for taking a ride
around Upstate New York.

Saratoga, Schylerville, Greenwich, 9N, 146, Hudson Falls, Lake George.
Perfect riding weather until way after the leaves turn red and fall-off.

Painting the frame of your bike ... now?

Shoot some black Rustolieum into a tuna can and brush-on some black to cover-up the blem's until later.

TUNE the bike and enjoy some fresh air. You'll have all next winter to do the frame.

 

I think I'll try it, but you can be assured I'll be posting pics and many questions along the way.

RickCoMatic - I still have my V45 Magna for the summer fun and your right, lots of beautiful places to ride in upstate NY. (I heard) I just bought the V45 last fall and the Maxim a few weeks ago. I never own a bike and never driven one. I just got my license last week and I'm 42. (Late bloomer)
The Magna I got from an old (late 60s) guy who had it in his garage for 10 years. (Never registered) He was the only owner, got a scare and stop driving it. It only has 5000 miles and looks new. I didn’t know these bikes where still valuable, nor did him; I got it for $600. The Max X I bough for $500 and I though it would be something to fix-up and learn how to repair myself. It runs great; just need some new paint and rust removal.

 

I did mine over the winter. It is very time consuming, but I made lots of mods too and ran across problems that took a while to sort out. It taught me a lot about the bike though, and I think if I were to do it now I could have the bike 100% disassembled, painted and back up and running in 2 days, minus the dry time.

 

What were the major gotcha's when you stripped the frame?... I'm planning on doing the same thing next winter.

 

Getting the engine out is always fun and way easier with a buddy! I've had the pleasure of both removing and installing 650 engines solo and they are not light!

Take note of the wiring harness locations as well and keep your nuts and bolts organized and you will be fine.

 

I powder coated my frame and swing arm and it looks awesome, the hardest part is putting the engine back in without scratching the frame. I laid the engine on its side and manuvered the frame around it.

 

Not a bad idea desmotom. I'll keep that in mind.

 

desmotom - which part of CA are you from?
Did you have a pro do the powder coat? How much $$ does it average out to be?

 

I got shop in town (winnipeg)to do it, I can't remember the name off hand. It was $150 for the frame, swing arm, kick stand, and torsion rod. It looks great and cleans up nice, I want to do my rims next.

 

I echo what's been said above. KEEP ALL THE NUTS AND BOLTS ORGANIZED. Engine removal/replacement is probably the most daunting task, better done with a buddy. We scratched the heck out of my frame puting it back in, but most were out of the line of sight. Patience is a must. I had other problems arise making me think I screwed something up, but I got it sorted out. I did a custom rewire without a harness, and had a TCI crap out causing headaches.

 

My frame use to be yellow. With my blue body work.

 

Winnipeg! Theres a good posibility I may be transfered there next year.
Don't they call winterpeg

 

kevineleven - like the yellow!
I haven't decided which color to go with yet. I was thinking of a Black Cherry for the tank, fenders and side covers.

 

When you get ready to slip the engine back into a painted-out bike frame ... wrap-up those frame rails with some nice, clean, seatbelt material you will have no problem stealing out of any auto bone-yard.

While your buddy's working on getting-out a starter or an alternator for his Pickup ... pull-out your razor-sharp Buck knife and cut you out some fine seatbelt!

Get two!

Not only does seatbelt come-in handy as a frame-wrap for protecting your new paint while putting the mill back-in ... rolled-up "flat and long" they tuck-in to tool boxes, seat-back voids and insect crawl spaces on your bike and work GREAT when you meet some broke-down HOGster and his babe needing a tow off the Interstate to the next rest area.

Don't forget to tell him how she'll need to ride two-up with you ... so she can let you know how he's doing back there.
Tell her how easy it is to cut through seatbelt, too ... if you happen to have a sharp knife handy!

 

That's alot of detail, are you sure it's a story or something that happend to someone you "know"

 

Fuel tank-ready for primer.
Side covers-ready for primer,
Front and rear fender-ready for primer.
That was alot of sanding, 2 days of it. (12hrs/day)
And I know, there is more sanding to come.
Everything is wet sanded up to 600 grit and all dings are filled and smooth.

 

Now ...

Let ... SOMEBODY ELSE ... look-over the parts.
And tell 'em to be picky!

 

Goop Point, should I spray a light coat of primer and re-check?

 

No.

Just have somebody who isn't -- Hip-no-tized -- by those parts look at your work.

 

Anyone have any idea what it would cost to have a fuel tank, side pannels , and front/rear fenders painted in a shop?

Parts are all sanded ready for primer/paint. (RickCoMatic - once I get a second opinion about my sanding job)

Should I prime first?

 

ya ya, it does get cold, I guess I'm used to it. Roads suck for riding in town

 

I have always said:

You bring-in parts that are 100% READY to have the Color blown-on ... and, you cruise a few body shops with EVERYTHING (Including the paint) ... with a FAT envelope full of OLD MONEY not exceeding $300 -- (25-Dollars in singles and the rest in 5's, 10's and 20's) ...

And some creative tall tale about how you want to ride the bike around the world raising money for the vibrating crack babies shelter that got burned-down and your standing there in a black suit, white shirt, black tie, sun glasses and a nice looking hat ... color: black ... with all money you got for pawning your Fender "Strat" ... and "You're on a Mission from God!"

They ain't going to hear a word you say because everybody is going to be looking at the envelope ... anyway.

"If I leave these parts, this paint and this envelope ... can I come back Monday and just pick-up the parts?"

You get the parts painted!

 

Thanks guys, but as you can see in my other post, I decided to do it all myself.
So I'm counting on all of you guys to help me along..