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Help - How to Paint Radiator Cowls Black?

2158 Views 18 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  bruiser06
I'd like to emulate some of your bikes and paint my radiator cowls black as well. Help? Thanks.
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I powder-coated mine, but you should be able to lightly sand them and shoot a self-etching primer (like SEM self etch in quarts or spray cans) and then paint.

I hope this helps
thanks devi - my next project...
Uh... this goes against everything sacred, but I just scuffed mine up some, used plain ol' rattle can auto primer and followed that up with Krylon black from Lowe's.

At the time, I was scoffed at. And even I'll admit it was just sorta a low-budget, Cheapbastardish experiment. I was told it wouldn't last two months. That was back in, like, October last year? Maybe earlier?

But I'll be damned if they ain't holdin' up just fine. As are the exhaust shields, which got the same treatment. And no, it's not even high-temp paint. I used "gloss" black, but it has dulled a bit and is now looks about like the engine cases, a slightly glossier-than-matte finish. I don't wax it. Wash as normal, scrub bugs off, etc.
I did the same on a set, but failed to scuff and primer (even cheaper bastard) and it didn't hold up real well. I tried a texture paint and it was better. Cheap hooked me up with a powder coated set from devi. (Thanks Cheap!)
"I want all the kids to do what I do, to look up to me. I want all the kids to copulate me."
-Chicago Cubs outfielder Andre Dawson on being a role model
J-Pip said:
Cheap hooked me up with a powder coated set from devi. (Thanks Cheap!)
So you're the ONE! Stopped the whole chain.

IF I had another spare set, I could powder-coat them and we could continue swapping them out for others. You could send me the nasty painted and flaking ones.... And then Bruiser would be set to go.
Hey, Brownells www.brownells.com has some epoxy gun finishes the you bake on. 20 min. at 350 degrees. After I put the brembo master on I did my clutch lever gloss black to match. It recomends bead blast, but I just cleaned it well and sprayed. They even have some tefelon that lubricate as it wears. all rattle can.
jimmie said:
Hey, Brownells www.brownells.com has some epoxy gun finishes the you bake on. 20 min. at 350 degrees. After I put the brembo master on I did my clutch lever gloss black to match. It recomends bead blast, but I just cleaned it well and sprayed. They even have some tefelon that lubricate as it wears. all rattle can.
Jimmie,
Good idea!
You can also buy 2 part epoxy paint from many sources that may be cheaper than gun supplies and automotive stores. I painted the calipers on my bike and car.

I have a couple of shotguns and tactical rifles that have epoxy camo paint jobs that I applied. Teflon is good for some parts, but it soft. I have coated a couple of pistol slides with Moly (Molybdenum disulfide) coatings that are harder and lubricate as they wear. Bullets too.

I am all about saving a buck or two. ;)
I painted my passenger peg mount and heel guard with a rattle can of that pickup bed liner stuff. It looks pretty good if you're looking for something different but still black. It's also really tough. Just remember to severely scuff the surface before you paint. Put as many coats on as you want and it only gets tougher.



I wasn't as happy with it on the heel guards because it shows where my heel rubs a little. Mostly because it gets smooth right there while the rest maintains the texture.
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Crash,
What brand did you use? It looks like it is staying black.
Some of the liner/undercoating stuff I have used faded to gray-ish or turned brown-ish.
The stuff I used is the cheap "Duplicolor" stuff. It's only been on the passenger pegs for a week so who knows if it will fade. The heel guards have been on a month or so and are mostly still okay. Long term may tell a different story.

I used it because I did some repairs to each with Epoxy and it covered up the flaws in the repair nicely.
bruiser06 said:
I'd like to emulate some of your bikes and paint my radiator cowls black as well. Help? Thanks.
Just get yourself a can of high-gloss, black engine enamel. Scuff them up with sand paper a little before you paint em'. That's what I used to paint my radiator cowls and heel guards with. Looks great and it's cheap. You can pick up a can of it at any Autozone or Pepboys.
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Devious2xs said:
J-Pip said:
Cheap hooked me up with a powder coated set from devi. (Thanks Cheap!)
So you're the ONE! Stopped the whole chain.

IF I had another spare set, I could powder-coat them and we could continue swapping them out for others. You could send me the nasty painted and flaking ones.... And then Bruiser would be set to go.
I will clean them up this weekend and ship em to you. I was gonna try it myself, but that ain't happened yet and ain't gonna happen soon. So I'll get em to ya. :police:
i would love to be a part of that chain - that would be awesome. as i understand it, i would receive a set, swap mine out and send my original to devi. i would also be willing to send a small payment for labor. could we also work in the heel guards too? please let me know. thanks.
Bruiser,
No problem.


PM me and we can work out the details.
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