Powder Coat a China Girl Motor

tulsa_rider said:

its been a while since i checked this, but i decided to go have it done anyway. I didn't even see the replies until this morning.

I bought a motor a couple of weeks ago that came black, although it was gloss instead of matte like my frame. The paint job was horrible, it didn't even cover the entire motor, the paint was chipping all over the place and they got a good deal of run off in the intake and exhaust ports. I thought about just touching up the parts where they messed up but i don't like the way that it stands out against my frame.

Also i have a couple of other parts that i want to get done to match. So what i have decided to do is to powder coat it myself. I already have a soda blaster which i am going to use to get the old paint off, and the powder coat guns aren't terribly expensive. The oven is where i was stuck but i had an idea for a diy infrared oven that i have been sourcing parts for. I didn't realize the temps had to be so high. Most of the info that i read was somewhere between 350 and 400, this could pose problems. I do not think that my oven will produce those temps, i will see what i can come up with.

I know it seems like a lot of trouble for something that is going to be scratched and dinged anyway but i like to mess around and it seems to me that once i have the supplies on hand i have all kinds of little things laying around that don't need to be coated but sure will if i have the tools to do it myself.

I think that by the time i finish this bike i will not even want to ride it, instead hang it on the wall and stare at it or something. Lol

thanks for you advise. If i ever get around to building the oven i will post an update.

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Tulsa_Rider said:

I did consider that but I have no where to store the oven when it is not in use. My roommate does not want the oven sitting in the yard, the shed is already full of my garden stuff, and we converted the garage into a bar so I do not even have a workshop. All the work that I do is either outside on my porch or in the living room on a piece of cardboard.

My idea was to use a steel oil drum and one of those round counter top convection ovens most from the flea market or good will. Cut a hole in the top of the barrel just big enough for the heating unit. It will appease my roommate because I can stored more discreetly. Also I think that I can design it to serve as a triple as a cabinet for sandblasting and the powder coating.

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Tulsa_Rider said:

Thanks for the encouragement Porta




Is there a reason for this? My first thought was that maybe the barrel wouldn't make a suitable blast cabinet because it is not a very thick gauge, but I could not think of any other reasons.




I know paint is cheap and much easier, the only advantage is that it will be a closer match to the bike (which is my main quarrel with it right now). Its like I said; I like the idea of powder coating it and I have lots of things that don't need to be coated but will end up that way if I prove successful.

I was going to do it assembled with the intake manifold on and another secured to the exhaust, a bolt in the spark hole, old threaded rods in themounting holes, and any other opening masked with high temp tape. It seems like I covered everything, but you are right it could be a time consuming mistake to powder coat in those places. Thanks for you input, it is appreciated.

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Tulsa_Rider said:

Well I just got my bike frame back from the powdercoat place and it looks great. So great in fact that I wish the rest of my bike looked the same. Here is my question: Is it possible to powder coat the entire motor?

I have not had a chance to talk to the guys at the shop because it is the weekend. Also I have tried engine enamel. I am a horrible painter, and it chips off too easily. Has anyone done this?

I know the process involves baking the coated pieces, I am not sure of the temperature, but the motors get pretty hot anyway. FYI the motor has never been used and does not contain any fuel or oil.

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