Barrel Painting In Situ

You could probably touch it up with can of rustoleum flat black and a brush. Not the spray can version.

swooshdave said:

That might suffice for now. I don’t want it looking too nice. The rest of the bike has a serious patina.

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In that case, watch this for ideas:

Probably easier to mask and control than spraying.

swooshdave said:

I don’t think they painted the cases in 73, weren’t those just later bikes?

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My '73 750 MkV's have painted cases, one of which I have owned since new.

Fast Eddie said:

Screw drivers, scraping devices, course emery folded in half between the fins, wire brushes, patience and tenacity!


I’d avoid any temptation to use strippers as your cases may be painted?

Some mask and spray, for in situ I always brush paint. Unless the bike is a super conkers finish, I avoid gloss and use satin (if we’re talking black). There is a product in UK called ‘Pot Black’ which goes on easily, covers well, and is relatively kind to any old paint. It’s really easy to use and looks good when done and is heat dissipating. It’s been around since Adam were a lad.

One thing I’d urge is try to avoid painting the barrel nuts, mask them if necessary, painted nuts spoils the job IMHO.

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Where do you get your pot black from Eddie?
I used to use it too but I've not seen for sale in ages
Cheers

On my 1974 Roadster:

1. Remove exhaust and induction.

2. Stuff intake and exhaust ports with protective material. I used 100mm wide foam wrap rolled up. Expands enough after inserting to prevent any over-spray or residual dirt from fin cleaning from getting in ports.

3. Used a brass wire brush of medium stiffness and Scotchbrite abrasive pads to clean between fins.

4. After majority of dirt and loose paint were removed, I dipped scotcbrite pads in paint thinner and repeated cleaning until pads were “clean”.

5. Allow overnight to dry.

6. Mask everything except cylinders from overspray.

7. I used Rustoleum red primer and allowed several days to dry.

8. Followed with Rustoleum Gloss Black. Have also used Rustoleum BBQ Black (high-temp) for a satin finish. Both lasted very well and survived multiple washings. I prefer Gloss as it cleans better.

Good Luck!

baz said:

Where do you get your pot black from Eddie?
I used to use it too but I've not seen for sale in ages
Cheers

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Baz, I have to correct myself here. I went to the shed to check and I’m not using Pot Black any more! But it’s in a very similar tin, and as far as I can tell, it’s the same stuff just, re branded.

Anyways, this is what I’m using: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-X-Gran...257992&hash=item2c961c0570:g:8gkAAOSwImRYW7~O

swooshdave said:

I don’t think they painted the cases in 73, weren’t those just later bikes?

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The Titanic ('73 850 Roadster) had painted cases.
Aluminum foil makes a great stay-in-place mask for paint jobs like this.

I need to do this as well. Thanks for the tips!

Dave once you get the barrels all clean what paint you going to use, here in AUS we have a rust proof undercoat paint called red oxcide and I have found it to also be a high temp paint and have used it on exhaust header pipes and has out lasted any other heat proof paint, I did my barrel with it a very long time ago and them painted them with high temp black paint over the red oxcide and that was over 8 years now and the paint is still as good as I first painted it but I used a flat black to coat, so any paint with oxcide in it will be a good heat proof paint, hope this helps, can't help with the cleaning part as that's the hardest part of the job and I did mine when the barrels were off the bike lol.

Ashley

I heard this after painting my barrels with VHT black.
BBQ gloss black paint readily available and should be good for the heat.

My '73 barrels wear Dupli-Color Engine Enamel, DE 1615 Aluminum. Claimed to be good to 500 F. No sign of yellowing, etc. Nice look. Used on cases too.

Granville, which I think are a Leeds based company seemed to have acquired pot black many years ago. I have two tins which are literally like water, more solvent than paint and not the same as the original. Maybe bad batches but bought a few years apart.

FastFred said:

Granville, which I think are a Leeds based company seemed to have acquired pot black many years ago. I have two tins which are literally like water, more solvent than paint and not the same as the original. Maybe bad batches but bought a few years apart.

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Don't say that!
I've just ordered some
I'll open it when it arrives and see how thick it is
And report back, maybe do a field test on my frying pan!

Let us know what it’s like Baz.

BTW, mine needs a good stir AND shake after it’s been stood. Just shaking ain’t enough and it looks like water (as mentioned by fast Fred) but when stirred and shaken, it’s good.

I will open both tins and warm up, stir properly, it may have been me..