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Message started by Greg_650 on 08/08/04 at 03:57:02

Title: Painting the Savage Engine
Post by Greg_650 on 08/08/04 at 03:57:02

Okay....from the topic "a picture of my bike" this is moved here. Let's start fresh here.

Remove the valve covers too.

http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/215/215131/folders/156326/1177636GMD04Hanging01web.jpg

Title: Re: Painting the Savage Engine
Post by Greg_650 on 08/08/04 at 04:03:31

For what you see above....I used or bought...

- Duplic Color High Heat Ceramic engine paint (1200 degrees)
- 200 grit sanding cloth, Scotch Brite, paint thinner
- New alternator cover and clutch cover gasket
- Small kerosene heater because you have to bake the paint

Title: Re: Painting the Savage Engine
Post by Kropatchek on 08/08/04 at 16:10:04

Hi Greg
Thanks for the preliminairys. tell me more so I can make plans for doing this job next winter. ???
greet'z
Kropatchek

Title: Re: Painting the Savage Engine
Post by Greg_650 on 08/09/04 at 02:34:51

Didn't you say that your engine was removed ???

Title: Re: Painting the Savage Engine
Post by sunny on 08/09/04 at 11:12:51

hey, i can use this info with pictures as i plan on doing this soon.
how hot does the kerosene heater have to get to bake on the enamel?

Title: Re: Painting the Savage Engine
Post by Greg_650 on 08/09/04 at 13:13:48

The instructions on the can say to bake the paint at about 450, but since I didn't have an oven that big, or want to split the crankcase ::), I settled for heating the engine to the point of "really too hot to touch".

The engine hung about 2 feet above the heater and when the top of the engine was hot, I knew the heat had soaked up through all the metal parts. So I would guess the temp was about 200 F degrees, and I would bake it like that for about an hour...and then let it completely cool before painting again (over night). I would also say that 200 is about the normal crankcase temp too

I found that once baked the paint is really unaffected by gasoline and oil....but on unbaked parts it can be damaged by petroleum (like most enamels). So the heating is really important in the process.....and after running the engine to temp. it really becomes tougher.

I also didn't turn the heater up too high to avoid any oily residue and soot from the kerosene smoke.

Title: Re: Painting the Savage Engine
Post by Kropatchek on 08/09/04 at 15:57:38

Greg_650 wrote:

Didn't you say that your engine was removed ???

Yes, I did. :P

Title: Re: Painting the Savage Engine
Post by Greg_650 on 08/10/04 at 02:19:41

Why wait until winter to start painting? The weather is better for it now anyway.....

BTW - if you look close at the head in my picture, you'll see that the fins are flat on the edges (painted). Mine's a 2000 and Suzuki didn't do that until 2002. Hmmm.

Title: Re: Painting the Savage Engine
Post by Kropatchek on 08/10/04 at 17:00:57

Greg
I do not know when I will be painting my engine. Just want to know how it's done. I am lucky to have a spare engine with 8000 mls. My current engine is running fine although it needs a valve clearance job. ;D

Title: Re: Painting the Savage Engine
Post by Greg_650 on 08/11/04 at 02:33:50

I have seen a lot of painted engines over the years. Most of them were painted poorly with bolt heads or mating parts painted together. I've seen some that were painted in the frame. Some were done with the wrong paint that chipped or flaked off. Some were done without cleaning the engine.

What I tried to do was to create a paint job nearly as good as one from a factory. With this engine, I have done this twice. The first time in 2001 was in a friend's garage where I couldn't do everything as thoroughly as I wished. Last winter in my own basement, I decided to do it better by also painting the side cases which is different than what Suzuki does.

Another part that I didn't explain (I hinted last post) was the machined fins on the head. I did that in 2001 also. After painting the engine, the final step is to sand off the paint on the edges to highlight the engine with the aluminum fins (what Suzuki does)....and I thought that I'd mention that now because it has to be done before painting...and the head needs to be removed. So you have to make that decision before painting.