Restoration questions, what to do about nuts and bolts? Engine finishing? Rim paint
OK, I think that this summer’s project will be restoring the 83 Big Red, not a 100 point show restoration but fairly close to it. I am thinking of painting instead of powder coating and not going all out so that I can do it on a budget, after all I do still use this as a trail machine. Then in a few years (when I am out of school and working) I will pull it apart and do a full restoration on it (sentimental reasons for this machine). The rusty wheels and lower fork tubes are really getting to me, I have held back for 2 years but I can't take it any more!
Anyways, what do I do about the bolts? I am not going to replace all of them but I would like to clean them up. Do I have them coated? What about plating? I am not going to put rusty bolts back in and because they are just steel even if I clean them they will rust up again.
What do I do to the engine? It is clean but because it is 24 years old it is starting to corrode a little so it needs to be freshened up. I have heard aluminum wheel cleaner works well but will that give me the factory look? I think sandblasting leaves the surface too rough, what about bead blasting?
When painting the rims, should I remove the tires first? The rims will be sandblasted and then painted. I haven’t decided if I will be replacing the tires or not. The way I see it if I don’t remove the tires I might not be able to paint the outside lip very well but if I remove the tires I could scratch the new paint when putting the tires back on. Also, if I do remove the tires should I blast and paint the inside of the rims? What about the beads?
1984 Yamaha YT 60 Tri Zinger(current project)
1983 Yamaha YTM 200 (rear suspension kit)..... long term project
2004 BMW R1150R
1972 Honda CT 70
2007 Lifan 110
Paint the motor.It will look better,and be a hell of alot easyer to clean.You wont have to worry about the Aluminum corroding.
Honda didn't paint the engine so I am not going to either, I want to keep this machine as close to stock as I can so it will be easier when I do the show resoration in a few years. This is the trike I could see sitting in my living room fully restored someday.
Originally Posted by Aussieduner
I take the original bolts and get them nickelled again at the platers,its not that expensive and maintains that OEM look.
So it is the nickel plating for the bolts, that is what I was looking for. Thanks.
1984 Yamaha YT 60 Tri Zinger(current project)
1983 Yamaha YTM 200 (rear suspension kit)..... long term project
2004 BMW R1150R
1972 Honda CT 70
2007 Lifan 110
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Ive seen a set of rims on a recon that someone had repainted gray (close to the factory silver), and they taped around the rim and either used newspaper or a garbage bag to cover the tire and they turned out VERY nice. It also depends on the paint you are using, most s are a much softer paint, but if you have the resources get a good tractor paint from tsc (I think that they have all colors) and spray them with a gun (paint can will say how big, I would think a 1.0-1.5 nozzle)... if you can do the tractor paint, or a good one-shot system I would take the rims off of the tires and not worry about chipping them...
1997 Kawasaki Bayou 220
2004 Yamaha YFZ450
1985 Honda 250ES
1982 Honda 185s For Sale
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Originally Posted by edog
s are a much softer paint, but if you have the resources get a good tractor paint from tsc (I think that they have all colors) and spray them with a gun (paint can will say how big, I would think a 1.0-1.5 nozzle)... if you can do the tractor paint, or a good one-shot system I would take the rims off of the tires and not worry about chipping them...