Is this possible? Any reason it can't be done? The engine on my 749 looks like shit and the 999 engine i have to put into it is from an S4rs so slightly different engine casing (at the swingarm). Next question - can the 999 internals go straight into the 749 casing with no machining required? Thanks!
Text Steve Turner at TCPS (number on his web page) and ask him the question about powder coating. If anyone can, he can. Andy
Hi Pavey, I am no engineer but, I have a mate who was thinking of doing the same thing to his engine case. However, when we went to several powder coating companies, they said they wouldn't advise it and the powder coating doesn't do well with the heat. that he would be better off with ceramic coating. So, after a little digging, he found out a company that coated his engine. It was ceramic coating, which can withstand higher temperatures and even can reduce the surface temperatures. I think he did it through this company: Performance 1 Coatings. The result was very good, but I don't know much more after that. I saw it a few days later but don't know more feedback. Can try and as him... Cheers, TroVens
My Drz had the side cases powder coated all good , my CRF 250 has both cases plus the cam cover coated silver and got very hot in the Welsh mud the other week very hard wearing and looking like new , saying that my GasGas 300 also has the Magnesium clutch cover coated still looking good after 2 years :
I believe some people have stripped their casings to bare aluminium and found that it then resists corrosion well. It's moisture getting between the paint and metal and staying there that causes the problems.
Packman, I get it. But... I know that when my friend were looking to do that, we've both read a lot and the powder coatings never state the benefits under heat. One example here: What are the advantages of powder coatings? - Interpon United Kingdom While the guys that do ceramic coatings say that the benefits of their coatings are thermal barrier: "There are many reasons why ceramic coating is so effective on your motorcycle exhaust headers, downpipes and silencers/exhaust cans. Ceramic coated exhaust pipes benefit from thermal barrier effect, which reduces the surface temperature of motorbike exhaust pipes, and increases the gas temperature and flow rate of your exhaust emissions, increasing performance." from here. Old rider, I think you're right. The contamination takes an important part on the process, I think. In the end I think they're different uses??
I believe they are painted due to it being a cheaper way to give a good finish on the engine casings. Polishing gives them a durable and corrosive resistant finish but is expensive for the factory this is why painting became popular. I also believe Rolls Royce polish their aircraft engines due to the properties of a good polished surface I will wait to get shot down in flames but this is what I was told by friend a Rolls Royce engineer in a conversation regarding this same subject.
Charlie0749, I would say you stand correct. My question is, does that paint benefits are only aesthetics? Or they're also thermal barrier? This is the point where I think is the difference. While a paint will give a nice cool finish, the ceramic coating can also give it a nice finish while keeping the heat inside. But I am just quoting what I've read.
I like the idea of ceramic coated casings form an aesthetic point of view but I have my doubts about the advantages of a thermal barrier. I would have thought you'd want heat dispersal with casings, not heat retention. I think contacting a couple of ceramic coating specialists would be worthwhile. Ask them if this is something they do, what advantages there are, if any, and how strongly they recommend it.
have to agree with @Old rider above. engines generally need to disperse heat. In the industry in which I work, the discussion of painting of metal as a means of heat retention has been discussed a lot, and the effects are negligible in normal thicknesses (e.g. wet paint, powder painted, etc). It is a good means of achieving protection from weather, salt, dirt, etc and also of having something aesthetically different. seeing as many cars have their brake calipers painted in various ways, I would expect that engine casings wouldn't get as hot as a brake calipers.
