Repainting the Engine
 

As the title says, I'm looking to repaint the engine on my XTX, due to my boots wearing the paint down! does anyone know where I can get my hands on a same or similar colour paint? Also, what temperature does the engine reach? I can get my hands on 650�C VHT, but will that be sufficient?

I'm also considering painting the downpipes, again, will 650�C VHT be sufficient?

Thanks guys!

650 C sounds plenty hot enough for engine, but not 100% on downpipes, although I shouldn't think they'll get THAT hot....
I suggest you contact these guys: http://www.paints4trade.com/index.asp
I've used them for some projects at work - very helpful & should be able to recommend the correct product. Not sure on engine colour, but if nobody else has the correct RAL colour code number, I have a chart at work which I could fish out next week......

The down pipes glow red hot, so i cant see any paint staying on.

I can't say that i've seen mine glow red hot, i was hoping to polish them to a mirror finish and give them a coat of clear to stop them going shoddy again :)

Hmmm.......... I've heard of this, but never seen it on my X, even in total darkness! I have a digital temp. gun at work - I may borrow this & do some tests.

You don"t even need heat resisitant paint to do the engine as it doesn"t get hot enough , any paint you use on the downpipes will burn off .I have painted several bike engines and had no issues with the paint flaking .

I seem to recall somewhere there is a thread/post suggesting that there is a Yamaha marine (outboard) paint that is almost a perfect match for the XT engine cases. Have a search...

I have found this post now, thanks!

thanks, but does this include the barrel and head? I guess it doesn't get too hot, being watercooled, but I want to make sure before I start spending money on paint!

This would be a massive help, thanks!

Had an old GS1000E Suzuki once, the engine of it was painted with bog standard aerosols from local motor factor shop (champagne gold) if i remember. Never flaked at all, and thats an aircooled engine which generated a lot of heat !!. Preparation IS the KEY to painting engines though.

The only problem you mite have is getting the engine clean enough.Most paints will be OK.:lovestory:

can you post a link please, your searching prowess exceeds mine.

http://www.xt660.com/showthread.php?t=16981

See post #7

Ta muchly :break:

Also the following in nearly a perfect match

Car Plan, Silver (Met) 08. Also on the can was CC YAV089

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Yo bald_pig: I will try to remember to get temp probe from work when I return on Wednesday. I will do some temp readings probably next weekend after a decent ride (subject to weather.....)

do believe my local car dealer stocks carplan paint, and I should still get discount there, result!

Fozzer has pointed out the paint code I used (Car plan), it was a good match for little effort from a local motor factor and even after using the bike offroad the paint was unaffected, it wont be a hard wearing as a pro paint job etc but it was ok for me and was able to keep the engine in situ.

Regarding your exhausts, see the thread below (or just look at the photos), I have pointed you to my heavily corroded original down pipes, it only took elbow grease, wire wool and autosol to clean them, far better than painting them and really easy to keep on top of as access is excellent.

http://www.xt660.com/showthread.php?t=14891&page=4

Before

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g...x/SAM_0698.jpg

During

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g...x/SAM_0713.jpg

After

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g...x/SAM_0744.jpg

I do plan to polish them up, but I was hoping to then lacquer them so I wouldn't have to do it again :P

Just did a quick check with Ryobi SW-638E: http://geoffjones.com/2009/03/03/ryo...-instructions/
As you can see from the notes, it only measures to 315C...
However, I rode into work today - dry, around 10 C ambient, 15 minute ride reaching 60 - 70 mph on B roads. I took some readings with bike still running: about 300 C on downpipes at head, around 200 C at link pipe/downpipe connection. Cylinder head around 110 C near spark plug. The probe returned an 'error' message (i.e. out of range) when I revved engine a few times. Not very scientific, but I think pipes will get much hotter during a longer, harder ride in summer.....

Hope this helps!

Sounds like it would be fine if I went everywhere on tickover lol.
I guess I'll have to be not-lazy and keep polishing my pipes!

Downpipes - use stove paint good for 1200 Deg C ;-)