Re-finish Valve covers

[netsrik]

To make a long story short, I dropped my beloved 1150GS in some gravel while sitting still .Never mind I have no problem riding in the stuff, sitting still however is apparently more that I can deal with, but I digress.

Anywho, I now have a very slight amount of rash on the underside of my right valve cover and it's driving me crazy. I'd like to refinish it and imagine that there is a way to go about doing it, I just don't quite know how. I'm an engineer by trade and have access to a full machine-shop so tool access isn't really an issue for me.

If anyone out there has ever done this before and can give me a little direction, I'd be eternally grateful.

Thanks,
K

[bikerfish1100]

powder coating works well. shop stripped them first (said it was a major pain), but i've since been told that there's no need to.
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q13/bikerfish1100/just%20bikes/IMG_0898-1.jpg

[kantuckid]

Take it off and haul it to a shop that sells supplies & specializes to the auto body trade and ask them what will replicate the finish best. I personally have no more faith in powder coats than any properly applied paint coating-look @ any pickup truck tow equipment for a testimonial on powder coating-they peel and rust in a couple of years, even in a non-road salt state!!! I read something a few years ago in a bike mag, was written by a coatings engineer, and his point was that they are just another way of curing the paint. Who hasn't lifted off a large piece of a powder coated finish after awhile? If the metal is clean and you use the proper etch primer, I see no reason why you couldn't paint them with a rattle can, if the right stuff is available that way-it not have a 1/2 pint mixed and take to a small shop and get them done. Maybe you could mail them to the guy that has the ON BMW painting ads?

[Radar41]

If anyone out there has ever done this before and can give me a little direction, I'd be eternally grateful.

Thanks,
K

Also working on mine (scratched in a low speed tipover), sanded smooth using course then progressively finer paper to 0000 steel wool. Wurth paint and primer on order. Supposed to match? Let you know.

Check this web site.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/ShopCart/GADG/POR_GADG_WUGARG-detail.htm

radar

:usa

[swall]

Mine was also "roughed-up" when my bike tipped over. I went to NAPA and looked at the "Dupli-Color" brand spray bombs and picked out a silver color that looked close. Sanded the bad area, masked it off from the rest of the bike and sprayed two or three coats. Unless you get down and look closely, you can't see it. Or at least that is what I tell myself.

[Brownie]

Hey fish.......are those covers done in a gloss or satin finish???? They look great!!!!

[bikerfish1100]

powder coat. yeah, i like how they came out, too.

[kovo]

I had the same thing happen when my bike was nearly new. I bought a can of the correct silver paint from the dealer (not too awful expensive) and sanded and sprayed the damaged area. In the vein of closing the door after the cattle are out, I bought a set of the plastic engine guards and it turned out that they pretty much covered the damaged area so that it isn't even visible now. All told, I think it cost about $120, and now I at least have some protection if I ever get another tipover.

[aaaaaa]

Take it off and haul it to a shop that sells supplies & specializes to the auto body trade and ask them what will replicate the finish best. I personally have no more faith in powder coats than any properly applied paint coating-look @ any pickup truck tow equipment for a testimonial on powder coating-they peel and rust in a couple of years, even in a non-road salt state!!! I read something a few years ago in a bike mag, was written by a coatings engineer, and his point was that they are just another way of curing the paint. Who hasn't lifted off a large piece of a powder coated finish after awhile? If the metal is clean and you use the proper etch primer, I see no reason why you couldn't paint them with a rattle can, if the right stuff is available that way-it not have a 1/2 pint mixed and take to a small shop and get them done. Maybe you could mail them to the guy that has the ON BMW painting ads?


I've never lifted off a large piece of powder coated finish. robert

[jcridge]

Didn't you say it was a GS?..

Find out what the Army does when they scratch the paint for the first time on a new Abrahams.:whistle

kovo1787 has the right idea using the scuff guards. We plan on purchasing a set for my wifes R1100R. She really doesn't want the engine protection bars, although they protect more then just the engine when you go down or over.