Need some info..Going to paint my cylinders and heads on my 89 1200 xlh this winter. Need to know if it is a must to leave the edges of the fins unpanted? My plan is to put a coat of red then mask off the edges and put a coat of black. The idea is to make the cylinders look sort of pin stripped. I'm wondering if this will cause over heating?

 

Sounds cool!! I like that idea. I don't think it will matter if the edges are painted. I would worry about having too many layers of paint on the motor and the paint flaking if you did two different layers (red then black). It would take a lot more time but could you paint the edges by hand with a small brush..... I know it will be time consuming but just a thought. Either way take some pics and show us when you're done.

 

No, the edges do not have to be left bare. You can paint the edges. Just make sure you do a proper prep job so that the paint will stick good. Do it right the first time, so that you only have to do it once.

 

thanks guys ill take pics. Ill try the brush and see how that goes

 

Does anyone have any idea where to get high heat paint that I can paint on with a small brush? Only paint I find is spray paint.

 

i bought red brake caliper paint at autozone and sprayed it into a cup dipped the brush in the paint and got started. Not sure if you would want to use the caliper paint since it leaves like a ceramic finish but withstands the high heat....just my 2cents

 

I guess that could work thanks

 

use a wire brush and clean everything off your engine, also if your fins are already powdercoated silver from the factory i would find a way to solvent it all off.

if you paint an air cooled engine you only want ONE THIN coat, not black over red over powder.

other than that go for it, i did it to mine.

if you paint it everything will be black, and then you have the option of leaving it that way, or taking a sanding block to the fins and making it shiny silver, or painting it a different color, which is not fun to do.

the pros do it by anodizing the metal and painting the rest black or chroming it. otherwise your stuck with black and polished fins for the most part

 

you can also powder... if you click on the link below my sig and scroll though my cafe build you will see how i did my motor... mind you it will be oil cooled when i am done so i primed and got a even smooth coat of black on it as well...