Nightster Winter Makeover
So true. There is so much that I'd like to play with on my bike right now but the thing I dread most is that I won't be able to ride it between tinkerings!
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,166
Likes: 7
From: NY
Blue and gold engine, that would be unique. Do you think... nah, paint it black. My sporty has plain unadorned metal, would like to have the black and chrome like the newer customs, don't think I could do a good paint job without pulling the motor, and don't want the bike down that long. Lotta work, as you well know now. I did it to a Honda over 20 years ago, wasn't worth the effort, but it did turn out nice. Guys that like to tinker need two Harley's. At least.
Going with all Black and using the Harley wrinkle black engine paint. As you may recall from earlier in the thread I tried using it on one of the side cases and it didn't turn out too well. I put it on way too thick and it ran. So with that experience under my belt I'm hoping it turns out better this time. The cylinders don't need much, just a few places mainly on the front cylinder that need covering. I'll spray the whole thing to ensure a consistent appearance. The only chrome I'm leaving are the push rod covers, and as it stands right now the stainless bolt heads. I pulled the old crappy ones from the covers at the bottom of the push rods and replaced them with the new ss. Took one out at a time and replaced it...hoping that didn't screw up the gasket and cause a leak. Covered them with the little rubber bolt caps. Here's a pic of the difference between the two.
Yesterday I got everything taped off and it's ready to paint.
It's all ready to go, we just have to hang it from the ceiling and I couldn't do that alone. Oz is building a bracket to bolt to the cylinders where the coil bracket goes and we'll suspend it from there. I don't know if we're going to be able to get to it this weekend due to some other things that have come up.
Last edited by Ergonight; Mar 17, 2012 at 03:23 PM.
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,166
Likes: 7
From: NY
Me too, man. Thanks.
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,166
Likes: 7
From: NY
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
I see in your latest pics the gold color in some is just the lighting. I've never hung an engine, only painted a Honda black a long time back, and just did it in two stages, rolling it over. Hung smaller parts, a good way to go for those really odd shaped things... like an engine. The newer style integrated Harley engine/transmissions are a lot heavier than some of the early models when you had separate eng/trans pieces; I can remember picking one up easily by myself; doubt if I could do that with any built today.
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,166
Likes: 7
From: NY
I see in your latest pics the gold color in some is just the lighting. I've never hung an engine, only painted a Honda black a long time back, and just did it in two stages, rolling it over. Hung smaller parts, a good way to go for those really odd shaped things... like an engine. The newer style integrated Harley engine/transmissions are a lot heavier than some of the early models when you had separate eng/trans pieces; I can remember picking one up easily by myself; doubt if I could do that with any built today.
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,166
Likes: 7
From: NY
Got the engine hoisted last night and decided to take some time off from work to get going on the painting. I ended up using the HD texture black paint and not the wrinkle black. I realized after reading Joker3000's thread of the same name that the texture paint is what I wanted, not the wrinkle finish. Texture is what comes on the engine from the factory and I wanted to match that, albeit blacked out instead of grey. I don't know how I got on the wrinkle finish kick...I think, not knowing any better, I just assumed the wrinkle finish is what came from the factory...I didn't know there were two different kinds of HD engine paint.
Anyway, I got a good solid coat on it and used a propane heater to help cure it. Despite my diligence I missed a few spots, some of the nooks and cranies need some more coverage, so I'll let this cure for a couple of days and go back on Thursday after work and hit it again. All in all I am pleased with the look. It is actually much blacker than the pics make it seem.
I also shot the derby cover and the timing cover. I never really liked the timing cover I got off of ebay...I think the USMC emblem will look better subdued. And I think the flat black texture paint will look good against the gloss black side cases once I get them powdercoated. If not it's easy enough to blast them and repaint, or do something different.
Like I said, they look much blacker than the pics indicate. It really is black paint and not grey. I'll have more to report on Friday. Oz is making great progress on the frame and I expect to make the last run to the powder coater on Monday.
Anyway, I got a good solid coat on it and used a propane heater to help cure it. Despite my diligence I missed a few spots, some of the nooks and cranies need some more coverage, so I'll let this cure for a couple of days and go back on Thursday after work and hit it again. All in all I am pleased with the look. It is actually much blacker than the pics make it seem.
I also shot the derby cover and the timing cover. I never really liked the timing cover I got off of ebay...I think the USMC emblem will look better subdued. And I think the flat black texture paint will look good against the gloss black side cases once I get them powdercoated. If not it's easy enough to blast them and repaint, or do something different.
Like I said, they look much blacker than the pics indicate. It really is black paint and not grey. I'll have more to report on Friday. Oz is making great progress on the frame and I expect to make the last run to the powder coater on Monday.
