My VIN # got Powder Coated... what to do?
Thread Starter
|
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: California
Alright .... Decided not to wait and deal with it..
Taped around and tried almost everything: gasoline, acetone, brake fluid, Dremel bras wheel and the powder coat is so thick the Dremel wheel did not cleaned up..
Finally I used a very small art brush and brushed a bit of aircraft paint striper and finally so the light.
Two things:
1-The powder coating is THICK I don't know how to describe it but its the equivalent to about 6/7 pages of the service manual all toguether (if you can picture that)
2-they did blasted the thing pretty hard (now that the metal is bare you can easily see the engraving but is there aren't any sharp edges to the Number & Leters
Taped around and tried almost everything: gasoline, acetone, brake fluid, Dremel bras wheel and the powder coat is so thick the Dremel wheel did not cleaned up..
Finally I used a very small art brush and brushed a bit of aircraft paint striper and finally so the light.
Two things:
1-The powder coating is THICK I don't know how to describe it but its the equivalent to about 6/7 pages of the service manual all toguether (if you can picture that)
2-they did blasted the thing pretty hard (now that the metal is bare you can easily see the engraving but is there aren't any sharp edges to the Number & Leters
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 494
Likes: 1
From: Kadena AB Japan
I don't get why it's so thick. But get everything dried up and get something g over the vin to seal it. Light coat of paint or full the vin in with rtv. Let dry, then paint. Let dry and then remove the rtv.
But really thin coat of paint should be fine. I can read my engine vin with 2 coats of wrinkle over it.
But really thin coat of paint should be fine. I can read my engine vin with 2 coats of wrinkle over it.
Banned
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 12,594
Likes: 9
From: Bama
So here is my dilemma..
Im a happy owner of a Sporty 883 that has been incredibly good to me..About 6 months ago right before I moved to CA from VA, I took my bike apart and decided to give it a well deserved face-lift
I took the frame to get powder coated and clear-coated and I got the frame back just a day before leaving VA.
I was really happy with the look of it but now Ive put the bike back together with some upgrades, a 1200 conversion and cosmetic stuff.. and I just noticed that the VIN# in the neck got covered by the powder coat and you can not see it
if you brush your fingers in there you can feel it but cant see much.. If you use a flashlight in certain position you can sort of identify the last 13 numbers in there (so its definitively my frame)
Now, the question here is what to do? How can I take off the powder coat just in that area or what are my options?
The bike is finally running and i have to do the DMV transfer and out of state Reg so I dont know if they want to inspect the bike and or if I get pull over I'll be in trouble.
Has this happen to anyone before or Im a lucky one ...
Any ideas will be appreciated
thanks
J
Im a happy owner of a Sporty 883 that has been incredibly good to me..About 6 months ago right before I moved to CA from VA, I took my bike apart and decided to give it a well deserved face-lift
I took the frame to get powder coated and clear-coated and I got the frame back just a day before leaving VA.
I was really happy with the look of it but now Ive put the bike back together with some upgrades, a 1200 conversion and cosmetic stuff.. and I just noticed that the VIN# in the neck got covered by the powder coat and you can not see it
if you brush your fingers in there you can feel it but cant see much.. If you use a flashlight in certain position you can sort of identify the last 13 numbers in there (so its definitively my frame)
Now, the question here is what to do? How can I take off the powder coat just in that area or what are my options?
The bike is finally running and i have to do the DMV transfer and out of state Reg so I dont know if they want to inspect the bike and or if I get pull over I'll be in trouble.
Has this happen to anyone before or Im a lucky one ...
Any ideas will be appreciated
thanks
J
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,391
Likes: 351
From: MO
Be careful... altering a VIN is a federal offense, and some of the things mentioned here could fall into that category. Me, I'd take the bike to the highway patrol (along with the title as proof of ownership) and see what they suggest.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,598
Likes: 14
From: navarre ohio
i worked at a jap4 bike shop for a couple years. they got a quad in at least once a month for trade. the frame would be powdercoated so thick you couldn't read the vin. could barely tell it was even there.. they would have me or another tech go out and sand the frame bare in the vin area. we didn't use any precision, just sand away. they then sprayed it with a light coat of rustolium to make it look good.. if you get your vin block cleaned, take a pick and clean out each number, then mask it off and spray it with a thin coat of rustolium, it would be hard to tell a difference except the vin would be visible.
if you are pulled over, or have an inspection with the vin hidden, they can and probably will impound the bike to verify it is yours. they will use an angle grinder to strip the powdercoat, then leave you with a mess and a tow bill
if you are pulled over, or have an inspection with the vin hidden, they can and probably will impound the bike to verify it is yours. they will use an angle grinder to strip the powdercoat, then leave you with a mess and a tow bill
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,070
Likes: 74
From: Los Angeles
NO SOLVENT! That kind of thinking will only cause more collateral damage. You really shouldn't have any problem because you also have numbers on the engine but if you must: tape around it and then use something like a 350 or 400 grit on a block. this will only take off the top of the numbers not effecting the surrounding. You don't even have to take it down to bare metal just enough to make if noticeable. But frankly I've never had to show a bike while registering in Ca.
Thread Starter
|
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: California
A good incentive to get this one straight out
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
FFeric
Powdercoat & Paint
2
May 6, 2016 08:59 PM
DynaRobert82
General Topics/Tech Tips
1
Apr 29, 2015 10:42 AM