Picked up some used lowers the other day naturally had to have painted. Used HD's color code and used a paint shop that has been painting HDs with tri coats. Well the paint did not match. We shot the bike with the paint camera and it called for a different code. My bike is an o6 RK bought it new. The painted lowers looked much better than the rest of the bike. Now I'm in the process of painting the rest of the bike. Any ideas why the paint would not match? The paint shop uses PPG paint.


PS going to try to post pictures when finished

 

If you don't use HD paint, you run the risk of the paint not matching, plain and simple. PPG can sometimes come so close that you can't tell, other times it can be a pain.

 

What color was it? That would make a big difference right there.

Some colors are easier then others. Vivid Black, Silver, whites and some blues from what I understand are the easiest. Reds can cause problems because of the "pigments"? Not sure why but Red pigments are harder to control or something like that.


My 04 Road Glide is Smokey gold and matching paint has been a huge pain in the azz....

Even with the paint code most of the painters I've talked two don'twant to touch it and those thatwill work with me want to get the paint from Harley which is so expensive I'd be better off buying the over price tour pack or other accessories from them anyway.

 

I tried to match Aztec orange and failed. Some colors are tough to match.

 

There are so many reasons why paint doesn't match. Was it mixed correctly? the strenght on tints today 1/10 of a gram over can cause a color shift, did they use the correct activator and reducer for the temps? were they spraying with the correct air pressure. Any paint company will tell you the best way to obtain color match is through blending, in your case that wasn't an option. The only thing that can be done is tint to get an acceptable match. Then comes the question was it just color or was it the flake that was off. Sorry to ramble on but saying color doesn't match opens up for a lot of other questions.

Any painter worth his weight will do spray outs until he reaches a good match...it doesn't matter what paint company you use they will all match if you can find a good painter. (some are easier to match than others, and some have better color tools than others) PPG probably has the best database for HD colors.

 

Hope the OP will provide the color. HD Paint Book says to shoot the part with primer because without it the color may not match--so first question is did the painter prime the lowers first?

Also, with a few exceptions, the HD paints are base coat/clear coat, so I'm not sure of the "tri-coat" reference.

Unless you do your own painting orget a "brother in law" price from the painter, it's very difficult to see significant savings reshooting TP's, lowers, etc.--ususally better to order the part from a 20% off dealer.

 

Forgot to say paint is HD pearl white. The lowers were primed first and the painter did say that the pearls are very hard to match. Thanks for the replys and hopefully when all is done she will match. Also was told that HD uses PPG paint. Just hear say don't really know might have just been the PPG salesman.

 

Agree.... If it isn't HD PAINT it wont match... Been there done that... And most of there colors are 3-stage... And HD paint is anything but cheap...

 

If it is a true 3-stage the painter will first have to match the base color and get coverage. The second step is key,do what they call a draw down or let downpanel. This is a spray out of base with different numbers of the pearl mid-coat to achieve a match. you will need to do from 2 to 5 coats of the mid coat to get the best idea how it's going to look. Nothing quick about the process and most painters hate doing them...thats why tri-coat jobs are a PITA to repair or match. It's not like the old days when you opened the can dump in some thinner and pulled the trigger..

Buying lowers from HD already painted is probably the best way to go.

 

You should have just waited on a set in your color. I waited for a long time for a set in my color and picked up a brand new set from ebay for $400.00 even for the vented lowers. The are still in the HD packaging. I even went to pick them up. I think I really got a good deal!