Carb Painting

[lumpylion]

So I am thinking of picking up a Keihin carb for my Sherco and decided I wanted to be cool like the red Dellorto guys. I'd like to paint it blue while it is still perfectly clean. How can I do this? I was thinking powder coat because regular paint would be stripped by carb cleaner and gas.

Edited December 2, 2010 by Lumpylion

[chewy]

you'd have to strip it right out and maybe mask the slide area but what about anodising? (genuine bling method?). bset regards from the western annex of Siberia (GB)

[1oldbanjo]

I don't think most paints will hold up. You might have luck with a 2 part epoxy or ceramic paint like they use on disc brake calipers. I believe those ceramic type paints harden with exposure to moist air and do not cure by the solvent evaporation - and I think they are less porous and less susceptible to attack by cleaning solvents.

Powder coating may work - the masking prior to coating requires special tape and plugs that are not melted when the powder is being baked. Any plastic or rubber part left in the the carb will probably be burnt to a crisp if you don't get it out before the powder coating is baked.

The new carb will probably look better, clean easier and stay fresh looking longer with the factory applied finish......but that is just the old guy, reasonable, common sense side of my brain making that comment......not the artsy part .

Edited December 2, 2010 by 1oldbanjo

[lumpylion]

Ok, I'm going to find out what Dellorto uses for their red carbs and find out how good it is.

Also, I'll see if I can get my hands on some powdercoated things to test its resistance to solvents.

[neo]

Can't see why 2 Pak wouldn't work over some etch primer. I've been told that thats what Sherco use on the fuel tank ... never seen a tank flaking yet

Best of balance.

Neo