cafe racer - xs1100

[rasputin]

Mine did come down to bare alloy. It took a lot of time and being able to rotate the engine while working was key to getting everywhere blasted. All I have for a pic of half my setup is this one.



That is the rig I put in the V8 engine stand and then rotate it to get to every spot. Helps get the paint evenly spread as well. I would take a pic of it without an engine in place but do not have the time or room tonight. As for pics of the engine before paint I have none. Basically it blasted down to a dull alloy finish which I spent some time cleaning with air and some kind of cleaner that I can not for the life of me remember now but it was similar to a brake kleens idea.

[AussiXS11G]

hey mate...
how did it come up, bare alloy, yes?
do you have pics please....

that is a nice pic ...snapped it with my phone
B

[rasputin]

I plugged every hole I could find on one of my motors and the soda blasted it (Beads not powder). It turned out well and the paint is well adhered, except to the one piece I did repaint. That one is peeling a bit where I did the repaint.
Cut rubber balls in half to seal the exhaust and intake ports inserted them and then laid in a wee bit of silicone to further isolate them. I also had a rotisserie sort of thing as I had an old frame (cut down to accept engine only)  that I mounted the engine in and then put it in an V8 engine stand. I could turn it 360 degrees so I could get all the parts blasted and painted equally.
Worked really well for me to do the entire engine all at once. I did not want to dis-assemble anything as I had done so much to the motor previous to my decision to paint it.

[nozila]

Im told that my guy would do it assembled. But starting to have second thoughts on if its worth it now. Sanding by hand is time consuming but could prevent any damage from blasting.

[Jonesy :-)]

I had the head and barrels on 581 soda blasted. I thought  I had it masked and blanked fairly well but there was still soda residue in places you wouldn't expect. The residue probably wouldn't harm the motor but I'd still be nervous to run a motor that had been blasted as a complete unit.

[BrettS]

I am planning on soda blasting my engine, just going by internet research it seems that you can soda blast the assembled engine. have a bit of a google and hopefully you can try it before me 
I am planning on using a home made soda blaster.

[SCARFEY]

I wondered if they would do it assembled....seems not

[AussiXS11G]

I've not been able to find anyone who would do my lump while assembled.......no guarantee
that medium would not get into the works.....

[SCARFEY]

What about Hydroblasting it's advertised in Old Bike Australia a fair bit. Would probably be less harsh

[nozila]

So I have a choice of getting the engine blasted. At this stage, Im not sure if its going to be with sand, soda, glass or what.

Has anyone got their entire engine blasted ie assembled? Or should I just continue sanding and filing away at the engine manually and spray it VHT satin black?

I like the idea of a raw brushed aluminum look the blasting will give but I also keen on getting the factory black look.

Ideas guys?

[petejw1966]

im sure TC on the us site was doing them
both with and without a filter from memory.

[AussiXS11G]

The filter mod is a cracker for sure....but only works with the oil cooler in place....
I have yet to work out an alternate fitting without the cooler.....
Xtian is the originator of this mod BTW

[nozila]

Thing is, its hard to match the engine paint via a spray can to the tank/side covers and frame's finish.

So once completely sanded, I will then decided to either spray or leave at it is. Although I'm sanding it with a metal file on the fins and whatever grade sandpaper on the case.

btw I like your oil filter mod

[AussiXS11G]

May I suggest that you leave it as raw alloy..
I painted mine with POR15's manifold paint - it was fantastic for prob 7 years but the exposed front is starting to
disappear



I would not paint again for sure 

[nozila]

lol perhaps an engine?

Thats currently being hand sanded and either painted satin black or left raw metal.