Casings in black

Hello, at the INR I noticed a beautifull Commander Special with blackened engine casings, see picture attached. The coating was of great quality. I am not familiar with rotaries. Is it standard? I take it the casings get rather hot. Would anybody know what kind of coating was used? Thanks, Bennie.

The standard Commander casings are not as well finished as that. (well mine wasn't) Polyester powder coating is good enough to stand the heat of the air cooled rotaries and they run pretty warm.

Polyester powder coating is good for both water and air-cooled engines ; the challenge with air-cooled is getting the original coating 100% off.

I've completed two air-cooled engines, one in silver and one in black, and have another in progress. The first was done by a well-known company, was excellent, but very expensive. The second used a paint-stripping company to remove most of the coating, then shot-blast to clean fully, and then powder coating satin black by a local company. The result was just as good for less than half the total cost.

The current set are being stripped by soda-blasting, which the supplier says will leave a clean casting ready for powder-coating ; I await the result of that with interest !

I would have included a photograph of the assembled engine in black, but my file sizes are much too large for this site.

Thanks Davids and Richard. At the time, as I looked at the bike, I thought maybe it is ceramic. Possible? Has been done before on exhausts.

I am the owner of that commander special, the cases were stripped with nitromores paint stripper then shot blasted to give the new coating a key, it was then powder coated but give it a gloss the casings were removed from the oven before being fully cured and then covered in a clear lacquer before being put back in the oven to allow the laquer to bond into the powder coat. that was the primary and gearbox casings, the water pump however was a slighly different tale as richard had the water pump powder coated in satin black when he refurbished it for me. Having built the bike up I wanted the same finish on the water pump so the guy that did the paint work on the tank etc put me onto a two pack clear laquer in an aerosol that will withstand the heat and petrol etc. You mix the two pack by hitting a big plunger on the bottom of the aerosol which bursts an internal seal then you shake as per normal but it must be used in 24 hours. I have thrown the aerosol away and cannot remember it's name but if you want to go that way please answer this blog to that effect and I will find out and let you know.

Dave Green.

Previously wrote:

I am the owner of that commander special, the cases were stripped with nitromores paint stripper then shot blasted to give the new coating a key, it was then powder coated but give it a gloss the casings were removed from the oven before being fully cured and then covered in a clear lacquer before being put back in the oven to allow the laquer to bond into the powder coat. that was the primary and gearbox casings, the water pump however was a slighly different tale as richard had the water pump powder coated in satin black when he refurbished it for me. Having built the bike up I wanted the same finish on the water pump so the guy that did the paint work on the tank etc put me onto a two pack clear laquer in an aerosol that will withstand the heat and petrol etc. You mix the two pack by hitting a big plunger on the bottom of the aerosol which bursts an internal seal then you shake as per normal but it must be used in 24 hours. I have thrown the aerosol away and cannot remember it's name but if you want to go that way please answer this blog to that effect and I will find out and let you know.

Dave Green.

Hello Dave, thanks for your response. I cannot exactly remember what the water pump looked like. Did you succeed in having it look like the casings? If it has the same "deep" quality look, is must be good. Have not heard of this 2-pack system before, am certainly interested in it. I guess one has to do find a professional (and reliable!) company for the powder coating. The advantage of the aerosol would be that I could perhaps do it myself. 

Bennie

PS great bike!

The exhausts on R.1010 have been ceramic coated by Camcoat in Warrington.  It's not perfect and has started to fail in places.  If you want something done try giving them a ring.