New Paint Job: lines on the tank?

[nortstudio]

1993 600: currently Red, White and Blue color scheme.

I have searched and read as much as I can about painting the plastics, and I think I m about ready to get going with this project. I have stripped all the decals off the fairings in preparation for a new paint job. I have the Dupli-Color that the company recommends for plastics and fiberglass.

When I got to the tank stripping, I took the blue stripe decal off, only to notice that there appears to be a clear over the red (and the Yamaha wording) but not the white. This is leaving a differentiation in the height of the two layers. I am wondering if I can just smooth out the edges with some fine sandpaper - which I was going to use to scuff it up anyway, or if there is something more serious I need to do to get it even???

Also, it appears that the Yamaha wording doesn't want to come off - maybe because of the clear coat? Will this come off with a little sanding too?

Thanks for any advice.

[cowboi]

1993 600: currently Red, White and Blue color scheme.

I have the Dupli-Color that the company recommends for plastics and fiberglass.

I am wondering if I can just smooth out the edges with some fine sandpaper - which I was going to use to scuff it up anyway, or if there is something more serious I need to do to get it even???

Also, it appears that the Yamaha wording doesn't want to come off - maybe because of the clear coat? Will this come off with a little sanding too?

Thanks for any advice.

#1 It doesn't matter about paint unless you have a preference, me i like DuPont or house of colors. i always add an additive to my paint and primer which makes the paint flexible and resist cracking.

#2 you will want to sand 100 grit first to remove them ( decals and lines ) and create a good clean base. once removed prime it and re sand with finer paper ( 220 or so ) and create a smooth base for your paint.

i have done this many times on cars, trucks and bikes and have never had a problem. if you have any other paint and body questions let me know.

[nortstudio]

Thanks so much cowboi. I understand everyone has their preference for paint. This was the best stuff available locally. I'm going cheap rattle can for now. The result will not be nearly as good - but it will be better than what I inherited. Maybe someday down the road I can get a spray rig for the garage.

I was planning on running primer over all the fairings. But I have read that some people skip it if the paint is good. All the fairings are in good shape (other than the tank when I get done sanding it). The front fairing is brand new before i purchased the bike. Do you always use a primer on decent paint?

Appreciate the help.

Scott

[cowboi]

i use primer regardless. paint can only bond but so well to plastics and metal so its best to use primer as it has an etching agent in it that allows it to bond to what ever you are spraying. and if you ever look close at primer after its sprayed and sanded then you will see that its porous , that is what helps the paint to bond to it.

if you want to use just paint bombs themselves then i recommend RustOleum as it has a very high bonding agent in it like primer does.
ive never had good luck with dupli color as it always seems to crack and orange peel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_peel_%28effect%29
but this is just my

[nortstudio]

Man! I saw rustoleum at a local place as well!!! I guess I just only think about it as backyard furniture paint

The other reason I chose the dupli-color is because I knew a guy that did a spectacular job with it, but that was on a metal tank. So could be apples and oranges (peel).

Maybe I should go back and grab it. They had the special kind for plastic. Is that the kind you are talking about?

[cowboi]

look at my gallery pics after my accident and all the gloss black, flat black and gloss red are rustolum . as of today 5 mo later the only thing that messed up is the swing arm by the shock where i didnt clean it good enough.

[cowboi]

you posted on your blog about blinkers. look at your pic i painted on . use 10mm amber leds on either side.

http://db.tt/xjbAUOWI

[nortstudio]

Might have to swing by the autoparts store in the morning. That looks great.

In your gallery, Is that a paint booth you made? Or a blast cabinet?

[nortstudio]

you posted on your blog about blinkers. look at your pic i painted on . use 10mm amber leds on either side.

http://db.tt/xjbAUOWI

Are you talking about individual bulbs? Can you use the cheap ones from radio shack (I have them on my CB550 for idiot lights)? They hold up well to the elements - but how do you tie them together?

[cowboi]

you posted on your blog about blinkers. look at your pic i painted on . use 10mm amber leds on either side.

http://db.tt/xjbAUOWI

Are you talking about individual bulbs? Can you use the cheap ones from radio shack (I have them on my CB550 for idiot lights)? They hold up well to the elements - but how do you tie them together?

i would use these, they are only 5mm so id probably use 4 per side and they already have the resistor in them for 12v. easy to hook up.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... Id=2062570


sorry for the childish drawing
http://db.tt/jhGRSP0C

[nortstudio]

Thanks for a great tip. I have a few of these at the garage as we speak - left over from the custom indicator cluster.

I just need to grab a few more of the amber. Hopefully it doesn't interfere with the small 'hold' on that plastic rear fairing, that locks into the rear side fairings.

Also, would these LED in the rear cause issues with the blinker function if the fronts are stock?

Thanks for all your help.

[cowboi]

it will give you a fast blink unless you use a sandstone resistor (12v 50w ). myself i like the fast blink cause its more noticeable like a strobe kinda.

http://db.tt/6DF1rUBh

[nortstudio]

I'll have to try it out. I think I have a fast blink on one side right now, which i assumed was because i cant find the stock bulbs locally - i need to order online, so maybe it will even it out

[cowboi]

I'll have to try it out. I think I have a fast blink on one side right now, which i assumed was because i cant find the stock bulbs locally - i need to order online, so maybe it will even it out

if you change any of your turn bulbs to led you will get a fast blink. leds have less resistance then incandescent bulbs which means it takes less voltage to run them. so your flasher will click faster because of that
if you replace them all with leds then use a led flasher
http://www.ebay.com/itm/12V-LED-FLASHER ... 4cf58fafc9
there are cheaper ones and you could pick one up from your parts store

[thatkid]

I would recommend this over the top. Stuff is hard as nails and allows good protection with almost spray gun results.

http://www.repaintsupply.com/pd_2_part_2k_aerosol.cfm