painting oil cooler

[littlejimmy12]

anything I should watch out for, gonna spray it black, just a case of remvoving and then applying hammerite......I'm sure its not as simple as that??

its 3.5 years old so the cooler is looking a bit crap along with the engine casing, trying to get as many parts black as I can!

[slob]

I'm not sure Hammerite is suitable (is the radiator aluminium?)

[littlejimmy12]

I presume it must be aluminium

[slob]

Check the instructions, I'm not sure you can use Hammerite on bare Aluminium.
When I paint Ally parts I used a etch-primer, otherwise the paint that's not designed for it won't key to the oxide layer on the surface and the paint lifts off in no time.
Not sure what the temperature limits of those primers are.
I'd read the tin carefully before you buy/start.

[littlejimmy12]

cool will do, cheers

[littlejimmy12]

just checked hamerite site, it can be done but have to use a primer, this paint itself "withstand intermittent temperatures up to 200ºF (93ºC) maximum without peeling. Light colors may undergo color changes when subjected to high temperatures" The issue is how does the primar react with high temps and how hot does an oil cooler potentially get - any suggestions

[giler]

What about a very high temperature paint, as used for exhausts or barbeques?

[littlejimmy12]

yea but I think that slob is right, because of the metal it may need a primer, I'll do some looking around in google there must be a high temp primer on the market

[slob]

Your oil cooler is going to get way hotter than 93 C.

[littlejimmy12]

94 C. ? ha ha ha damn it why are things never straight forward!!! feel like just buying a new oil cooler!

[slob]

Loadsa etch primers for sale on eBay, ask a couple of sellers to tell you what it says on the tins, it'll cost nought.

[giler]

http://www.europerformance.co.uk/pages/products/category_results.mhtml?category=omphightemppaint;m anufacturer=ompexterior;sub_category=1

[Pedro]

Whatever you paint it with try to keep the paint thickness to a minimum to maintain cooling efficiency - thick paint will stop it cooling the oil properly.

I've used a couple of fine coats of Smoothrite on my 900's oil cooler and it worked ok

[littlejimmy12]

excellent, project monster revamp back on track, thxs fella's, very much looking 4ward to completing the aesthetic side of the bike.

[Capo]

Eastwoods make a paint specialy for radiators, doesn't block up the fins.

[littlejimmy12]

nice one Capo

http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?itemID=125&itemType=PRODUCT

[gremlin]

jimmy, empty your pm inbox

[PC Myers]

Sperex Tough Black - good for at least 200c, black, and tough!