Best engine coating

[RichardDDuke]

Whilst the engine is stripped, I'm getting the engine cases and heads blasted prior to getting them recoated.

However, I'm not sure which is the best medium to use ? Are powder coating or paint the only 2 options ?

The engine is a '94 900ss.

Any advice would be gratefully received ....

[Leamreject]

Have you considered if a ceramic coating would be possible?

[slob]

bare vapour blasted aluminium is an option, depending on how/when/where you use your bike

[RichardDDuke]

Not sure if all cases are aluminium .. some may be magnesium as they've discoloured differently to the aluminium ones.
If they are Mg and not Al would leaving them bare be sensible ?

[Darren69]

Magnesium needs a special chromate coating.

[Mr Gazza]

If it's Magnesium it will oxidise very quickly if left bare, but form a surface layer of Magnesium oxide which might protect it.
Mg should be primed with Zinc Chromate primer.
I once read that there is a ton of Magnesium in a cubic mile of sea water and is a by product of desalination.

+1 for having the ally vapour blasted and left bare, it's a lovely finish and quite resistant to oil staining and oxidation. But if you're riding in salt it will eat it if left unprotected. A squirt of one of those protective oils will hold the salt off for quick rides though.

If you're going for paint I would recommend VHT engine enamel. (That's VHT the brand.)

[slob]

what engine is it?

[Darren69]

Yea and are we talking crankcases or just engine covers? Whatever Ducati didn't use would be a start. They used to be okish in the 90"s, then they were **** in the '00"s and now they're ok again.

[RichardDDuke]

Originally Posted by slob

what engine is it?

Sorry, forgot to mention. Have edited original post.
It's a 900ss from around 94.

[slob]

It’s unkikely to be magnesium then.
Magnesium parts should be easy to spot, since they’re gettin on for half as dense as aluminum and will feel impossibly light.

to add to Gaza’s comments on chromate coatings: Magnesium has a more sponge-like micro structure than aluminium, so as well as shielding the material from surface corosion, the chromate finish (often a military looking green, ‘baby-poo’ yellow or gold) it also fills these voids reducing overall porosity.

[Nickj]

What about Cerakote?

[Mr Gazza]

Just realised I read the ton of Mg in a cubic mile of seawater thing in the encyclopaedias that my Dad bought for me and my brother when we started big school!

Ha ha what are they worth now? I still have the full set.

I loved the Gold Zinc Chromate paint on the AJS 7R and Matchless G50 timing covers. It's no accident that the timing covers on my Monster are Gold.
Thanks to Rob I have now sourced the colour I was looking for in the first place 11 years ago, and I will painting them in Ducati Magnesium Gold very soon.

Also knew the bloke who made Mg guitars and basses with Magnesium bodies and interchangeable necks. Pat Townsend was his name. He made the trumpet shaped drum kits too and also his Staccato range of Ducati bodywork.

[Darren69]

I have a DP magnesium clutch case that may be up for grabs since the water pump sides are almost impossible to find for the DQ motors you may have more luck for the air cooled ones. Pm for details.