Painted engines

[Monstyr]

I have a replacement cylinder on my engine, this is painted black and obviously stands out from the rest of the natural coloured motor.

When (what years) did they start painting engines?

I had given some thought to removing the black but this will seem a bit too much work to get into all the fins so I'll probably just match the other side with black VHT paint unlesss someone can suggest a better option. ( I have considered silver/aluminium coloured VHT paint too but doubt it will match)

I think I'll keep the cases their standard metal colour.

[boris tarpit]

. . could you not have it bead blasted??

[Monstyr]

It worked fine when I took it out of the bike and I dont want to disassemble it when I dont have the tools or experience to rebuild it.

[EVguru]

You could have it soda blasted in situ.

[Monstyr]

There's nowhere near me that can do any of the blasting processes other than the roughest shotblast work, the engine has sat untouched for ages because I've been unable to find a neat solution for this hence the query about painting it.

[MarkB]

Hmm, I'd see that as a good excuse to get the experience of taking the head and barrel off and get the barrel vapour blasted. It's a pushrod engine, so should be nice and simple (says Mark who's never dismantled a 4-stroke before...)

[Coxey]

Hmm, I'd see that as a good excuse to get the experience of taking the head and barrel off )

yes, it really is a simple as is sounds. These are lovely engines to work on.