Paint for Silencers / Exhaust Pipes - RD350LC

[350guy]

Hi folks:

As per the below guide, the color code for the exhaust pipes says "Bright black coating "
Would this be "Gloss black" or "Matt Black" ?

www.rd350lc.net/page4L0colorguide2.htm

I am looking to restore them pipes to OEM colour specs. Thanks in advance.

Regards,

Daryl

[mellow]

If say plastikote satin bar b q paint 😁

[350guy]

Thank you Sir, kindly.

[earthman]

I were told recently that these pipes were actually anodised back in the day, anyone had a company re do that process instead of messing around with paint?  

[350guy]

Oh, so them factory pipes were not painted?

[earthman]

Aug 2, 2018 4:36:54 GMT 1 350guy said:

Oh, so them factory pipes were not painted?

Yep, that's what I've been told by a couple of paint places,....previous owner(s) of my bike have obviously gone down the spray can route, it's starting to flake off in places so I'll need to do something soon.

[midlifecrisisrd]

It was a plating process but not anodising as that's for alloy

Most likely options are black zinc or black nickel plating

Probably not black zinc as finish was too even

Steve

[mellow]

You sure it wasn't stove enamelled?

[midlifecrisisrd]

Aug 2, 2018 10:06:14 GMT 1 mellow said:

You sure it wasn't stove enamelled?

Don't think so as it is basically a coating like paint

You can tell they are plated down to the fact that if you rub them they slowly fade to silver

No paint or other coating to scrape off.

Also stove enamel is brittle so if dented it cracks and chips off

Steve

[earthman]

One place did say that it's more like a 'black chrome'actually, so I guess that a plating process is correct??

[4l04ever]

Yes, I looked into it a long time ago and it appeared to be a black zinc, nickel or other plating. Not paint. The downpipe was welded on after coating, as when new, a thick black paint was brushed over the weld

[earthman]

Aug 2, 2018 11:42:26 GMT 1 4l04ever said:

Yes, I looked into it a long time ago and it appeared to be a black zinc, nickel or other plating. Not paint. The downpipe was welded on after coating, as when new, a thick black paint was brushed over the weld

That's interesting, any idea why the downpipe was welded on afterwards? Why couldn't they have coated the whole thing complete??

[steeley]

Get them blasted and painted with some stove paint. Down pipes put on after because of space in the vat .

[midlifecrisisrd]

Aug 2, 2018 18:46:39 GMT 1 steeley said:

Get them blasted and painted with some stove paint. Down pipes put on after because of space in the vat .

You may be nearly right there

Never mind space, 2 things spring to mind

1- things that curve back on themselves are a bugger to plate evenly

2- (most likely the true reason) you can't have the olive flange fitted in a strong alkaline solution can you 😉. If part of the exhaust it would stop whatever bit it was touching from plating

Steve

[marrcel]

I used the rattlecan once a year on the exhausts.
That cost me 10€ a year. And some time and energy to get them in the spray booth. Now i can afford stainless. And they look lovely. And make more power. Living the dream🤗😜

[earthman]

If you go the rattle can route, does the finish from all of them need attention just after a year then?

I've been looking at VHT paint,that seems like the most obvious brand to use on exhaust systems? Anyone had any experience with that??

[marrcel]

Every year when it was my daily driver tbh.

[4l04ever]

Aug 2, 2018 13:43:53 GMT 1 earthman said:

Aug 2, 2018 11:42:26 GMT 1 4l04ever said:

Yes, I looked into it a long time ago and it appeared to be a black zinc, nickel or other plating. Not paint. The downpipe was welded on after coating, as when new, a thick black paint was brushed over the weld

That's interesting, any idea why the downpipe was welded on afterwards? Why couldn't they have coated the whole thing complete??

As Steve said, the flange had to be fitted and it has a gasket inside and olive coating, both of which would have been affected by the plating process.

[350guy]

Hi all: This confirms that the OEM factory pipes were not painted. After using a wire brush and grinding of all of the rust etc. this is the out come. Attached are the pictures. The 4L0 parts #’s are visible.

There are a few dents. I plan on using bondo to fill ‘em up and then paint them pipes with high heat satin black. Suggestions from the experts are welcome if there is a better alternative in filling up these dents. Thank you all in advance.