Refinishing 86 swingarm

Hi,
I'm trying to refinish my swing arm. I have some corrosion on it. Problem is there is a pretty tough clear coating. I tried a strong paint stripper, no go.

Anyone have any other ideas?
Thanks


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Member here has an excellent vapor blasting service, being in Canada it might be easier to find a local service.

www.restocycle.com

 

The only way it can have strong corrosion on it is the clear coat has worn off in places and "the elements" got to the aluminum. Unprotected aluminum will corrode to a point then stop corroding. It doesn't continue to oxidize like steel or iron does. If you want it permanently "fixed" send it off to get clear coat etched and anodized. In that process, it will go through a strong caustic etch, rinse, then a sulfuric acid bath anodizing after washes and rinses first. It won't be cheap.

 

A pic of the current condition would help here.

A gel type solvent base stripper usually formulated to remove all paints including catalyzed or epoxy/polyester coating should take care of the clearcoat. The hydroxide base (lye) strippers are OK for many removal jobs but are not well suited for use on aluminum since the reaction generates hydrogen gas and the total app does not work well in ambient temperatures below 70 F..

The gel solvent strippers should be applied as thickly as is possible and allowed to dissolve the coating. Rushing the process is just wasted time, labor and materials. Due diligence using any or all of these should be followed. IOW, all are badass and toxic.

The problem is threefold. Get rid of the clearcoat, then address the corrosion then the refinish app, all of which can be modified to suit.

Maybe look around for a shop nearby that has a media blast chamber or take the whole assembly to a commercial as opposed to a boutique powdercoater.

Media blasting can be as gentle as vapor or soda blasting or as efficient as "track blasting" that employs a specialized vehicle used to scarify concrete using loads of old steel tailings, and nuts and bolts. If ya go this route, buy some earplugs..

If refinishing is the goal, there are drillmotor attachments that are suitable for paint and coating removal that will not remove the metal from the assembly.

 

Glass Bead blasting.. leaves a great finish for further coating

 

Thanks everyone. I want to try to bring it back to stock as much as possible. I order some aircraft remover for the coating. I'll then try various grades of sandpaper or scotchbrite to get the brushed look.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Could be..

Several of the solvent fractions in gel type paint stripper will soften a paint type clearcoat as will sometimes, lacquer thinner and most especially methylene chloride. (acetone-MEK-toluene) All fairly good for a small test area.

 

Seems like all of it is anodized aluminum.

i remember one time there was a young squid that wanted to polish his frame--needed a grinder with a flapper disk to get thru to the bare metal.

 

I've done a swingarm. It is clear anodizing, and it is a bitch. You have to sand thru it then polish it back up.

 

The stripper ain't gonna work then. Getting back to that brushed (extruded) look removing the old anodized surface and the corroded areas sounds like great fun.

Doing a 100% restoration on a bike of any vintage is not easy.

 

Oven cleaner

 

Oven cleaner is great stuff fpr cleaning ovens. It will lift some paints if the rattlecan version is used. SOS mostly as the lye based paint stripper.The oven cleaner has a fraction of ethanol that will dissolve some hybrid lacquers and shellac. Works best again at +70 F.

reference: Easy Off Oven Cleaner MSDS

The reaction like the sodium hydroxide strippers produces hydrogen gas. A by product of which on aluminum,is corrosion.

 

Hmmm. Sounds like it could be fun. If it's anodized I guess I'll have to sand blast it or sand it... maybe send it to a vapour blaster. It's a spare swingarm in any case. It was given to me because of the corrosion.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Was watching some videos. Looks like I'll go with the easy off next week followed by some hand sanding.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Be sure and post some pix of your oven too.

 

I have another Frame and swing-arm I want to get rid of. Let me see the condition of mine. Might be easier to just replace it. Guess it depends on what your time is worth?

 

Decided to spend a little time on the swing arm today.

The first one is the swingarm after washing off the easy off. Looks like it got most of it off. The next ones are the same section after 320 grit sandpaper then 10-15 minutes with a green scotchpad.

Not bad, the brushed pattern looks good but the corrosion went deeper then anticipated and seems to have pitted the arm. May not be able to do anything about it.



In any case it's a winter project. As I mentioned, the swingarm was given to me. I can always use the one I have on the bike with the showa decal. Only reason I'm trying this is because I drilled holes in the bottom to attach a lower brake stay... in my young and foolish days.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

If you have time, send me a pic of the swing arm if you wish. Never what will happen.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk