Black out powertrain at home?

[tinkerer12]

Hi All,

I am looking at a low mileage 2016 Gear Up, and the previous owner must have driven it in the salt and not hosed it down afterwards as the powertrain looks pretty rough. Have any of you ever done your own engine black out treatment? I've seen this done with small bike exhausts and harley cylinders, and it looks OK, but as I remember you are constantly touching it up every year or two. If you did, what did you use and how is it holding up?

Thanks,
Terry

[Ironhand]

I have never painted a Ural engine, but I have done a number of custom RD350/400 builds. As with all other things paint-related, prep is key. Simple Green or an acidic mag wheel cleaner can be used to help get some of the crud off the engine. PJ1's engine paint used to be the stuff to use. Baked on hard and resisted scratching, oil, gas, etc.

For what its worth, the "custom" factory powder coat isn't perfect.

[Happytrails]

There is some stuff that dirt bikers use to clean up there engines. I can't remember the name of it but the results looked pretty good.

[stagewex]

Some Limited Editions and special order rigs can come Blacked-Out from the factory.
Easy to keep that way longer if it's a Starbucks or just around town bike. But from heat and weather just like powder coating, eventually that stuff wears away.

Black also (besides looking wicked/yeah I do like it) makes it harder to find leaks of various fluids.