Thread: Paint or powder coat ?

I have got my 72 ct 70 sripped down and ready to get blasted and finished. Would you paint or powder coat everything ? And what do you do with the swing arm ? Does that rubber bushing press out or does that have to get painted. I can not find new swing arm bushings

Thanks Dave

There are pros and cons, the powder coat is hard but it is a ceramic coating and if it chips it will pop or bubble after time. The best thing I can say it looks like is the hitch of a car or truck after two or three winters. I like paint my self

Originally Posted by goltz81

what do you do with the swing arm ? Does that rubber bushing press out or does that have to get painted. I can not find new swing arm bushings

I'm at the exact same point. Ready to send to get blasted and coated (I'm going with powder!) but can't for the life of me figure out how to get those bushings out of the swing arm. I'm also trying to get the bearing races out of the frame... no luck with screwdriver and mallet Were you able to find a solution to either?

Ok, take this for what it is, my opinion. Powder coat if you don't care if it looks exactly stock, or orignial finish. If you want beautiful finish and highly sought after, go for the rare blue/green candy. Race bearings are easily popped out with long bolt or rebar and a small hammer. Be careful and put frame in a stand or on cushioned surface. Swingarm bearings are replaceable and on the internet for about $12.00 set. Good luck

How do you successfully repair a powdercoated surface?
You can't. Once a powdercoated surface becomes weathered and used on a regular basis, removing the old powdercoating can vary from being an outright pain to being impossible.
But if you go the paint route, the list of colors to choose is almost endless. Then you also have the option of painting it yourself with the appropriate skills, tools and safety equipment.

I have had numerous items powdercoated and re-powdercoated (say I didn't like the color). Removed old, put on new. Was it easy, no, was it done yes. I have probably 400+ colors to choose from and the people who do mine are amazing. But, it's not for everyone, and like I said before, if you want the original/stock look, powdercoating is not for you.

One more note, I prefer original candy Honda colors on my nice bikes. But for trail riders, running into trees, laying them down in the dirt, powdercoat is the way to go and a hell of a lot cheaper.

Paint, much of the thin monocock style frame will possibly warp in the oven.

Go with a nice base coat/clear coat in polyurethane enamel. You won't be sorry. You can match original finishes or a totally custom look.

Make sure it is the cross linked catalyzed type (hardener). It will be just as durable as powder coat. (you won't notice the difference) but the looks will be sooo much better! KD

I took my swingarm to the local Honda dealer and for $60.00 they pressed out the old bushings and told me to come back after powder coating and they will press in the new bushings -- all for the $60.00. This was the only thing I had the Honda dealer do for me for the whole project. You cant do this without a press and the Honda dealer had the right size of bearing press to fit this application.-- re-guarding the paint vers powder coating I have both but prefer powder due to the fact when I put together a project I have no damage to the coating, with my painted bikes they have all chipped scrached dinged cracked the paint -- just bolting on the parts screwed up the paint -- I had spent $550.00 on a custom paint job and no matter what I did something was messed up on the painted bike -- I will not do a paint job ever again.