Painting a Mint 400 Tank/Air Box

[Daniel P. McEntee]

I can't find any previous threads about painting a Mint 400 tank. The '75 400 I'm working on has a Hi-Point aluminum tank that I will fix up and use for the project, but after seeing some photos of a standard Mint 400 with t6he white watermelon tank, I think I'll paint up a spare tank I have for it also and swap it out from time to time. Anybody do a white paint job on an air box, side cover and tank? I'm not doing a museum piece, just trying for a decent looking rider. There are several varieties of "appliance white" epoxy spray can paint available, and was thinking of using that if it isn't too bright of a white paint. I've done some other tanks for Husqvarnas that came out satisfactory, just looking for suggestions for the color.
Thanks a lot in advance,
Dan McEntee

[KJDonovan]

Dan,

I am getting ready to do the exact same thing, I am finishing up a 75 Mint 400 and will be doing the body paint in a couple of weeks.  I am going to try doing a gel coat and picked signal white for the color.  http://www.fibreglast.com/product/ral-9003-signal-white-color-gel-coat/colorgelcoat  I will let you know how it comes out.

Thanks,

Kevin


Kevin J. Donovan
Foster, Rhode Island
72 Jack Piner (My Ride)
72 Six Day (Wifes Ride)
71 Suzuki TS125
72 Montesa Cota 123
72 Montesa Cota 123T (Another Project)

[Daniel P. McEntee]

Well that looks interesting. I'm no paint expert but haven't heard of that. I was just going to use rattle can products, and maybe put a clear coat over it before the tank stickers. DuPont makes a two part system called Nason, I think, and was thinking about using that because I can also use it on model airplanes finishes. It's considered an "entry level" product that is easy to use, and comes pre-thinned and ready to shoot. I have a couple of small gravity feed touch up gins that should do the job. Let me know more about the Gel-Coat system when you find out more. I still have a ways to go to be ready for it, but no harm in doing the research now. I had not really considered doing it stock until I saw some pictures, and the more I saw it the more I liked it. Rob Wardlaw had one at Park Hills ISDTRR several years ago I think it was that stands out in my mind also. You just don't see many like that.
  Thanks a lot,
  Dan McEntee

[brian kirby]

Gel coat is colored resin, it is what the original finish is. The fiberglass parts are not painted, they spray the colored resin into the mold first, then lay the glass on top of that, when the piece is removed the colored resin with no glass is on the outside. That is why you can sand and polish the original finish because it is very thick since it is part of the actual fiberglass.

Brian

[Daniel P. McEntee]

So the gel-Coat should bond better, and be a bit thicker and more durable I'm assuming? Cost isn't too bad. I've sprayed some two part and catalyzed paint before on machinery so I guess it's similar to work with? Maybe even fill in real minor pits, nicks and imperfections?
  Type at you later,
  Dan McEntee

[brian kirby]

I'm not sure how you it would work if that is real gel coat, gel coat has to cure in an anaerobic environment, if it is not sealed off from air it stays tacky and never cures, maybe there is a temporary coating you spray on the outside? When I did small spots of gel coat repair on jet skis I put saran wrap over the area so it would cure, then sanded it down so it was smooth, I dont think you could wrap the whole tank.

Brian