Paint The Frame; Yes or No

joe czech said:

as for frame paint, touch up, or whatever - on my 74, I found that lacquer based, dupli-color universal (gloss) black is, IMO, a dead ringer for the factory original finish. it blends, color sands, buffs and polishes perfectly. I transferred small amounts from the aerosol can to an airbrush or a touch-up gun - some places, direct rattle can. careful masking is a must.

Click to expand...

Exactly what I do.

I prefer paint, even though powder coat is more durable. Black polyurethane is pretty tough stuff and doesn't give the "thick" look of powder coat-the poly is pretty thin and resembles original paint. For touch-up. a good, rattle-can epoxy black like Rustoleum of VHT blends right in, or someone with a bunch of rattle cans could do a whole frame + all the other black parts and it would probably be just fine.

Even with paint, it's good practice to mask all the fastener and component interfaces (like the sliding top gearbox bolt area) and anywhere where a turning fastener could damage the paint or (as with powder coat) crush down, loosening the nuts and bolts.

Norcoastal said:

I’ve been searching these posts and most of the topics are whether to paint or powder coat? Whether to rattle can or spray gun? Noting on if you should keep the original paint.

My question is this; if the frame isn’t terrible or rusty, would it make sense to touch up the bad spots and keep the majority of the original frame paint?

The original paint must be pretty tough to hold up all these years. Would I be doing the bike a disservice if I touch it up or would I be doing a disservice if I didn’t?

If I paint it myself, it would never be as good as what the factory did. But maybe it wouldn’t be terrible?

See my dilemma...

Click to expand...

If the frame cracks, it is much easier to touch up paint after welding than to recoat the whole frame.

I'm still trying to understand what "look" you are seeking as a finished motorcycle.

It seems your finished vision is what dictates the direction you choose to finish the frame.

Lineslinger said:

I'm still trying to understand what "look" you are seeking as a finished motorcycle.

To me, this dictates what direction you choose to finish the frame.

Click to expand...

That’s a fair question and I’m not sure I have an answer. I see a lot of guys building a like new or museum quality build.

While I admire the skills needed to do such a build, I’m not sure I have those skills.

I think a nice, clean reliable bike is what I’m going for. But that’s today.

Yesterday I was thinking of a like new Interstate. Today I’m thinking original looking Roadster.

Who knows what tomorrow will bring???

Norcoastal said:

That’s a fair question and I’m not sure I have an answer. I see a lot of guys building a like new or museum quality build.

While I admire the skills needed to do such a build, I’m not sure I have those skills.

I think a nice, clean reliable bike is what I’m going for. But that’s today.

Yesterday I was thinking of a like new Interstate. Today I’m thinking original looking Roadster.

Who knows what tomorrow will bring???

Click to expand...

I rebuild bikes, not restore them.

The 72 Combat I finished early this year took best Norton in a show where most of it's competition was restored bikes.

The difference? Although I like them to look more or less original, I don't worry about the right fasteners and I sometimes change things when I can't get the right part in a decent condition. For instance, the rear brake pedal is powder coated gloss black as are the yokes (triple trees). The brake pedal because it was a rusty mess and the yokes because I like it that way and can't imagine why the factory used silver next to chrome. That bike has original fenders, rims and spokes. Plenty of time with WD40 and a brass brush followed by chrome polish and I have good looking original parts. The tank and side panels are new with a beautiful paint job including hand pinstriping and then clear coated - a true restore cannot have clear coat.

You're a long way away from having to make the Interstate/Roadster decision. They are basically the same bike with different side panels and tank and maybe exhaust/carbs depending on when actually built.

I too used the duplicolor gloss black on my commando, 72 T120 68 A65

a couple of the paints and colors used during my 74's "reconditioning" effort. not saying this is your only choice, only what I used. for the triple trees, I found that Seymour Spruce, lacquer (satin) nickel is a very close, if not a dead match. for the gray front fender braces, Krylon gloss pewter gray, is also a very close match. I did a test spray, and I had to really give it a good look to see the difference. on my 74's original gray wheel spokes, Krylon matte deep gray is close for any touch up work. again, for frame touch-up - duplicolor universal gloss black - IMO, is a dead match.



my 74 still has the original candy apple red finish. it was showing it's age, and it had it's share of stone chips and edge chipping. overall, the original lacquer still maintained it's high gloss, and I didn't have the heart to strip the original finish for a full re-paint. I wanted to salvage the original paint the best I could. I know it's a candy with a silver base and touch up would be a challenge. I went to my local auto paint store, and had them color match and mix a half pint of a single stage acrylic enamel. they used some sort of computer color analyzer on one of the side covers - they hit it pretty close. note the edge - just laid down a couple coats using a small artist's brush. anyway, at 20 feet and 20 MPH, I doubt anyone will notice -

Just paint it when I built my Commando/Featherbed way back in the 80s my spray painter friend painted the frame in 2 pak paint and after 38 years its still holding, yes it has chips in it and a few small bits the paint has worn off so I just touch it up with some rattle paint in a can when needed, it is showing its age but it proves to everyone it been a every day ride for most of its life, its no show pony but its get good reviews from everyone that looks at it all because its a rider and not a show pony, if you intend to ride this bike then paint it all depends on your use for the bike even show ponies can look good with just a cheap paint job, as long as the frame is protected, myself am not a fan of powder coating as it still can get damage from just normal wear and tear from riding, road grim plays a big part in any paint jobs and once a bit of grease and oil from use will also protect you paint job lol.
My Norton only gets a spit and polish once a year on its Birthday when I first rolled it out of the dealers when I brought it new and only a quick wipe over when needed if dusty or any rain stains when out in the rain and this what I do with all my bikes.

Ashley

Here are some pictures of where my frame is today before I do anything. I think I’ll do a touch up first and see how it looks, but I don’t think it’s too bad.

That looks pretty respectable. I'd just touch up the bare spots with artist brush and black rustoleum from the can. Then give it a good coat of wax. When you come down to it not that much of the frame is visible when the bike is together. Spend some time on getting the front down tubes and the rear loop and sections below the side covers looking good. How is the area on the rear loop around the seat mounts. I hate the way the seat mounts on Commandos. Every time you check the oil it has to come off and it's very easy to scratch the loop tubes putting it back on. Both my restored bikes have big gouges, one painted frame the other powder coated. Triumph had a better idea with the hinged seat and BSA had the best just put the cap on the outside of the tank. The battery side cover is also something that likes to scratch the frame. Again the mounting system on it could have been better designed. That dzus fastener can be a pain.

When did the seat hinge show up on the Commando? It's hinged on the MK3.

Agreed, that frame paint looks decent and will look better yet touched up.
Powder coat is good stuff but it's a chore as all the old paint must go, right to bare metal.
It would be a waste to sandblast that away.

Glen

worntorn said:

When did the seat hinge show up on the Commando? It's hinged on the MK3.

Agreed, that frame paint looks decent and will look better yet touched up.
Powder coat is good stuff but it's a chore as all the old paint must go, right to bare metal.
It would be a waste to sandblast that away.

Glen

Click to expand...

Mk3

worntorn said:

When did the seat hinge show up on the Commando? It's hinged on the MK3.

Agreed, that frame paint looks decent and will look better yet touched up.
Powder coat is good stuff but it's a chore as all the old paint must go, right to bare metal.
It would be a waste to sandblast that away.

Glen

Click to expand...

That’s what I was hoping everyone would say!

+1 on plain old rustoleum. Just the right amount of gloss, easy, and tough. Never a problem on dozens of bikes I've done

worntorn said:

When did the seat hinge show up on the Commando? It's hinged on the MK3.

Click to expand...

The 850's got the 2 inner extended gussets to support the rear rail from drooping, then for the MK3 these gussets were modified to take the hinge and the catch parts plus the left hand side gusset moved to the outside.

What are your thoughts on the triple trees?

Mine are from an older year and they’re black.

I like the black better than the silver that the ‘73’s had and I’m thinking of keeping it black.

Thoughts?

Also, they have a sort of wrinkle finish, is that correct?

Norcoastal said:

What are your thoughts on the triple trees?

Mine are from an older year and they’re black.

I like the black better than the silver that the ‘73’s had and I’m thinking of keeping it black.

Thoughts?

Also, they have a sort of wrinkle finish, is that correct?

Click to expand...

Personal preference of course, but silver/grey is correct and no, not wrinkled. The castings are a bit rough. Joe's post (#28) shows readily available spray paints that match.
If you want them black, I would use a satin paint, not gloss.

Norcoastal said:

What are your thoughts on the triple trees?

Mine are from an older year

Click to expand...

As previously mentioned in your "Interchangeable parts" thread, if both are not marked 'ANG' then they are not the correct geometry to use with an '850' frame. This doesn't just apply to pre-71 but all '750' frame yokes.
https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/interchangeable-parts.29217/page-5#post-449798

Norcoastal said:

and they’re black.

Click to expand...

Norcoastal said:

Also, they have a sort of wrinkle finish, is that correct?

Click to expand...

No and no.

Norcoastal said:

I like the black better than the silver that the ‘73’s had and I’m thinking of keeping it black.

Click to expand...

That, of course, is up to you.

L.A.B. said:

As previously mentioned in your "Interchangeable parts" thread, if both are not marked 'ANG' then they are not the correct geometry to use with an '850' frame. This doesn't just apply to pre-71 but all '750' frame yokes.
https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/interchangeable-parts.29217/page-5#post-449798




No and no.


That, of course, is up to you.

Click to expand...

I need to check that. They MAY be correct because when you look at them from underneath, they’re silver. Looks like someone painted them with a black wrinkle finish paint.

I’ll check the part numbers before I spend any time on them.