painted axle (pics)

[Pipeless416]

well the stock axle on my 400 was looking pretty rough after sitting for months while i've been away at school. i decided id pull everything apart and see how some coats of rustoleum would hold up, after all, even chipped paint will look better than rust. first i started by cleaning off as much grease as i could, then i sanded off all the rust and finished with steel wool. next, to get the rest of the grease off the areas that will be painted, i used rubbing alcohol and a rag. after all of this was done i taped off the spots that wont show and started painting using thin layers. overall i probably applied about 10 coats and 3 clear coats. the end result looks great in person. i'll let everybody know how it holds up after i abuse it for a little bit.
http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/795/img0877zj1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/9333/img0879rb9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/431/img0880lq4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/1179/img0878rs6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[killerofcrows48]

Not Bad!

:macho

[Pipeless416]

thanks! i figured it was worth a shot since the rest of the frame/subframe and a-arms were painted the same way. i wish i had to money to send it all off to pappy but college is a killer..:rolleyes: now for that ugly axle lock nut...

[Quadjunkie]

Hi, I just posted you a reply on another thread that I started but wanted to ask you here as well how you did your swing arm? It doesn't look black, but I love the color and want know what it is and how you did it?

Also, i'd like to see the rest of your quad if you can post some more pics.

[Pipeless416]

heres some pics. its nothing great, just my trail machine, but i try to do what i can with a college student's budget. let me know if theres anything thing else. everything looks a little orange from the sun btw.
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/2768/img0833cn5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/9239/img0839jz4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/4153/img0841yk0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/6324/img0845st3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Quadjunkie]

One last question. What color and how did you do your swing-arm?

[Pipeless416]

Originally posted by Quadjunkie
One last question. What color and how did you do your swing-arm?

i replied in the other thread but here it is.. the swingarm was cleaned off using steel wool and a degreaser then i used rubbing alcohol to remove any left over residue on it. i used "hammered" black rustoleum and gave it about 8 coats and then around 4 clear coats and a layer of the black over that. let it dry completely between each spray and it'll hold up pretty well. it never seems to chip, and its easy to wipe clean. for the money you cant go wrong.

[Quadjunkie]

Thanks, the 'hammered black' is an awesome color. Is your silver and red anything special?

[Pipeless416]

Originally posted by Quadjunkie
Thanks, the 'hammered black' is an awesome color. Is your silver and red anything special?

thanks. the red on the subframe or the brake stay, caliper and sprocket hub?? the subframe is the 'hammered red' from rustoleum and the brake parts are all painted with the standard red caliper paint. the axle was just regular silver metallic rustoleum i believe. the flash makes it look really bright.. much brighter than actually looking at it. i cant wait to see if it holds up or not. the frame has been doing great for almost 2 years now.

[miller821]

Looks really good man. Just let us know like after 1-2 rides how it's holding up, cause it almost looks worth it. The stock color is ugly, and if I did a silver or black like you did it would match my color scheme really good. Just remember to tell us how it holds after you beat it around a time or two. Even if it doesn't hold up that great, redoing it once every 1-2 yrs. wouldn't be bad.

[Pipeless416]

Originally posted by ride hard man
Just remember to tell us how it holds after you beat it around a time or two. Even if it doesn't hold up that great, redoing it once every 1-2 yrs. wouldn't be bad.

i'll keep you updated but i'm going to apologize in advance as im in school until probably february 16th-19th for presidents day weekend. believe me, i'd rather be riding, but i'll make sure to let everybody know that might be interested in doing it. i'll just find this thread back. cant wait!! if theres any other questions just let me know.

[miller821]

Thats alright man, I'll just ask you younger brother how it holds up after he takes it out for a spin :macho

[Pipeless416]

Originally posted by ride hard man
Thats alright man, I'll just ask you younger brother how it holds up after he takes it out for a spin :macho

i forgot to take the keys!! :eek: oh well i usually have a sticky note on the seat that says "do not touch". i think i forgot that too. hopefully the axle wont hold up so i'll know if it was ridden haha.

[miller821]

Originally posted by Pipeless416
i forgot to take the keys!! :eek: oh well i usually have a sticky note on the seat that says "do not touch". i think i forgot that too. hopefully the axle wont hold up so i'll know if it was ridden haha.

Haha:p

[BlasterEaten250]

:devil:

[Pipeless416]

Originally posted by ride hard man
Looks really good man. Just let us know like after 1-2 rides how it's holding up, cause it almost looks worth it. The stock color is ugly, and if I did a silver or black like you did it would match my color scheme really good. Just remember to tell us how it holds after you beat it around a time or two. Even if it doesn't hold up that great, redoing it once every 1-2 yrs. wouldn't be bad.

well i finally got the chance to take it out for a while 2 weekends ago. i said id tell everybody how its holding up, and its doing great. theres not a chip on it yet and i made sure to run over branches and corn stalks too. if anybody has a stock axle thats looking pretty rough, i will definitely recommend this as long as its done right. :)

[miller821]

Originally posted by Pipeless416
well i finally got the chance to take it out for a while 2 weekends ago. i said id tell everybody how its holding up, and its doing great. theres not a chip on it yet and i made sure to run over branches and corn stalks too. if anybody has a stock axle thats looking pretty rough, i will definitely recommend this as long as its done right. :)

Sounds good, this thread will be added to my favorites so I can remember how to do it. :macho I hate the stock color on mine; so once I find a reason to take the rear end or anything apart, I'll defintely be thinking of applying this.:)

Lot cheaper than powdercoating, and I applied about 2 coats of rustoleum onto my a-arms. I didn't even sandblast em' or anything and their still holding up; and its been about 7 or so rides on em. And I blaze my own path a lot hitting 1" sapplings and what not, so thats pretty good:p

[400exMO]

Looks good

What you guys can also do if you don't want to paint it is get some simple green and brillow pads. Shine it right up.

[DF400ex]

my axle was painted exctley the same way when I bought it in July. After a couple months of riding it was pretty beat up. More chipping than paint so I took off the axle and wire wheeled the paint off. It probably wasn't painted properly though. I heard that even powder coating chips off of axles.

[BlasterEaten250]

I have been riding it quite a bit lately through snow, water and whatnot, and it still looks like it did right after he painted it. I think you just have to put a lot of clear coats on and you're fine.

[Pipeless416]

Originally posted by BlasterEaten250
I have been riding it quite a bit lately through snow, water and whatnot, and it still looks like it did right after he painted it. I think you just have to put a lot of clear coats on and you're fine.

oh really... :grr:

[Nac's22]

busted!! haha :D :p

[miller821]

Originally posted by Pipeless416
oh really... :grr:

ruh-roh:uhoh:

[miller821]

Originally posted by 400exMO
Looks good

What you guys can also do if you don't want to paint it is get some simple green and brillow pads. Shine it right up.

Simple green works really good. When I rebuilt my quad everything that wouldn't come off with the hose and soap I soaked with simple green; and that got most of it off.

[BlasterEaten250]

Originally posted by Pipeless416
oh really... :grr: uh...uh..i was testing the tire pressure:uhoh:

[woodyzr2]

Glad to see the Hammered Finish Rustoleum actually holds up. I just painted my frame, bumper, swingarms, and subframe with it. The Hammered Finish really looks good IMO. I hope it holds up, I put a ton of lacquer on it, so hopefully I get a few years out of it [/hijack]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pc2fdcd8a626b428fada140079be444f6/ea755533.jpg