AJS & Matchless Owners Club

I have just got my barrel back from the soda blasting.

Most of the photos I have seen show this in black , was wondering what the options are for the coating ?

Also I noticed that the cylinder head was left uncoated, does this mean I could leave the barrel as is (i.e. same as cylinder head)?

On an aside, I washed it in degreaser after the soda blasting and within 5 mins whilst drying it flash rusted so I'm thinking a coating might be aesthetically better and possibly why they did it at the factory


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Hi

I used high temperature matt black engine aerosol spray paint, for best effect it needed to be baked on - did this in the oven when my wife was out
Regards Mick

asterysk_usa wrote:
I have just got my barrel back from the soda blasting.

Most of the photos I have seen show this in black , was wondering what the options are for the coating ?

Also I noticed that the cylinder head was left uncoated, does this mean I could leave the barrel as is (i.e. same as cylinder head)?

On an aside, I washed it in degreaser after the soda blasting and within 5 mins whilst drying it flash rusted so I'm thinking a coating might be aesthetically better and possibly why they did it at the factory


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don't know how correct this is but I was told (by a grit blaster) that soda-bicarb is basically a salt, and that residue from soda blasting, particularly any left in inaccessible places, will cause rust. Probably not too relevant in this case, I know.

Taid wrote:

asterysk_usa wrote:
I have just got my barrel back from the soda blasting.

Most of the photos I have seen show this in black , was wondering what the options are for the coating ?

Also I noticed that the cylinder head was left uncoated, does this mean I could leave the barrel as is (i.e. same as cylinder head)?

On an aside, I washed it in degreaser after the soda blasting and within 5 mins whilst drying it flash rusted so I'm thinking a coating might be aesthetically better and possibly why they did it at the factory


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don't know how correct this is but I was told (by a grit blaster) that soda-bicarb is basically a salt, and that residue from soda blasting, particularly any left in inaccessible places, will cause rust. Probably not too relevant in this case, I know.

Aha, that explains a lot ! I did move the parts quickly into a degreaser but probably not fast enough !! Now I'm busy with Balistol which has a wonderful smell

Mick D wrote:Hi

I used high temperature matt black engine aerosol spray paint, for best effect it needed to be baked on - did this in the oven when my wife was out

Barrel.png

Regards Mick

What did the roast beef taste like at the next Sunday dinner !!

Mick D wrote:...... it needed to be baked on - did this in the oven when my wife was out

asterysk_usa wrote: What did the roast beef taste like at the next Sunday dinner !!

You don't get roast beef in shelters for the homeless.

SPRIDDLER wrote:You don't get roast beef in shelters for the homeless.

I got away with it

The product I used drys at normal temperature. The can said it was best if it was baked as soon as possible by running the engine, but as the bike wouldn't be running for a few months I elected to bake it in the oven - there was very little smell and hence my next roast and my marriage survived.

Regards Mick - Living on the edge, (sometimes)

"Also I noticed that the cylinder head was left uncoated, does this mean I could leave the barrel as is (i.e. same as cylinder head)?"
No the barrel is iron, the head is aluminium. Before you paint the barrel you are going to need to decide if you are using the SR1 mag. If so you will need to make the cutout that is missing from your barrel. A 1954 500 would have been supplied with the SR1. The likely reason you have the earlier barrel is because it was available when the other one was damaged or worn. Our bikes have gone from new to knackered old workhorses to classics. All hell can happen in between when it comes to originality.

My paint shop was asking me if its okay for the barrel to be cooked at 160 C because thats what their oven does the powder coat at. They would use a special engine paint though not powder coat.

This seems like an okay temp for cast iron but thought I better check with the experts here first

Hi

I 'cooked' mine at 180 degrees for about an hour, not sure what gas mark that is - no ill effects.

I left the barrel in the oven with the door closed until it had cooled down - didn't want to shock it by taking it out at 180.

Regards Mick