Painting Big Red 250ES with spray paint

[gewash76]

How many of you have painted your Big Red 250's with spray cans? I keep thinking about painting mine, but I'm worried it won't come out looking right. I know it would look a lot better if I had it professionally done, but that's cost more money than I can afford to spend right now. Does anyone have pictures of a Big Red 250 they painted with spray paint?

[250Eddie]

it shouldnt be hard to paint one with spray cans, are u gonna paint the frame ? if your only painting the plastics make sure u clean then really good your and if your paint the frame and metal parts have it sand blasted.

[2fiftyR]

Do you mean the plastics? My opinion is dont paint plastic,it wont last much longer than your first ride through the woods from my experience(I painted a beater quad camo green).You might get away with painting the frame with a rattle can,but that type of paint isnt very durable.If you paint the tank with a rattle can it will probrably look like a typical rattle can paint job unless you clear coat over it.Some guys here are actually pretty good with that stuff . Just my .02

[MudHogz]

http://img848.imageshack.us/img848/5664/412f.png (http://img848.imageshack.us/i/412f.png/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

i painted the racks, and the plastics, first time ever painted also just remember that painting is 90% prep work so do a good sand job

[gewash76]

I'm thinking about painting the whole thing (plastics included) now that there's a big crack in the fender. lol I'm going to be doing a lot of trail riding on it as well as using it for hunting, so I'm expecting a bunch of scratches and stuff. Right now, the paint has a faded kind of pinkish look to it and I wanted to spruce it up a bit.

[leevarnado]

if your going to go through all the trouble of sanding the plastic,might as well spend another couple hours and do it right,start off sanding with 220 then 320,and work your way up to 1500,then polish with some mothers.but if its just going to be a beater and you dont have the patience for all the extra sanding,just dull the plastic real good with 320 and spay some plastic bonding paint to it.

[Jerm1179]

sand them as leevarnado said and polish them up....no more fade....spray paint looks like crap IMO

[MudHogz]

i use krylon plastic paint and i didnt sand it is better to sand tho, but give it a alcohol wash then blow dry, spray a layer wait 15mins and repeat 4times, then use there plastic clear coat about 7times same process, and it doesnt scratch for a long time, im not saying it wnot scratch but it does last

[leevarnado]

sanding gives the paint something to stick to(scratches).if you dont sand the plastic the paint will peel and flake off.

[gewash76]

Yea, I was looking at using the Krylon paint if I decided to paint the plastics. I guess I should just take some extra time and sand them. That sounds like the best solution for the plastics anyway. Other than the large crack that's in the right fender, which I fixed, the plastics look really good. There are hardly any scratches on them at all and even the ones that are there are pretty small. Most people like it the way it looks now.

[leevarnado]

lets see a couple pics of the ole beast.

[gewash76]

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=115391&d=1296416375

[gewash76]

This is the crack that I repaired on the right fender.

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=119608&d=1300231341

[atc200xkid]

im thinking it looks good just as it sits but thats just me i guess

[C Kerley]

If that is the Big Red in question, there is no way I'd put paint anywhere on it.

[gewash76]

See, that's the reaction that most people have. But from several feet away, it doesn't look that bad. However, when you walk right up to, that's when you can see some fading.

[Jason125m]

Do not paint that machine. It is very nice the way it is..... beautiful machine. That is one beautiful machine.

[leevarnado]

looks pretty good to me also,if anything,just hit the plastic with some 1500 then give it a good ole mothers polishing.

[Jason125m]

Sand her down, she will be good as new. If you do it right.

[Jaketrimoto]

No way dont paint that! Its beautifull just like that!

[swampthang]

I've been having good results using fine steel wool like 0000 and then polishing it out using a microfiber cloth and Mother's aluminum wheel polish. Really does wonders for the old faded out yamaha fenders. Looks like you have a decent looking set of OEM plastic on there I'd hate to see it spray bombed.

[gewash76]

Thanks....I guess I'm just being a perfectionist or something. lol

[Fungo Wizard]

121864Tell you what, I will trade you this one I bought in November straight up for yours since it looks so hideous, and you can spray bomb the piss out of mine. Deal?

[350Xccelerator]

If that is the Big Red in question, there is no way I'd put paint anywhere on it.
Seriously.... Leave that thing alone if thats it

[carsurgin]

If you paint the plastics I would strongly recommend using Krylon Spray paint. (as others mentioned) I have done a lot of plastics work on cars and atvs. It is a little more expensive then others but well worth it. Clean it VERY good. No sanding needed (but I use 600-b grit.) Just to be safe.
I buy the Krylon H2O spray. I find it keeps better and you can use it indoors (no smell).
To fill in scratches, I use fiberglass resin (only resin). It hardens great and paint sticks good.
P.S. Everything looks better when freshly painted. If everyone thinks it looks good, keep the same colors.

[MudHogz]

omg i would so not paint that BR plastics or racks its pretty much immaculate

[Thorpe]

I wouldnt paint that BR! A bit of polish, and it will look way better than you imagined it could....

[Cave Rider]

DO NOT PAINT THAT MACHINE !!!! Regardless of the fading.. It will depreciate the hell out of it..Not to mention,it will look horrible in a year or two...Look how well it looks now after 26 yrs...Im sure there are members here who would trade you some Maeir plastics you could paint without ruining those entirely..I beg you...PLEASE DONT PAINT THEM !!!!

[keister]

PLEASE DO NOT PAINT THAT TRIKE!!! That is something you would strongly regret.

[250x]

i do not recommend, as alot have stated, painting that machine. I have done atv plastics and the results were flawless. 220 grit, 320 grit, 400 grit, 600 grit, wet sand with 1200, dry with a terry cloth. then let it set for a few hours to make sure its good and dry.
Paint used:
Valspar Armor.

This was done on a warrior. in 2 years, the paint is still strong and has not chipped or flaked, and this things has been pounded and i believe rolled once or twice already. prep prep prep. and i personally think Krylon paints sucks. I have had miserable luck with them in the durability category. good ole farm and implement paint, many light light coats to keep it smooth. then give it a super light 2000 grit sanding before clear coating it, and you would get YEARS of use out of it.

please DO NOT paint the trike, faded or not, 99% of us would kill to have it just like it is, and even in worse shape. Correct me if I am wrong.

[trikenut3]

Look at it this way . Go on the auction site or CL and TRY to find original plastics ; yours are in very good condition . Now , figure what you will do to them after you spray bomb them ; you will do more harm than good . Mr . Clean has a thread on here about how to restore plastics ; he can make them look factory new by sanding and polishing .