leaving engine bare?

[super90]

Well today I picked up some aircraft stripper and decided the engine paint job was officially ugly. It was all stained and discolored, also turned out to be not so fuel resistant. So I stripped about half the paint off and I think it looks pretty nice. Would there be any problem with leaving the engine unpainted and just polish it instead? Maybe paint the head, but leaving the bottom end bare. Ive just never seen a 4 stroke engine unpainted before?

[thefox]

It doesn't need to be painted, lots of machines come with bare aluminum engines (many of the Honda 185 and 200 trikes for example only have the clutch cover painted).

[evand]

i like that look myself, just a bit more to keep clean.:beer

[lndy650]

I like to strip the paint off especially the topend it significantly reduces heat. some say by 10% which is a very good thing on an air cooled engine

[super90]

Thanks for the imput guys! All I needed to know. I personally like the bare engine color especially when its starts to get the more raw look to it. But I found it sure isnt easy getting the fins completely stripped, may just leave the head painted.

[lndy650]

i like the bare aluminum look too:beer

[oldskool83]

no paint to fall off but only dirt to bake on.

[Dirtcrasher]

I think polishing is a big waste of time for us "riders". I just want to powerwash the thing and put it away.

Bare aluminum not coated or anything may look like crap in time. I have no idea if there is "high temp" clear coat or anything.....

[lndy650]

im an everyday rider but i keep my bare aluminum engines looking good. i dont think any new performance engines are painted... 450r yfz450 ect...

[Havoxx]

Well, you can't leave it bare, not the best thing to do, get a high-heat clearcloat for it, you never want to leave any form of metal exposed,especially not aluminum, it can pit and corrode and is a pain in the ass to clean and repair later.

[super90]

I guess Ill clear coat it then. They have high heat duplicolor clear at most auto stores.

[jdawg]

Im Still in the very long process of doing this myself. What are you useing to remove paint from hard to reach spots? Im trying to do this without taking engine apart and i dont want to use aircraft remover cuz I heard that it eats up gaskets

[super90]

My engine is fully assembled and it did not harm gaskets or anything rubber. For hard to reash spots I use a dremel and a mini wire wheel.