Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech someone tell me if this will look like cr@p

OK I was thinking about this - how well would some just plain-'ol black spray paint do on my rear peg hangers? I have no paint / bodywork experience but figured if i spray them black (flat or gloss?) they can't look much worse than the stock hangers if i'm very careful to apply it in several coats. also, should i try to sand first?

someone please stop me before i make a fool of myself.

If it is to match the black engine of a SM then use satin finish.

I've been thinking about doing the same to my bike. I have a glass bead blaster (like a sand blaster but with tiny glass balls) where I work and I am going to use it on a few parts before I paint them.

You could sand them just to take down the gloss or you could check around, some paint or powdercoating shops may sandblast a few small pieces for you at a minimal cost or maybe for free if they can do them while blasting other stuff? Post some pics after so I can get a preview of mine? I am going to wait until winter to paint mine.

Good luck.

hope you don't hit those tiny glass balls on the gas tank.

I think you can get decent rattlecan results if you take your time and put on a few light coats, building up the mil thickness slowly. The other part of the equation is prep. At the very least you want to take a scotch bright pad to the peg hangers to rough them up so the paint has something to stick to. Media-blasting is superior but isn't required. Also, you need to degrease the surface. If you want to be even more anal about it, when you're at your FLAPS* getting your degreaser (not engine degreaser - stuff specifically for paint prep), get a tack rag.

*Favorite Local Auto Parts Store

Hey, look at that, I'm a BARON now. Woohoo!

Both starting fluid and break clean make good degreasers as they don't leave a residue. I use them if I don't have anything better floating around. Don't smoke or do near any kind of ignition source if using starting fluid. That being said a degreaser used for paint specificly is always best.

I went to Auto zone and picked up a can of 500 degree black semi gloss for my rear hangers. Used a coat hanger and hung them off a nail outside and sprayed away. 3 coats- 1/2 hour dry time in between. it was 105 that day and no wind at the time. came out nice. i'll put an picture up as soon as i get time, this week.

They will polish up real nice if ya want to spend the time

great info everyone - I think I'm going to give it a shot.

thanks!

One thing - don't sandblast aluminum unless you want it to have a sand cast appearance.

Toofless,

I used some satin on mine a few years ago and they look great compared to original silver color.
Not the best pic but you get the idea.....

I thought of doing this as well, But I put up a post in the classified and got a few responses back on stock SM hangers and bought a pair for $20 bucks. I know that is not as cheap as spray paint but took the worry out of painting them and having them turn out so so. If any one is interested or screws up the original I have a spare set of silver ones. They do look better in black.

I sprayed 3 or 4 coats of flat black acrylic on my stock gray BA hangers followed by a couple of coats of clear finish and then put them up against my friend's factory black Speedmaster hangars and they looked identical.
I didn't even sand them. This was last summer and they still look new.;

Once I got a look at the 07 rear hangers with the hollow centers I tossed my 03 America originals and purchased the 07 chrome ones. Really look great especially with the 07 chrome final drive cover. I hated the ribbed silver side covers. Even thought of grinding the ribs off and painting the covers and peg holders silver or black until the 07 ones were available.

Sure do wish bling was a bit cheaper though. What we do to make things look ..... er good, yah, good.

I didn't like the looks of the factory hangers also so I made my own.
At the same time when I made them I shortened them so I could move the rear footpeg forward about 4". This really made a difference for my wife when riding. Made them with 3/8" steel plate.