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DIY for painting the rocker covers - Lycoming

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PT20J Grand Master

PT20J

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An interesting thing I learned at the Lycoming factory class is that Lycoming doesn't paint the valve covers until after the test cell run and just before shipping to avoid them getting scratched up at the factory. Also, Lycoming doesn't use primer which is one reason they scratch easily. If I were going to paint them, I'd do it right and remove them, strip the old paint, and then prime and spray with Tempo Lycoming Gray available in a rattle can. Make sure to clean off all the old gasket from the heads and covers and reassemble with silicone gaskets tightened just snug (they squish and leak if you overtighten them).

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vik Collaborator

vik

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Posted

I powder coated the covers. Hard as rock! No need to worry about scratching. They are small, so you can do it by yourself in your kitchen oven. Just be sure that your wife is not home :)

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Guest

Guest

Posted
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3 hours ago, vik said:

I powder coated the covers. Hard as rock! No need to worry about scratching. They are small, so you can do it by yourself in your kitchen oven. Just be sure that your wife is not home :)

Not in my wife’s oven, but one we have in the shop, along with an Eastwood powder coating set up.  Here’s a sample of what can be done.

 

423118DA-0336-45DD-B3BC-660A262CD3C6.jpeg

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Guest

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5 hours ago, glbtrottr said:

Powder coating engine mounts is not advised as it seems to hide visible cracks …..


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Old wives tail.  If powder coated paint is strong enough to hide cracks in the tubing, why don’t we build mounts and many other things out of powder coat alone and leave out the steel?

I powder coated and entire engine case once, both the paint and engine are holding up well.

ArtVandelay Grand Master

ArtVandelay

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Posted
Old wives tail.  If powder coated paint is strong enough to hide cracks in the tubing, why don’t we build mounts and many other things out of powder coat alone and leave out the steel?

It’s not whether the powder coating is stronger, it’s whether it stretches.
If it does it will hide the cracks.
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A64Pilot Grand Master

A64Pilot

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16 hours ago, cliffy said:

Have you ever powder coated an engine mount?

They crack and craze with the flexing after a while

BTDT

Shouldn’t, I’ve had dozens powder coated, every Maule built in the last 20 years or so all tubing is powder coated, fuselage, landing gear, engine mount, wing struts etc. I started having the Thrush powder coated 2010 maybe?

None of it has cracked.

Guy who does the powder coating is Moultrie manufacturing, in you guessed it, Moultrie GA. I’m sure he would tell you what product he uses, temps etc.

‘We used the same stuff Maule uses, it’s some kind of anti - graffiti coating, spray paint won’t stick to it very well. Never tried though.

Cracks on a Thrush unlike our competitor are exceedingly rare, but the powder coat doesn’t hide them, in fact because we used gloss white, they stick out like a sore thumb, a crack will show a rust line in the gloss white paint.

My J models engine mount is powder coated, but not gloss white, by Moultrie manufacturing.

DXB Grand Master

DXB

Posted
Posted

Is there any point to painting them besides aesthetics?  Not being a pain, am genuinely curious. Same with the intake tubes - mine are painted but some were done better than others and so have a lot of surface rust on them.  They seem unlikely to crack through in the life of the engine though so I haven't worried about it.

A64Pilot Grand Master

A64Pilot

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6 minutes ago, DXB said:

Is there any point to painting them besides aesthetics?  Not being a pain, am genuinely curious. Same with the intake tubes - mine are painted but some were done better than others and so have a lot of surface rust on them.  They seem unlikely to crack through in the life of the engine though so I haven't worried about it.

Just looks pretty.

Guy who did my engine, Gann had a lot powder coated red, intake tubes, push rod tubes, valve covers etc., it’s sort of his trademark I guess, but it does hold up well.

https://www.gannaviation.com/engine-overhauls?lightbox=dataItem-ikbdqmpz1

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Guest

Guest

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10 hours ago, ArtVandelay said:


It’s not whether the powder coating is stronger, it’s whether it stretches.
If it does it will hide the cracks.

Wouldn’t it have to be plastic or rubber consistency to stretch and not crack?  It’s cooked paint, nothing more.

N201MKTurbo Grand Master

N201MKTurbo

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4 minutes ago, M20Doc said:

Wouldn’t it have to be plastic or rubber consistency to stretch and not crack?  It’s cooked paint, nothing more.

Powder coat is melted plastic powder. It is much thicker than paint and very robust. I can see it hiding a crack.

Guest

Guest

Posted
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4 minutes ago, N201MKTurbo said:

Powder coat is melted plastic powder. It is much thicker than paint and very robust. I can see it hiding a crack.

I powder coated the steering rods for my Comanche, I dropped one today and it chipped and scratched just like any other part I’ve painted.  I’m good with it as a process.

ArtVandelay Grand Master

ArtVandelay

Posted
Posted
Wouldn’t it have to be plastic or rubber consistency to stretch and not crack?  It’s cooked paint, nothing more.

Aren’t most cracks hairline in width, even requiring dye penetrant to identify them? Not much stretching is needed to hide a crack until they’re close to failing.
mike20papa Rising Star

mike20papa

Posted
Posted

Just like any surface coating, there are lots of available processes. It still requires a surface treatment similar to painting, priming, and then the top coat.  We have a very well run shop here I take my work to.  Believe me, there is no "blanket specification, means or method" implied when you say "powder coating"  Most reputable processes are three stage, just like painting.   Surface prep with acid etching, a primer and then a top coat.   And no, I would not like to think I had coatings sluffing of the interior of my valve covers ...

No coating has the elongation of the modern urethanes,  

https://www.huimfg.com/blog/powder-coat-paint-specification-standards-template

EricJ Grand Master

EricJ

Posted
Posted
17 hours ago, glbtrottr said:

Powder coating engine mounts is not advised as it seems to hide visible cracks …..


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Another reason that powder coating is sometimes avoided is that it is difficult to remove in order to get a good electrical ground.    If the mounting faces of the engine mount get coated it could created ground conduction issues.

Usually powder coating is awesome because it is very robust and helps provide corrosion resistance, but it can make inspection and electrical issues more difficult.

 

Browncbr1 Grand Master

Browncbr1

Posted
Posted

I think the best long term solution is not paint, but Alodine.  

It makes them beautiful and no paint to crack, chip, or inevitably look like crap years down the road.. 

 

Guest

Guest

Posted
Posted
11 hours ago, Browncbr1 said:

I think the best long term solution is not paint, but Alodine.  

It makes them beautiful and no paint to crack, chip, or inevitably look like crap years down the road.. 

 

Alodine on steel? Or are you thinking cadmium plating.

MikeOH Grand Master

MikeOH

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, M20Doc said:

Alodine on steel? Or are you thinking cadmium plating.

Given all the RoHS/REACH environmental laws, is cad plating still available?

carusoam Grand Master

carusoam

Posted
Posted

What is the cost to buy new covers already finished in the coating you prefer?

The shiny ‘chrome’ ones look pretty nice.

Get new hardware and seals to finish the job…

Anything chemical related… is marked unavailable in CA.

They do have a tremendous automotive culture that has services for things like this…

With the big surface area… they probably provide some additional oil cooling locally…

:)

Best regards,

-a-

A64Pilot Grand Master

A64Pilot

Posted
Posted
20 hours ago, MikeOH said:

Given all the RoHS/REACH environmental laws, is cad plating still available?

It is, Aerospace Defense Coatings in I think Macon Ga did all of ours, it used to be done in house.

When I overhauled my IO-540 I set them all the hardware off the motor all the nuts, bolts screws etc and they Cad plated it that nice gold color. 

http://www.adc-ga.com/index.html

I’m sure there are other places of course

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