i would like to share here my experiences on a Honda Tact 50cc body restoration I did several months ago. this is Aero or Vision elsewhere. i bought it online from an acquittance some 250miles from my location. the seller agreed to disassembling the whole bike except the chassis and engine, put the parts in boxes and shipped each box through buses to my location.
this will be quick, don't worry.
i have posted this in other scooter forums as well.the bike as i bought it.
all is stock. all is working. all is black. all is dull.
it showed 91437(kms) in the odometer and still starts at first push of the button. still purrs like a cat.
i spent almost a year riding it this way, that is about 1,120 kms. testing while listening to everything making sure that i wont regret spending some more cash to restore it. by the way, i paid PHP6,000 for it (about USD150).
after almost a year, and after a new pair of journal bearings, i decided i want to keep the bike.
i started the painting/restoration.
btw, i was never interested into modifying any part of the bike. my only goal was to restore it to its former glory. that's why its called restoration after all.
so, here's how my project went.
my plan was to strip to plastic. but i do not want to use paint strippers unless i want to melt the plastic fairings.
so no choice but to wet-sand. 240grit then 600grit to smoothen. took me 3days to get to this.
then one coat plastic primer, three coats epoxy primer (plastic primers are very expensive here)
http://i50.tinypic.com/282f7f4.jpg
repaired some cracked parts with flexible epoxy cement.
applied silver as base color for those that will be finished with pearl white.
this gold for the inner body.
the bike waits as i proceed.
stripped the aluminum parts to metal then primed with gray epoxy primer.
stripped and primed the rims too (was rusted all over).
here's what i decided to use as topcoat for the inner body.premixed polyurethane spray from ace.
i prefer the matte (not glossy) finish for the inner parts that are frequently held or touched.
some pro painters may doubt it but this thing is hard as rock when applied and dried properly. it
should protect the painted floorboard against scratches for years.
all the other fairings i painted with acrylic topcoat.
this topcoat is tried and tested on the wooden body of my rifle below.
i stripped, primed and painted the tank too. applied same ace brand topcoat. makes the paint
resistant to gasoline spills.
the finished instruments panel. everything in there works.
finished rear right. pipe was stripped, primed, painted flat black then applied ace poly topcoat.
heat guard is custom made chrome sheet metal.
seat was reupholstered to go with the color theme.
front left. some attention to detail helped.
rear left. i personally mixed the gold tone for the aluminum engine cover.
flat black then poly topcoat for the airbox. silver for the rims.
i want to save the original color contrast.
and now, the "before & after" photo.
still looking for a decent pair of chrome finished side mirrors and stainless front basket.
then will have the rear carrier chromed too.
all in all it took me 9days to do everything. i work with it at least 5hours each day.
thank you for your time everyone!