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Post by ilovenxstage on Apr 23, 2013 9:05:18 GMT -5
I had to replace the CVT cover on my T3, and the one that I had was all scuffed and ugly looking, so I decided to paint it. I thought gloss red would look nice, along with a chrome painted kick start lever. I need to touch up the top of the CVT cover because the paint streaked a little, but over all I like the look. Attachments:
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Post by ilovenxstage on Apr 23, 2013 9:08:26 GMT -5
I also added chrome paint to the fan cover Attachments:
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2013 12:15:23 GMT -5
Always love color..I would reroute that fuel line and filter so its not exposed and so close to the shock.
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Post by oldchopperguy on Apr 23, 2013 13:30:48 GMT -5
That good old "Porsche brake-caliper red" is always a neat touch! The factory chrome on these is usually pretty awful, peeling and flaking before it even gets buggered up... sorta "flash-chrome" without the needed copper and nickel pre-plating over the "Chinesium"" pot-metal the castings are made from...
I'm doing some similar mods to my Xingyue 150 while it's apart for repairs. I snagged a used CVT cover for $5 bucks off eBay so I could play with it at my leisure. I cut the clutch portion away to expose the entire clutch-bell, and shortened and angled the front intake so it doesn't hang up so badly when removing and replacing it. I then gave it a good ruoughing up with medium-grit paper, a smooth coat of filler-primer, then candy-red over gold lacquer. Looks OK... Now, I need a chrome clutch-bell... LOL! I think I'll likely do the old-school trick of painting the clutch half black, and half white so its spinning can be easily seen. Whew, does that clutch and belt ever run COOLER now!
I like that chrome-silver on the fan-cover too! It's AMAZING what a little detailing paint can do for an otherwise mundane ride!
You might want to do your brake calipers (if you have disks) the same red to tie the color to other parts. Your kind of affordable yet effective customization is the very essence of real American personalization... and, these scoots can use all the Americanization we can spray, hammer, grind and weld onto them... LOLOLOL!
Enjoy that sharp scooter!
Leo (still puttin' mine back together) in Texas
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Post by ilovenxstage on Apr 23, 2013 19:53:55 GMT -5
That good old "Porsche brake-caliper red" is always a neat touch! The factory chrome on these is usually pretty awful, peeling and flaking before it even gets buggered up... sorta "flash-chrome" without the needed copper and nickel pre-plating over the "Chinesium"" pot-metal the castings are made from... I'm doing some similar mods to my Xingyue 150 while it's apart for repairs. I snagged a used CVT cover for $5 bucks off eBay so I could play with it at my leisure. I cut the clutch portion away to expose the entire clutch-bell, and shortened and angled the front intake so it doesn't hang up so badly when removing and replacing it. I then gave it a good ruoughing up with medium-grit paper, a smooth coat of filler-primer, then candy-red over gold lacquer. Looks OK... Now, I need a chrome clutch-bell... LOL! I think I'll likely do the old-school trick of painting the clutch half black, and half white so its spinning can be easily seen. Whew, does that clutch and belt ever run COOLER now!I like that chrome-silver on the fan-cover too! It's AMAZING what a little detailing paint can do for an otherwise mundane ride! You might want to do your brake calipers (if you have disks) the same red to tie the color to other parts. Your kind of affordable yet effective customization is the very essence of real American personalization... and, these scoots can use all the Americanization we can spray, hammer, grind and weld onto them... LOLOLOL!Enjoy that sharp scooter!Leo (still puttin' mine back together) in Texas Great idea about the brake calipers. That would look sharp! One of my long time hobbies is model building, including model motorcycles. I do so much custom painting with my models, it's only natural to scale it up to the real thing. Next time I have all the plastics off, I'm thinking about doing a full custom paint job. Not sure what the colours or design will be yet, though. |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Apr 23, 2013 21:46:47 GMT -5
Building models is a GREAT way to hone your cosmetic skills!
As for a custom paint job, the sky's the limit. Please post some pix of your scoot, showing the whole thing, and you'll probably get lots of suggestions. Personally, I like "simple"... as in a mostly mono-chromatic theme with just a tad of accent color. But flames, ghost-flames, scallops or whatever... even flat-black with a bold checkerboard pattern on the splash-guard, or rear plastics can be awesome.
And please show us your 66cc motorbike! Those are neat. I'm so "old-school" that I still get an occasional "Jones" for a Whizzer! The new motorized kits do a credible job of creating a modern-day Whizzer...
I just got done building a fifties' Schwinn fat-tire bike myself. No motor, but it WOULD be a great candidate for one. I've found that "rattle-can" spray paint has REALLY evolved over the decades. You can now get incredible lacquer filler/primer that makes easy work of a perfect surface for color. And, you can use automotive lacquer, or modern enamel from spray-cans that have a "fan-spray" that rivals a good airbrush. Finish it off with a few coats of gloss-clear, over all pinstripes, decals, etc. and you'll have a finish BETTER than many factory paint-jobs!
If you have access to professional spray equipment, all the better, but using spray-cans no longer has to mean poor-quality finish.
You can also make your own graphics decals on your computer! I do it all the time for model-making. They can be the ultimate finishing touch.
Go get 'em tiger... a ride doesn't have to be a 6-figure V-Twin to turn heads! If you REALLY want to see some radical SCOOTER inspiration, just check out Wangchicken's "Project Sunkist" in the custom build section. No hundred-thousand-buck chopper ever looked cooler than that scooter!
Leo (passin' out inspiration) in Texas
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Post by domindart on Apr 24, 2013 4:25:20 GMT -5
Ridecheap did his CVT cover in red also  |
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Post by ilovenxstage on Apr 24, 2013 8:07:57 GMT -5
By the way, Leo. What method did you use to remove the material over your clutch bell? I want to do that.
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Post by oldchopperguy on Apr 24, 2013 13:20:56 GMT -5
By the way, Leo. What method did you use to remove the material over your clutch bell? I want to do that.
I used a hand-held 4 1/2" angle-grinder. I believe that is the most common "home-remedy" for this mod... It's probably the most effective tool, unless you have access to a REALLY big band-saw. I got my grinder off eBay used, nice shape for $10, and I think you can get them from places like Northern Tool really cheap. They are EXTREMELY handy for working on these scooters when fabbing up exhaust mounts, altering covers, etc. To keep the cut fairly straight, I first marked the cut with a felt marker and then ran a couple of layers of masking tape around it to use as a "guide". Once cut, you can go around the cut, smoothing it out and making it nice and straight. This keeps the final product looking really professional. I clamped the cover in one of those work-benches that open up for woodworking. It would be a little dicey to attempt to hand-hold it. The angle-grinder really requires BOTH hands for safety. If you let it get out of control, it CAN hurt you.I cut back the front intake and angled it the same way. If per chance, your cover has nice chrome (my 5-year-old chrome was toast...) and you don't plan to paint it, be careful to not bugger up the area around the cut, and then you could buff the cut edges and they'd hardly show. I actually did the mod to keep the clutch/belt cool, which it DOES, but it looks great too. I know some riders are uneasy about exposing the drive-train to weather, but the custom "nekked" scoots, and any big motorcycle with belt-drive have the system fully exposed and they don't give trouble. I think the benefits of cooling the CVT area outweigh the slight chance of picking up a stone, or having water damage. If you aren't happy with it after it's done, you can always get another cover used pretty cheap... LOL! I've got my scoot all apart right now making several needed repairs. As soon as I get it back together (and cleaned up...) I'll post some pix. Hope this helps... Sincerely, Leo in Texas PS: While you have your cover off, it's a good time to check (or change) the belt, and make any changes to the clutch and variator/rollers you've been putting off... I added a Prodigy variator and was AMAZED at the improvement in overall driveability! |
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Post by hank on Apr 24, 2013 13:30:15 GMT -5
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Post by oldchopperguy on Apr 24, 2013 13:39:03 GMT -5
Hank,
THAT is one SWEET ride! Sure reminds me of the great old Whizzers of my LONG-GONE youth... LOL! If Texas would allow these on the street as bicycles, I'd convert my restored Schwinn in a minute... But... If it has a motor, it has to be titled, licensed and insured, regardless of engine size. No "free lunch" for mopeds. DANG!
I wonder what such a conversion would be like with a vintage 20 hp McCulloch go-kart engine? Hmmm... Probably NOT the safest idea... Sure would GO though! Those little beasts would push our 150 lb karts to well over 100 mph back in the day, and they're about the same size as the bike motors... Whew! Be still my beating heart!
Nice work!
Leo
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Post by hank on Apr 24, 2013 13:44:56 GMT -5
Hank, THAT is one SWEET ride! Sure reminds me of the great old Whizzers of my LONG-GONE youth... LOL! If Texas would allow these on the street as bicycles, I'd convert my restored Schwinn in a minute... But... If it has a motor, it has to be titled, licensed and insured, regardless of engine size. No "free lunch" for mopeds. DANG! I wonder what such a conversion would be like with a vintage 20 hp McCulloch go-kart engine? Hmmm... Probably NOT the safest idea... Sure would GO though! Nice work! Leo Hi Leo Thanks That stinks about the laws in your state Are laws are very flexable here in CT and allow us much leeway www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?a=810&q=430480Take care and ride safely dear friend Yours Hank |
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Post by ilovenxstage on Apr 24, 2013 19:34:44 GMT -5
By the way, Leo. What method did you use to remove the material over your clutch bell? I want to do that.
I used a hand-held 4 1/2" angle-grinder. I believe that is the most common "home-remedy" for this mod... It's probably the most effective tool, unless you have access to a REALLY big band-saw. I got my grinder off eBay used, nice shape for $10, and I think you can get them from places like Northern Tool really cheap. They are EXTREMELY handy for working on these scooters when fabbing up exhaust mounts, altering covers, etc. To keep the cut fairly straight, I first marked the cut with a felt marker and then ran a couple of layers of masking tape around it to use as a "guide". Once cut, you can go around the cut, smoothing it out and making it nice and straight. This keeps the final product looking really professional. I clamped the cover in one of those work-benches that open up for woodworking. It would be a little dicey to attempt to hand-hold it. The angle-grinder really requires BOTH hands for safety. If you let it get out of control, it CAN hurt you.I cut back the front intake and angled it the same way. If per chance, your cover has nice chrome (my 5-year-old chrome was toast...) and you don't plan to paint it, be careful to not bugger up the area around the cut, and then you could buff the cut edges and they'd hardly show. I actually did the mod to keep the clutch/belt cool, which it DOES, but it looks great too. I know some riders are uneasy about exposing the drive-train to weather, but the custom "nekked" scoots, and any big motorcycle with belt-drive have the system fully exposed and they don't give trouble. I think the benefits of cooling the CVT area outweigh the slight chance of picking up a stone, or having water damage. If you aren't happy with it after it's done, you can always get another cover used pretty cheap... LOL! I've got my scoot all apart right now making several needed repairs. As soon as I get it back together (and cleaned up...) I'll post some pix. Hope this helps... Sincerely, Leo in Texas PS: While you have your cover off, it's a good time to check (or change) the belt, and make any changes to the clutch and variator/rollers you've been putting off... I added a Prodigy variator and was AMAZED at the improvement in overall driveability! Thanks for the great description, Leo. I will look into getting an angle grinder. I don't have a workbench, but a friend of mine does so I can just "invade" his workshop for this project. |
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Post by ilovenxstage on Apr 27, 2013 11:41:11 GMT -5
here is my newly painted front brake caliper Attachments:
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Post by ilovenxstage on Apr 27, 2013 11:41:52 GMT -5
back side Attachments:
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