You get the wheels off, the engine out and the forks unloaded and you might think the frame is ready to go the powder coaters. Well you are wrong. There is loads more stuff to come off the frame and then you have to prepare the swing arm. After that you have to find all the other bits that you want powder coated in the same batch but you have put away in boxes and lost months ago. First take off all the nuts and washers from the suspension that you have left behind:
Then remove the side stand and main stand.
Keep track of the locking pins.
Then there are rubber bits that have to come off like this rubber grommet in the middle of the picture. Can't think what it's for now.
And there are loads of these side panel retaining rubbers. I was pleased that mine were still pliable enough to be forced out. They will hopefully survive the re-fitting punishment as well.
Then we unsuccessfully tried to get the stickers off. Even with heat gun treatment we couldn't do it.
I even had to lose my Canada sticker!
And finally ready for the powder coater.
Oh one other thing. All the bearing races need to come out from the frame and swing arm. This will save the powder coat being damaged if they are removed afterwards. (The truth is that I knew none of this but I have a Guardian Angel looking over me who also happens to have one of these!)
Right then fire it up and get 'em out.
No kidding.
On this one you can see the stainless weld have drawn the race away from the frame by almost 1mm in places.
And this is what they look like when they fall out. You do have to be careful that you don't weld the race in! So a steady hand is needed. It wasn't mine.
