Sandblasting and re-powdercoating an Electra Glide frame certainly isn't a quick fix. This would require complete disassembly of the motorcycle which is no small task. After the recoating had been accomplished any tool marks or dings in the finish would start to rust immediately and all bright fasteners would have spalls from torquing that would also rust again.
I would suggest replacing heavily rusted washers or fasteners with stainless steel ones where possible and spot rust removal where the factory powder coating has been compromised, then recoating with a rust inhibitive paint.
Just like with a boat, or other vehicle, a combination of salt sea air and uncoated aluminum or ferrous metal is going to cause rust problems. Cleaning and periodic maintenance is a necessity.
The epoxy coatings, used since the eighties, are still one of the best steel protectors Harley uses.
Lonnie
I second what Lonnie says. I certainly wouldn't want to do the whole job on a bike or sidecar frame. Man, that's a lot of work!
It would be far better to do some spot repairs. Any parts that could be removed could be bead blasted in part and then primed and touched up.
I've read about people complaining about rust and corrosion on Harley parts and the concensus is that they arean't covered under their warranty.
Have you considered moving to California? Just kidding. We don't have any more room here. LOL.
Picture enclosed of about 50% of the Plastic coating that fell off-more would have come off if I had scratched further- But as I leave for Blighty in a few days time I was more interested in halting it until I get back and changing the engine oil as that had gone a dark brown colour.
Will have to investigate the stainless kit suppliers you mention when I get back to UK.
All the tires are getting near to the time they need replacing- is there anyone over here who supply wheels that take car tires?
Thanks for the info.
Paul
wonder if stainless steel bolts and washers would work dont know if they make a grade 8 bolts in stainless
dont know if they make a grade 8 bolts in stainless
============================================
They do at this business, US and metric
http://www.totallystainless.com/
Its interesting that Harleys plastic coating didn't last a year and rust did become an issue.
Originally written by sidecarbrit on 1/27/2009 10:07 AM
Its interesting that Harleys plastic coating didn't last a year and rust did become an issue.
Obviously, as you are no doubt well aware, it's a matter of humidity and salt air. I'm not sticking up for the company since they do have some problems wth regard to corrosion. On the other hand, it has a lot to do with the atmosphere where you are.
I saw your former pictures of that upper front mount and that sort of thing just doesn't happen in California, especially inland. I've seen spokes and hubs corroding on machines that are on the coast to a lesser extent than you have, however.
I also know that HD just won't warranty damage that occurs as a result of adverse ambient conditions. For example, I had a package rack on the rear fender of my 1993 FLHS. After a year, the plating turned dark yellow where the chrome was thin. The nickel was showing through. It looked like h**l. Since it was out of warranty, which used to be 12,000 miles or one year, the dealer told me politely to pound sand. That gave me a warm feeling since it began corroding soon after I got the bike and I just never got around to complaining until it was too late.
I've seen lots of Harleys, and some Japanese bikes too, that had less than stellar plating.
I agree with you though. I'd be incensed. However, even if you got another new sidecar, where you are located, I think you'd have the same problem.
I wonder if any other manufacturers will cover that sort of damage after a while.
Good luck.
im just wondering - is this bike under a cover of some sort? it sure looks like what happens when a machine is covered up and the ground underneath is dirt or rock and not concrete with a vapor barrier.
if you want to rust something up really really fast, put it outside on dirt or gravel and put a tarp over it - and to get it to rust faster, have it hit by the sun a couple hours a day.
covers keep the dust off - but they hold moisture in and prevent ventilation and increase humidity. then since the ground has moisture in it that comes up and fills the cover with more humidity.
a plywood roof with no walls would work better
to
I keep it in a garage with a concrete floor, which has a plastic membrane under the concrete. Wood walls with Plastic Siding on the outside,for 6 months of the year.
And the other 6 months its under the RV port and the rain doesnt get to it.
But Florida is Very Humid with all that sun and swamp.
I keep the Chrome bits permantely covered in a protective coating that so far has stopped it rusting- just doesn't look very pretty.
So I have bitten the bullet and have spent $300 so far on Stainless bolts to get away from the rust bug.
It's interesting I have a 1999 Chevy Van and that's not rusting anywhere like the Harley.
I am glad I took notice of the Harley Rep and used S100 on the Chrome- they even sell it in the Harley dealerships,the chrome is still perfect.
Pic of the acorn nut that holds the horn on- again replaced with Stainless.
Interestingly when I replaced one of the Cam Cover bolts- it had oil on the bottom of it.
Have you tried storing the Harley in the rust free 1999 Chevy van?
Maybe that would stop the rust problem. lol
Enjoy the ride, don't sweat the little stuff, You're in a salty, humid area. Salt + humidity = oxidation. You have a lot of outsourced chrome plated stuff on that bike. Thanks to the EPA US chrome plating is not nearly as protective as when it was a complete three step plating process 40 years ago.
Lonnie
Yeah. It's not worth having chrome done anymore if it's the newer process. They used to clean, buff, copper plate, nickel plate, buff, chrome and then buff. That was some nice chrome plating. Nowadays, it's not much good.
I bought a new 1993 FLHS and the chrome on the Chinese package rack turned yellow from the nickel showing through after 6 months. There was almost no chrome on it. Nice.
Great idea- I have taken the sidecar off and put it and the Bike in the back of the the Chevy van with a dehumidifier and parked it in the garage-----Joking. lol Enjoyed that one.
I sent a picture of the Rig to the British Harley club I belong to and when they published the picture they said "I hope you didn't pay to much for it as the sidecar is on the wrong side" We drive on the other side of the road in England!
So I have been fitting the stainless bolt set for the Engine/transmission- of course what I didn't think about was I am not able to fit all of them unless I remove the Mufflers and Gas tank- I will replace those when I have to take them off-if it ain't broke leave it alone. The new stainless bolts look great, I replaced the ones on the Brake rotors as well- I bought from Totally Stainless and Alloyboltz- good service from both companies.
Paul
now im curious
in england they drive on the left - but in the us and some of euorpe they drive on the right
so... can you drive a right side hack in england? or in australia?
hmm
How long have you got..........I will try and keep it short.
When we joined the EEC(European Economic Community)- the Brits still drive on the other side of the road and we kept our Currency-but of course the Bureaucrats in Europe worry about this as they want us all to be the same- when they pass laws in Europe we now we have to follow in England - which gets interesting.
The first problem we encountered in the Brit sidecar world was that you could no longer learn to ride an outfit and take your test on one- unless you were disabled. In our sidecar community we tried to get this rule over turned- when we persisted they(the Brit Government, with deep pockets) said take us to the European court- so we gave that one up.
Being part of Europe means that we can get all their sidecars in Britain very easily- but they are on the wrong side for us- and the way round this was to register our outfits as -CARS-more money for the government- annual road Tax for a M/C about $85 and a car about $260( this is changing at the moment as they are now going to Charge by emissions)- the other reason that we could register the outfits as cars is that we have a lot of American cars in England with the steering wheel on the wrong side- but the correct side for Europe.........
Of course this went on for a few years unchecked and suddenly a Brit Bureaucrat some where noticed and said no more, until we get a ruling from Europe- that was about 2 years ago............probably will not hear in my lifetime.
So at the moment you cannot register a Right Hand Hack But you can register a Yank/European Car.
Then I bought an American Hack in America- I wonder if I can take it back to England....
I suppose its a bit like the cars/Bikes that are made for California are made to a different Spec than the rest of the States?
I don't know about Australia,England's confusing enough, I know they drive on the same side as the Brits.
Paul
