...mostly because I've become unsure of the route I'd picked out. That's the problem with reading more... AFTER... you made a choice.
I found several people doing exactly what I am... and using the high temperature paint I was intending to use... who had the stuff fail... as they were going through the curing process!!!
So... a few more phone calls and I found a guy doing powder coating with a High Temp coating that's supposed to be rated to 1000 degrees. Now, those shrouds around the pipes get warm... but when my leg is sitting an inch or so from 'em at a stop... I can't believe that the pipe shroud is anything close to a thousand degrees.
That, he told me could be done for 'bout $150 bucks... since the paint and such is gonna cost upwards of $40 or so, if not more, I figure... seems like a good bet... and a better deal for whoever Sonja goes home with in the future. I think that's the way I'll go... I don't want to send her off with a lousy job of it.
Then... on to the Harbor Freight "Dent Repair Kit"... um... NO.
This ol' cowboy was not... surprised.
Cuz... it didn't work. Not even a quivering grunt of a try.
The glue stick stuck to the tank just fine... but it wouldn't hold to THEIR puller part.
As soon as I'd start screwing up the pulling tab... POP! it just camp loose. Didn't pull that dent a sliver.
It's been there as long as Sonja has been with me... and kinda irritated me at times...
But also... it was/is kinda cool at the same time. Some of that "patina" that you can't find on "Show" bikes...
The scars of the road wars that tell the power that lives inside a person... or a machine.
...after cleaning the dent area with their "release" agent...
And stuck the pulling tab to the dent... NOT pushing it in... just like they said...
I waited for several minutes to make sure the glue had time to set up and hold...
Then I attached the crossbar gizmoe... spun the knob onto the pulling tab... and started "screwing"...
Well... crap... might as well have been making a pass at a statue... I tried a dozen times... cleaned the tab... cleaned the tank... held my left ear with my right hand and wiggled my butt like a gypsy hooker...
and EVERY time... EVERY time... the tab just let go. I even put glue on to wrap up around the tab trying to get a good mechanical hold... NADA.. works bout as good as a hooker in a convent.
The glue stuck fine to the tank... and cleaned off ok to try again... but it's a $14 dollar profit maker for the boys selling it. It don't work.
The dent is still there and ain't even a whisker off a fleas butt smaller.
The left one there developed some cracks that I'm just not willing to send on to a new owner.
The majority are on that front sloped surface of the lid...
and a few more on the very top.
No idea why. I watched the guy that painted them.
He was finicky about how they were handled and what was used to clean them.
Some sort of special degreaser/cleaner just for the purpose...
And he put that high dollar paint on there awful thin with each coat... but... like you can see there... after a couple of years... it's cracked...
So... I'll sand down the cracked areas to smooth it out... and take the shine off the rest... and then do a cowboy paint job with plain black and clear coat... and call it good.
Sometime in April I suppose I'll have to pull the trigger and put up the sales advert... gonna be a melancholy day...
Ride if You Can
Brian
6 comments:
Prepping a bike for sale is always a tough job. You put all that time and effort in just to let her go?
It must be hard to put the work into her just to sell her but it sounds as though you haven't lost your sense of humor and that is a good thing.
Brian:
You are making me feel so sad. I can barely read your words just thinking about it.
You are a good person for making the bike Right, for the next owner.
Just the same, sad for having to let it go
bob
A weekend photographer or Riding the Wet Coast
I appreciate everyone's thoughts and concern... Thank you so very much.
The dent doesn't look so bad. I think a really awesome cleaning of the bike can more than make up for it.
Brian,
After meeting you, I can only imagine how hard this is.
I wish I knew what to say.
My own feelings get in the way.
I tend to be overly empathetic at times. . . don't know how to mind my own business enough I guess.
Sending you my best.
Smooches,
Sash
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