Best way to paint a outboard.

[Chrisravosa36]

As some may recall, I just bought a 140hp evinrude runs good just doenst look to pretty. Its the dark plug with the pop out lettering. Id like to paint it all white, and remove the popouts, fill the holes and use the Ocean Runner v4 140hp decals. I think it would look alot better. I know I am able to sand some parts of the motor easier, but others not so much. I dont want to spend too much into the looks, but I want it to leak decent.

I know I need zinc primer, but then do I need another aluminum primer?
Is the evinrude touch up any good?

Could somebody shine the light on this process for me? Thank you!

 

[tpenfield]

I use a primer called Primocon (Interlux) Sometimes I use the Moeller Zinc primer. Just painted one of my outboards . . .I used a solvent to wipe down the engine & cowling to get rid of the oil/grease, then primed the exposed aluminum areas (mostly on the lower unit)

I just painted my 4.5 HP Johnson and will be painting my 7.5 HP Mercury.

Here is a picture of the Johnson . . .



I would assume that your engine, being a 140 will be either on the boat or on a special stand. I painted this engine right at the work bench where you see it. Just put a drop cloth underneath it and around the surrounding areas.

I got some decals on the way to make it look new.

 

[Chrisravosa36]

I use a primer called Primocon (Interlux) Sometimes I use the Moeller Zinc primer. Just painted one of my outboards . . .I used a solvent to wipe down the engine & cowling to get rid of the oil/grease, then primed the exposed aluminum areas (mostly on the lower unit)

I just painted my 4.5 HP Johnson and will be painting my 7.5 HP Mercury.

Here is a picture of the Johnson . . .



I would assume that your engine, being a 140 will be either on the boat or on a special stand. I painted this engine right at the work bench where you see it. Just put a drop cloth underneath it and around the surrounding areas.

I got some decals on the way to make it look new.

Looks sweet! Yeah Ive got eh 140 on the boat, Im thinking it will be a little harder to prep it and to tape and mask off the transom area. What kind of top coat did you use?

Ive got a little 6hp, simular to the 4.5 that just wont die! Great motors!!

 

[gm280]

I actually did a total rebuild on my '76 40 HP Johnson OB. You can see the entire process by clicking on the link below. I also changed from the factory color scheme because I wanted something a little different then that old Johnson Green color. I didn't buy any decals but airbrushed them on instead. I think it came out pretty nice. Have a look see. All the steps are pictured and documented. JMHO

 

[Baylinerchuck]

No Title

I used the moeller zinc chromate primer and the factory Johnson color in a moeller rattle can. Although not the correct decals for a 1978, they still look good in my opinion. The factory year correct decals were not available when I was looking.

 

[Chrisravosa36]

I used the moeller zinc chromate primer and the factory Johnson color in a moeller rattle can. Although not the correct decals for a 1978, they still look good in my opinion. The factory year correct decals were not available when I was looking.

Looks great! What kind of prep did you do?

 

[Chrisravosa36]

I actually did a total rebuild on my '76 40 HP Johnson OB. You can see the entire process by clicking on the link below. I also changed from the factory color scheme because I wanted something a little different then that old Johnson Green color. I didn't buy any decals but airbrushed them on instead. I think it came out pretty nice. Have a look see. All the steps are pictured and documented. JMHO

That looks great! Im not hoping to get it that good, but good enoguh!

 

[gm280]

That looks great! Im not hoping to get it that good, but good enoguh!

Chrisravosa, thanks for the words.

ut honestly it is not as hard to get that finish as you may think. Clean the engine of all grease, of course. Then sand and blend areas where the paint is chipped off and/or corrosion appears. Then on the bare metal, use a little Zinc Chromate (you can get it in a standard spray paint can at NAPA dealers) and spray the bare metal. Then use a regular primer and finish it off with paint of your choice. I used Automotive PPG paints, but honestly any quality paint will work. Just make sure it is impervious to oils, gas, and fuel mixtures so it stays on the engine. Lots of folks use Tractor Supply Paint or Rustoleum Paints with a mixed in hardener. That hardener does two things. First it makes the paint shine really nice. Second, it makes the paint oil, and gas resistant. JMHO

 

[Chrisravosa36]

Chrisravosa, thanks for the words.

ut honestly it is not as hard to get that finish as you may think. Clean the engine of all grease, of course. Then sand and blend areas where the paint is chipped off and/or corrosion appears. Then on the bare metal, use a little Zinc Chromate (you can get it in a standard spray paint can at NAPA dealers) and spray the bare metal. Then use a regular primer and finish it off with paint of your choice. I used Automotive PPG paints, but honestly any quality paint will work. Just make sure it is impervious to oils, gas, and fuel mixtures so it stays on the engine. Lots of folks use Tractor Supply Paint or Rustoleum Paints with a mixed in hardener. That hardener does two things. First it makes the paint shine really nice. Second, it makes the paint oil, and gas resistant. JMHO

How much would a compressor big enough for this and a air gun run me? Id like to do it right.

 

[gm280]

How much would a compressor big enough for this and a air gun run me? Id like to do it right.

Chris,if you are talking about a compressor solely for painting your OB engine, and you have no other needs for it or even other air tools, a mid size compressor from HF would work. With that said, when you buy a compressor, you always buy lots bigger then you initially think you need. WHY? Because as soon as you get one, you decide you would like to use pneumatic tools also. And then more CFMs are needed and you buy more pneumatic tools and that vicious cycle starts.

I am using a well worked 4.5 HP (at least that is what the label wrongly states) compressor. But since it runs on 120 VAC, there is no way it can be anywhere close to 4.5 HP. But I've had no issues priming or painting with it. And I have painted a fairly good amount of things using it. Yes,I even painted a car as well. And they all come out very nice. I am using a set of Devilbiss HVLP spray guns with interchangeable tip sizes. But honestly, a cheap HF HVLP spray gun will work as well. It just depends on what you want to do. Here is the car finished.



And you can do it as well. :thumb:

 

[jbcurt00]

Chris, check your PMs

 

[Baylinerchuck]

Looks great! What kind of prep did you do?

The paint on that 78 was really bad. It scraped off easily, some had to be sanded. I got most of the paint off of the aluminum surfaces. I primed all aluminum with zinc chromate, then too coated. The cowl I just roughed up a little, primed and painted using the same moeller engine paint. I waited two weeks before applying my decals.

 

[89retta]

The key and most important in any paint job or work. Is the prep. Take your time to prep everything properly and the paint job will turn out great. And make sure its clean before painting.