The engine on my Yamaha RD250 had many painted parts, which meant I had to take a slightly different approach to restore it back to an “as new” finish.
Here’s the step-by-step process I used:
Strip back to bare aluminium – each part was thoroughly cleaned, and the old paint removed with paint stripper.
Remove residue & grease – any paint stripper residue and surface grease (even fingerprints) were carefully cleaned off to ensure the next stages bonded properly.
Apply acid etch primer – this provides the perfect base coat and ensures durability.
Spray with base colour – in this case, black, to match the original finish.
Add graphics & logos – restoring the authentic look.
Finish with lacquer – a protective clear coat for durability and shine.
Yamaha RD250
Close up of the magneto cover as it was before restoration
Magneto housing after etch priming
Magneto housing after painting.
Magneto housing after lacquer and with logo applied.
Magneto cover after paint stripping and cleaning up
After applying the etch primer
With logo and final layers of lacquer
Clutch cover, before any work
After cleaning back to bare aluminium
With etch primer applied
With black base coat applied
The finished part after lacquer was applied
After lacquering, a different view.
