Painting Outdrive

[62cruiserinc]

I am in the process of painting my Merc Alpha 1 outdrive.

I have searched and read the previous posts on outdrive painting.

The outdrive is in my shop and off the boat.

A couple of questions:

1) I have a can of spray zinc chromate primer. I assume you only have to spray the bare aluminum parts of the outdrive (once you have sanded everything, done the wash, etc) with zinc chromate? Otherwise I will probably need more primer.

2) The posts seem to fall into two camps for the final black paint: using a rattle can (rustoleum, etc) or using a catalyzed enamel. I am planning on using a gloss black enamel tractor paint with the hardener, even though it means I will have to brush it on. Anyone care to comment on this?

Thanks for the help
Steve

 

[Bifflefan]

Why not use Mercruiser Oudrive Paint? Its readily available in many places.

 

[62cruiserinc]

Some people were stating that an enamel with a hardener would hold up better.

I don't mind using the Merc spray paint, if it's just as good.

Did anyone use the Merc spray paint and have it last for a reasonable amount of time?

Thanks
Steve

 

[Scott Danforth]

Mercruiser's original paint is PPG DAR9000 enamel with hardener (Mercruiser published this information many years ago, its in the stickies).

rattle cans do not have a hardener

you can spray tractor paint with hardener, simply add a bit of acetone. heck of a lot easier than trying to brush or roll

 

[62cruiserinc]

Looks like this weekend is going to be decent (no rain, temp in 60s) for painting.

I am still deciding what to do for the final coat (rattle cans vs enamel/hardener in spray gun), but meanwhile I still have to wash it off with dawn soap and do the vinegar wash. Then I will spray the zinc chromate on the bare sanded spots.

The question I have is:

I see some youtube videos showing the outdrive hanging from a car engine hoist for painting.

I happen to have an engine hoist so that would be convenient to allow access to all the sides of the outdrive.

In the videos, they put a couple of long bolts through the upper two mounting bolt holes on the outdrive and attach the hoist chain to the bolts with nuts so the outdrive is hanging by the chain.

Could this possibly do any damage to the outdrive case? The people in the videos say no (including Friscoboater) because the aluminum is so thick in the flange area.

Opinions? I would rather find out now than have an I-told-you-so later.

Thanks
Steve

 

[Scott Danforth]

your over thinking it.

no you wont hurt it, unless you drop it from not hanging by a chain

I hung my drive from a cable thru the input shaft u-joints and a 3/8" bolt in the bottom drain plug

 

[JASinIL2006]

Looks like this weekend is going to be decent (no rain, temp in 60s) for painting.

I am still deciding what to do for the final coat (rattle cans vs enamel/hardener in spray gun), but meanwhile I still have to wash it off with dawn soap and do the vinegar wash. Then I will spray the zinc chromate on the bare sanded spots.

The question I have is:

I see some youtube videos showing the outdrive hanging from a car engine hoist for painting.

I happen to have an engine hoist so that would be convenient to allow access to all the sides of the outdrive.

In the videos, they put a couple of long bolts through the upper two mounting bolt holes on the outdrive and attach the hoist chain to the bolts with nuts so the outdrive is hanging by the chain.

Could this possibly do any damage to the outdrive case? The people in the videos say no (including Friscoboater) because the aluminum is so thick in the flange area.

Opinions? I would rather find out now than have an I-told-you-so later.

Thanks
Steve

You can have the best of both worlds by getting a Preval sprayer. It lets you mix your paint (enamel + hardener), put it in the Preval sprayer, pressurize it with it's compressed gas, and off you go. I wouldn't try to paint a car with hit, but it lets you spray enamel paint with hardener. I used one on my trailer when I repainted it with Rustoleum plus hardener. You can get them at Home Depot, Lowes, some ACE Hardware stores, etc.

 

[Scott Danforth]

you will need 3 spare spray cartridges for the preval sprayer to paint a typical outdrive. that will cover contingencies (you should only need 1 spare)

they used butane for a propellant. so if you decide to toss one into a burn barrel, make sure the thing is empty...... dont ask how I know.

 

[62cruiserinc]

I forgot about the Preval sprayers. I used some at work probably 15 years ago. I do have a HVLP sprayer from Harbor Freight that uses its own blower and works pretty well for non-latex paints. The Preval would be even easier to use and clean.

JASinIL2006, does Rustoleum make a hardener for its paints, or did you use a generic hardener for your trailer?

Steve

Steve

 

[Buckleybob]

To get some life out of the paint, you need to clean the bare aluminum first. Sanding and solvent will work, or an acidic aluminum prep. The chromate primer will help, but if applied over oxidized aluminum or dirt it won’t stick very well.

 

[JASinIL2006]

I forgot about the Preval sprayers. I used some at work probably 15 years ago. I do have a HVLP sprayer from Harbor Freight that uses its own blower and works pretty well for non-latex paints. The Preval would be even easier to use and clean.

JASinIL2006, does Rustoleum make a hardener for its paints, or did you use a generic hardener for your trailer?

Steve

Steve

It was called Majik or something like that. Not a Rustoleum product. Worked quite well.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Majik is the brand of tractor paint at tractor supply. same type of paint as rustoleum. same hardener i am using with rustoleum

 

[62cruiserinc]

It was called Majik or something like that. Not a Rustoleum product. Worked quite well.

Perfect.

Our local Tractor Supply carries the Rustoleum Tractor paint and also the Majic hardener (as Scott said).

I read reviews on the Majic paint and it seems the Rustoleum is better.

I bought the Preval sprayer at Home Depot today. The sprayer with the glass bottle was $5.25, the refills were $4.25 each. Since it was only $1 more, I bought 4 sprayers with the bottles instead of 1 sprayer and 3 refills. That way if I have leftover it can be used for future products without having to clean the bottle.

Steve

 

[Scott Danforth]

also, with the extras....when you drop one, you wont be hunting in the house for a baby food jar.....

what I did with my outdrive paint job a few weeks ago. I did the color in hardened rustoleum paint, then a rattle can of clear rustoleum over the top as the paint was curing (just a bit tacky). this allowed a consistent high-gloss finish where I had some dry areas with the spray gun from slight over-spray

the hardener dried the paint in about 3 hours to where I could start handling . i started assembling the next day.

 

[chartersj]

also, with the extras....when you drop one, you wont be hunting in the house for a baby food jar.....

what I did with my outdrive paint job a few weeks ago. I did the color in hardened rustoleum paint, then a rattle can of clear rustoleum over the top as the paint was curing (just a bit tacky). this allowed a consistent high-gloss finish where I had some dry areas with the spray gun from slight over-spray

the hardener dried the paint in about 3 hours to where I could start handling . i started assembling the next day.

What are you using for a mixing ratio?

 

[Scott Danforth]

What are you using for a mixing ratio?

see link 19

https://forums.iboats.com/forum/boa...r/295740-how-to-s-and-other-great-information

 

[62cruiserinc]

also, with the extras....when you drop one, you wont be hunting in the house for a baby food jar.....

what I did with my outdrive paint job a few weeks ago. I did the color in hardened rustoleum paint, then a rattle can of clear rustoleum over the top as the paint was curing (just a bit tacky). this allowed a consistent high-gloss finish where I had some dry areas with the spray gun from slight over-spray

the hardener dried the paint in about 3 hours to where I could start handling . i started assembling the next day.

Thanks for the tip about spraying clear over the black for a consistent gloss.

Steve

 

[Scott Danforth]

No problem, you are welcome...... BTW..... we like/need pics.....

as a reference, here is my recent drive spray shot....
https://forums.iboats.com/forum/own...12516-1988-rogue-2420?p=10836283#post10836283

 

[62cruiserinc]

see link 19

https://forums.iboats.com/forum/boa...r/295740-how-to-s-and-other-great-information

So the formula uses both reducer and acetone?

I assume the Majic reducer will work OK for the Rustoleum?

If the reducer thins out the paint to make it sprayable, what does the acetone do?

I saw a Rustoleum FAQ where they say to thin it with acetone for spraying. Do I need the reducer?

Thanks
Steve

 

[Scott Danforth]

the majik hardener and the acetone to reduce......

however if you look, I believe that majik reducer is acetone.