Is a CB900 engine meant to be black or unpainted

Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 4:28 am

Hello
How's it going

I was wondering if a CB900 engine is usually painted black. I have an engine out of an 81 model pulled apart and I thought I should keep going on it.

The crank cases look like they were painted silver over the bear metal and it also looks like black has had a similar appearance.
I know the red is from the paint brush used to paint the frame.

If it's meant to be alloy I will get it wet blasted. But if it's meant to be paint do you reckon soda blasting is good enough or is there a better preparation.

Thanks for your time, I like both looks but would prefer the one that takes the least amount of work from me as I have other things, forgot what I was going to say.

Scott

Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 4:42 am

G'Day Scott, sure some will chime in behind me that have more knowledge, but I believe the answer is 'both'. I think the earlier models had an alloy engine, and the later ones were painted black. I have a 1982 '900FC, and it has a black engine. However, I am getting it repainted as an earlier 1981 FB (decals are different). I believe the FB may have had an alloy engine, however, I am keeping the engine black.

If you want the bike to look original/authentic, it may be a concern, but otherwise I would just go with whatever you prefer.

Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 7:51 am

all 900Fs to my memory were black. the 900C
motor was silver. paint it whatever suits your
fancy, but done tastefully. I like a mixture of
color and texture,but to each, his own.

Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 8:30 am

In the UK the early ones were silver, then they went to black.

Regards,

Max

Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 8:50 am

Hondamax wrote:

In the UK the early ones were silver, then they went to black.

Regards,

Max

Here too. FZ and FA for sure, FC was black, but I'm not sure about the FB (which doesn't help doesit Wink

)

cheers
ian

Hawk Joined: Aug 17, 2013 Posts: 302 Location: Devon. UK

In the UK they were silver up to the 81 FB, and then black for the 82 and 83 FC an FD.
But as everyone says, paint it whichever colour you prefer. There's a member on here, Pete Sealey who's painted his 83 FD silver instead of black it's a really great looking bike, the silver engine really suits it.

Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 10:45 am

FB was aluminium colour paint.

Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 11:00 am

Hi Scott,

I have a 81 CB900F as well and it has a silver engine and red frame just like your bike.

I intend to keep the frame red, but paint the engine black as I like that look best.

Wet blasting removes all crud with the least impact on the alloy.

Soda blasting on its own may not get all the paint off, but should get rid of the corrosion, grease, grime and flaky paint.

Cheers,
Stuart

Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 12:28 pm

Black in the U.S., but early models in Australia, the UK and Japan were silver....If you are a stock factory fanatic like me that's fine, if not so much, make it what YOU like if you plan on keeping it because It's YOUR bike now. If you don't plan on keeping it forever or think you might need or want to sell it down the road, keep it stock because it will be worth more that way.

Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 3:24 pm

I've heard "once you go black, you've never go back" but I can never remember what that's in reference to.

Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 3:38 pm

Tdem wrote:

I've heard "once you go black, you've never go back" but I can never remember what that's in reference to.

Coffee?

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2015 7:01 am

bobcat7 wrote:

all 900Fs to my memory were black. the 900C
motor was silver. paint it whatever suits your
fancy, but done tastefully. I like a mixture of
color and texture,but to each, his own.

In the US we only had 81 and 82 cb900Fs, and they were all black motors.

The CB900C motors were silver in 80 and 81, and black in 82. In 83, the C model changed to be the CB1000C which was also black.

It's been my understanding that other markets that had different CB900F year types had different color schemes from the North American market. And none of them had the CB900C or CB1000C available at all.

Hawk Joined: Jul 14, 2012 Posts: 414 Location: New Zealand

79/80/81 in NEW ZEALAND had silver painted motors I believe. This would align with you I think and if intending to maybe sell in the future it might be worth more. I painted mine silver and very pleased with outcome. Mine is bog standed and as close to original as I could do it. beerchug

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 6:20 pm

I got all cases and engine covers back from the hydro blaster and they look good.

Only stuff up on my behalf was to leave the selector drum and primary chain tensioner in the case. He told me it would be better if I took it home and pulled it apart properly, giving him the cases empty of any parts.
Don't worry mate I said I will pull it apart after you have finished and give it a good clean.

Man there is now that fine sand/glass looking shit all over the place in my workshop and as I pulled each component apart and blew it out with compressed air it spread this crap as far as it could fly putting little grains of evil every where I don't want them.

Cases came up clean though

Scott

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2015 7:06 pm

Yeah, the blasting media gets everywhere! I tried cleaning parts this way a couple of years ago and quickly realized that it's not for me. It's worth it to just have it done.

Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 2:26 am

Tdem wrote:

I've heard "once you go black, you've never go back" but I can never remember what that's in reference to.

Mixed Martial Arts?

Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 10:35 am

G'day all,
Tdem, I think you should post more often,I could sit and watch your avatar all day.

Chris.

Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 9:19 pm

Gday Chris how are you mate.

If you get a chance can you put up a photo of your sidecar

Scott

Posted: Sat May 02, 2015 12:21 am

G'day Scott,
I've got some photos of the chair somewhere but I'll have to dig them out.I've been meaning to change the bike list for a while now because the sidecar is now attatched to a Suzuki GSX1100G & the P5 race bike has gone to live in Queensland with a new owner.

Cheers,
Chris.

Posted: Sat May 02, 2015 3:18 am

did you have the race bike at Phillip Island Classic 2014

Posted: Sun May 03, 2015 12:55 am

Yeah,Phillip Island 2014 was it's last hurrah.
I had handling problems that I couldn't sort in time due to the 1155 engine blowing a head gasket in Q2 on Saturday morning and having to change the engine & put the 985 in,Which was down about 26 hp on the big one.Then about halfway through race one that engine did a big end.To say I was pissed off was an understatement,& after the year I had in 2013 with oddball failures and spending most of my time at home(I work FIFO )rebuilding engines for this thing, I just couldn't face another year of doing this so after some time walking around by myself thinking about it I went back to the pit garage,wheeled it out the front & put a for sale sign on it.A guy from QLD bought it & it became his problem.
Yes it was a decision taken in anger but one I don't regret,yes I miss it but as one door closes another opens.I've since been racing a CB350 in period 4 and it is the absolute most fun you can have with your pants on.

Chris.

Posted: Sun May 03, 2015 2:45 am

CB350 racing sounds fun.

I remember seeing the bike in the crate out the front of the garage for sale.

At least you sold it and didn't have it taken to the scrap yard while you recovered in hospital.

Might see you there in 2016 and hopefully your spending your time at home ridding bikes and not working on them