XJ Gold Refinishing info needed

Hi all,

Have a number of gold XJ parts I'd like to have re plated. Searching around this appears to be harder than expected...reaching out here for some suggestions.

Looking to properly plate the grab bar and carb tops.

To be clear: not hydro dipped, not powder coated, and not gold paint. All of which have been peddled at me as what I need. On the other hand high cost full on Gold has been tossed around and I don't think at today's costs it's a very wise idea!

Anyone have links or contacts I may try for this service??


*I went through this on re doing Black Chrome. Buyer beware: most of what you're being sold today as black chrome is powder coat and or an epoxy finish or jet-hot like coating. NOT real Black Chrome. I have however found a shop that actually knew what I was talking about (the other guys weren't born yet! lol) and they did a nice job on a Virago pipe. Now running some mirror parts for me. Not cheap but as close to oe as I've found.

 

Nobody? I'm the only one with a desire to refinish a Midnight or two??

 

Vacuum metalizing I believe was the process used. Like is used on model car "Chrome".

 

I'll look into that, thank you. Would explain the plated plastic.

 

buy them from member chacal he may know a plater too
HCP9163 Aftermarket Hitachi POLISHED GOLDEN CHROME CARB HAT, golden mirror finish as used on all fours carbs on all XJ650 Midnight Maxim and XJ750 Midnight Maxim models. Each:
$ 39.95

HCP9163SET2 Aftermarket Hitachi POLISHED GOLDEN CHROME CARB HATS, set of 2:
$ 59.95

HCP9163SET4 Aftermarket Hitachi POLISHED GOLDEN CHROME CARB HATS, set of 4:
$ 99.95

 

I'll try to track him down. Web page?

 

www.xj4ever.com email address is on the page

 

Check out
Finishing.com

 

My search continues.

I purchased the four of them from Chacal. While the are a very nice part, well packaged and arrived in a timely manner.... they are not the correct finish. This might be ok for some folks who don't have things to compare to but with nearly every MK model in the garage here- they stand out clearly as the wrong color. We were also unable to locate the correct gold screws for them.

 

Todd, I have a business (completely unrelated to motorcycles) that does PVD coatings for firearms. It's a Titanium Nitride is the golden coating. It doesn't match up PERFECTLY but I don't know what other options you have.

If you're interested in pricing text me @ 786-412-6315

 

Let me explore a couple more plating options yet. Can you do the plastic with that coating also?

FWIW the parts from above do look very nice. If anyone is looking for a nice finish and not being as picky in matching things from the resto end of it they'd be fine. They are just darker than the normal Yamaha coloring

 

I wouldn't even try using the coating on plastic bud. Everything you put in there needs to be sandblasted and a lot of plastic won't stand up to it anyway. Let me know what you end up doing

 

what's that?
maybe the original ones are faded....?
probably not so, but it sounds good

 

My originals are not faded. Flaking and some water damage in the cups the issue. But with a variety of other gold tops to look at (including a 500mi 650) I can see the variation in color was off.

 

there's more shades of gold than Bayer has aspirins

 

Physical Vapor Deposition. There's different kinds of coats, some are good for corrosion resistance, others for lubricity but they also look pretty damn cool.

We use it to coat barrels, bolts and bolt carriers and interior pieces of firearms.

 

Bare Metal Foil comes in gold, dull chrome, shinny chrome and black chrome any hobby shop should carry this even (Hobby town USA, Hobby Lobby, Michaels)
it is thin make sure surface is clean , use a sharp x-acto knife ,put foil on surface burnish down lightly wit a q tip . I have used it on emblems with success a little light polishing after it is applied is all. Down side very thin tears easy , don't get fuel on it .

 

I had four of these re plated recently as well as some new screws. Sent one original as a sample, you can see it in the middle with the four re plated parts around the outside. Very pleased with the outcome. They are near spot in in color.

Some of that "Yamaha proprietary plating process that uses no real gold" as I've read it to be. They dissected it and in the good old USA we call it...brass plating. Doh!

 

Where did you get then plating done? I'm looking at redoing the gold my 750

 

Quality Plating. Salt Lake City, UT

Figuring out what it is/was I can't say they didn't alter the tank time or current etc to match my sample but any shop doing brass should be able to help you. I have one each behind me on the desk, other than the weathered look of the old one they are spot on. You'd be pleased.

Up next; some more black chrome reworked. We'll see how this mystery finish comes out!

 

great thanks for the info

 

Thanks for the info. I'll be looking into it for my carb tops, and other pieces.

~Ghost

 

The only light I can see any difference seems to be florescent lamps. The original remains a touch darker. But in the sun or incandescent light you'd never see it. I may go or a grab bar next and see how that turns out.