Minor Frame Rust?

So as I was checking out everything on my bike I notice several areas that have minor rust on the frame (mainly where welds are and some on the drive shaft cover).

As much as I'd like to do it thoroughly and strip the bike down and sand it all and repaint it, i just don't think it is worth it nor do I have the skill or space to do it.

Anyone have any suggestions for this rust? Is there something I can spray over it to cover it up and keep it from rusting further? Or do I need to sand it all down and then re-paint the spots? Or by some stroke of God is there something that I can just spray on to take most of the rust off?

I searched the forum but couldn't find anything really answering my question. Thanks in advance.

 

Go by an automotive paint store they should have a rust converter. It is a mild acid that converts rust to primer. Which then can be painted. I used some on light rust on my bike and was pleased with what it did on frame. I tried it on the rust on the chrome headers with no change. But it did help on the bolts for the header flanges.
Disclaimer: try in a small out of way area first. Use at your own risk.

 

eastwoods
they got more kinds of paint than bayer has aspirins

 

So This Stuff actually works? The way it seems I just rub off the loose rust and spray this on and let it dry.. Sounds too easy to believe, especially for only $20.

How about Bolts? The bolts on part of the engine block look completely rusted, I'd be afraid to spray rust removal on something like that *shrugs*

 

Permatex markets a product called Extends for a bit less and it is usually at the local hardware store. It works rather well so long as you do appropriate surface prep. And it is about $10 a can.
Spray away, it converts to a primer base (which means you MUST topcoat it withing a day or two of application) which will not hurt hardware.

 

Is there anything that I could spray over the top of it once it's done to topcoat it? I have no paint-booth, nor do I know how to do any painting.. I was hoping a rattle-can application that was a dark black would do just fine. Don't need the bike to be pretty, just don't want it rusting away.

 

Just about any gloss (semi-gloss in a pinch) enamel will work. PJ1 makes a nice OEM appearance paint specifically for motorcycles. I've been very happy with the results I've gotten.
Krylon, VHT, Rustoleum, all will provide satisfactory protection as a topcoat.

 

Awesome, so i basically just brush off loose rust, spray on that stuff and let it work its magic, then spray on the enamel and I'll be good to go once it drys? Sounds easy enough.

 

I had a bit of that going on a while ago. I just got a grinder and brushed it all off. Didn't have to do much in the way of disassembly to take care of it all. Then just rattle canned it.

 

I think most of it is just minor surface rust, mainly where paint has chipped. I may try wire-brushing it first then see how it looks and may just rattle-can over it.. But as of right now, my objective is to just get the bike insured and get all my gear and probably new tires so i can get it on the road.

 

Here is the product i used, which i got from my paint supplier.

http://rust-cure.com/

 

How much did it cost and will it hurt my paint?

 

I hav got some minor surface frame rust and some on shaft drive cover..will try dremel with wire brush, if turns out good will then paint it.

 

I got to the party late, and all the advice is good, in terms of neutralizing rust for museum-quality restorations.

Which, from your post, is probably not where you're at.

My advice is going to sound crazy, but it works, and works well with the 20+ bikes I've owned and restored over the years.

1. Make sure the frame area is clean. No oils or solvents on the surface of the paint, and FOR SURE, no silicone-based waxes or stuff on the paint. Clean and dry.

2. Very lightly sand the surface of the paint with 00-fine Steel Wool. Blow the surface clean so there's no dust.

3. Use a brush to paint the area with Black Gloss Rust O'Leum. Not spray. Brush. I'm serious. Try it first on an area of the frame not usually visible.

When the paint dries, you're left with a shiny black frame that looks like it came that way from the factory. Serious.

It doesn't sound possible but it works, and lasts, and the paint seals up the rust, etc. 30 years ago I worked in a bike dealership and we did this on used trade-in bikes that had battery-acid damage on the frame (which was common, and made for pukey little rust spots). Made the frame look new and completely covered the damage.

Give it a try. Let me know.

 

ChicoJim: I'll need to try that out. Like you said, i'm not looking for museum-quality, I just don't want to see any rust.

Also, I have saddle bags and noticed that behind them the shocks are really rusty too. I plan on getting some lowering shocks (from MikesXS.com I think is where I read to get a good set for about $80) but as for right now I want to know if there is anything I can clean them off with so I can ride it til I get some new ones.

 

I use a brush-on rust converter from the auto parts, sand lightly if too uneven once dry, and then use PJ1 or Duplicolor black rattle-can (or decant some into a cup and use a brush if it's a really small patch.

 

I ended up running by the local Auto Parts store and picked up some Rust-oleum rust remover and some gloss black Rust-oleum rattle-can paint.

It's gonna take a lot of work, i tried it on part of the frame up front, I put the remover on (its like a thick fluid) and scrubbed it with a scotch-brite pad. Let it sit for about 5 or 10 minutes and when I wiped it off with a wet cloth there was NO rust at all, so I dried the spot off and sprayed the area with the rattle-can gloss enamel and it now looks brand-spankin' new!

Only issue is, some parts are difficult to get to and near-impossible to scrub off, like where joints connect (or overlap).

While I'm on this topic though, I took off the header wraps my friend put on (running open headers now) and there is a good amount of rust on the pipes, also some are pitted real bad. Anyone know a good way to get this off? I thought about sanding it down, but I don't know how 'deep' the rust may be and the rust remover I got doesn't seem to phase it. Any ideas?

I was going to put a 4-into-1 exhaust on it, so I don't want to waste too much money on fixing the current pipes. But I'm not sure if I will get the 4-into-1 as I was told it would have to be tuned and that could cost me over $200 (which the exhaust I want is already $300). *shrugs*

 

Would a rust converter be ok to use on the 'U' brackets under the gas tank where it attaches to the frame? I've got a bit of rust in there, as well as on my swing-arm so i'll probably be getting some rust converter soon.