brownie001

Hi Chrisb1504, just for info, were the Surflex plates you used the kevlar mix or the sintered ones ? Thanks, Phil

Hi Gordo, if you're interested, take a look here, http://www.motoswm.com/ Martin has a nice site and is really helpful and in the know in regard to anything SWM.

Here's my 81 TLNW 125.

Ok, so I've had my crankcases chromated and can now paint them with what I want.

Maybe you can find out from your powder coater just what exactly he does to the magnesium parts before he coats them. That is the whole point of this discussion. Magnesium 'gases out' when the PC is being baked which leaves a lunar landscape for a finish. That's also the reason why normal engine paint is not the way to go as with time it lifts, exposes the mag to moisture and it corrodes away. If you are happy with what you've got and you mate is too, not really much to be said. I have already had experience of the original crankcase coating on my 125 having lifted and a small hole was the result. Left a nice trail of gearbox oil around the club grounds. That's what I'm trying to avoid in the future.

Hi, original sprockets are 12/42. See the attachment for further model specific details.

Well if you are happy with the results now and still are in the future what more needs to be said. Wierd that RH said no to my application. My cases are 100% magnesium are yours ? Anyway, I'm happy to have found a solution not too far away.

I found a company nearby which will chromate the crankcases for €80-120, once done, I can paint them or even powder coat them as desired. Not cheap but C'est la vie !

I contacted RH Lacke and they said none of their products can/should be used on magnesium. Their suggestion was, wait for it, have the magnesium parts cast in iron and then paint them with anything. Great......I don't think. Most of the Companies who say they do such galvanic processing don't when you inform them that you are a private customer and you don't want hundreds of pieces handled. PJ1 has said that they will check their archives, we shal see. Ciao, Phil

Gents, thank you all for sharing your experiences and knowledge. I still don't really know what would suite my application best. I've requested some infos from some of the product manufacturers mentioned. I'll make my decision known when the time comes. Phil

How many ways are there to skin a cat ? I have been told that if you Dow 9 the parts first, that's a galvanic process also known as chromating, you can virtually paint the parts with anything. I'm going to get in touch with the engine manufacturer, Rotax (Bombardier) in my case, and see what they have to say.

Dow 9 is a galvanic process I have now found out. I preps magnesium fot a normal paint/powder coat.

Thanks for the replies so far. One thing which I forgot to state is that the cases are magnesium. I think they were originally coated in Dow-9 or something like. Orrible stuff by all accounts.

Hi, I've had the crankcasing of my 280 engine beadblasted so as to be able to see if there is any bad corosion which needs to be taken care of before rebuilding. I'd like to know what paint would be the best option to use to reseal the surface, bearing in mind that it needs to be nonporous, hard (scratch resistant) and of course be easy to apply and look good ;o] Any ideas.....

Ok, so a blackbox(or whatever colour) swap is what's implied not a simple condenser as on the larger Rotax motors. It just so happens that.........I have a spare one in the garage. We shall see. Thanks to you all thus far for your help.

If it had one I could replace it. Rotax 125's have got CDI ignition.

Hi, I've got a similar problem with my 125. It's running a bit rich, the plug is really black, even though I've gone down with the main jet from 78 to 70. The engine starts fine, pulls well until it dies. It's got new crank seals, a new carb/crankcase inlet rubber, the carb has been stripped, cleaned and put together with all new internals. Once it dies, even though there is a good spark, fuel in the tank/carb, the breather pipe is open, the airfilter is clean but the thing won't start. If I put a brand new NGK plug in, be it a standard or iridium equivalent, it starts first kick. Any ideas ? Thanks, Phil

Hi Nicolas, there are an awful lot of links but the docs are 99% in French and my French is at about -99% ;o] This is a very good site for all sorts of motor tech manuals. Primarily for Moto X and Enduro but there are some Trials moters there too. All in French again but with pictures and mechanical understanding, pretty useful. Nevertheless, lots of links and loads of infos. I've been able to get hold of what I was looking for from various different sources. I even managed to get hold of the OEM parts I was looking for from Rotax.BE and Martin Mathews. Now all that's missing is time and money. One other thing, does any know if the SWM yellow has a RAL code ? I asked Acerbis per Mail but they just didn't answer my request. Ciao,

Did you spot the mistake ? It's a SWM TL 320 wit a Rotax 280 engine ;o]

Hi, I'm going to rebuild the engine in my SWM TL 280. Does anybody have any documentation regarding the rebuild process, tolererances, disc and ignition timing, torque of the bolts etc ? Also any sources for Rotax parts now that Rotax.co.uk is no longer in business. Anything that would be of help would be thankfully accepted. Thanks.