Primer to use to re-paint a outboard?

[merc20076]

I want to re-paint the mid leg and lower unit on a Johnson 1983 7.5HP outboard. There are some areas specially on the skeg where it's bare aluminum. Do I need a special primer or regular metal primer is ok? This outboard will never be use in salt water.

Thanks for helping me!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Primer to use to re-paint a outboard?

YES you need a specific primer that will adhere to properly prepared aluminum. Moeller sells zinc chromate but that is only part of the prep. Bare aluminum should be sanded, wiped with vinegar allowed to dry and treated with alodine then the zc primer.....then the topcoat.

I will move this to restoration where most of the painting is done.

 

[RRitt]

Re: Primer to use to re-paint a outboard?

it is tough to beat duplicolor self-etch for aerosol adhesion. If you have a compressor and gun then you have a lot more options. In general, go to a paint store and ask them how to paint an aluminum airplane wing. They won't get confused by "marine" and will know exactly what products to sell you. If anything you end up with a better than marine paint job.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Primer to use to re-paint a outboard?

I found a post in the archives that was given by 45Auto ..

"If you want it to look like new use a 2-part catalyzed automotive paint rather than the spray can stuff. It'll be much shinier and it'll also last another 25 years rather than just the rest of this season. Check out the "IMPORTANT" note on #7 on the instructions from Mercury below.

I did mine last year and replaced the decals, it looks brand new. Use a bead blaster (or very fine sand) to get ALL the white corrosion out of the pits in the aluminum. Take the drive and bell housing off and do the transom plate and bellhousing at the same time. The whole back end of the boat will look brand new.

Where are you located, I think I still have enough material left over to do a couple more drives if you want it. I have no further use for it.

Official Mercruiser painting instructions from:

http://www.mercurymarine.com/service...ation.php#1135

Is there a factory authorized repainting procedure for my sterndrive?

Yes, MerCruiser has a refinishing procedure available. For best results we recommend this procedure be performed professionally.

Refinishing procedure:
This procedure should be used in refinishing MerCruiser sterndrives and transom plates. This procedure will provide the most durable paint system available in the field. The listed materials should be purchased from a local DITZLER AUTOMOTIVE finish supply outlet. The minimum packaged quantity of each material shown is sufficient to refinish several sterndrives and transom assemblies.
1 QT. DX-533 Alumiprep #33 metal preparation
1 QT. DX-503 Alodine #1201 conversion coating
1 QT. DP-40 Non sanding Epoxy Primer zinc chromate primer
1 QT. DP-401 Catalyst for DP-40
1 QT. DAR-9000 Acrylic Enamel-black topcoat
1 Pt. DXR-80 Delthane Ultra-additive for acrylic enamel
1 QT. DTR-602 Acrylic Enamel Reducer-temperature range 70-90 degree F.
PROCEDURE:
1. Scuff sand to remove all blistered paint and roughen factory finish. Remove sanding dust.
2. Follow manufacturer's recommendations and instructions on the individual containers.
3. Apply DX-533 (Alumiprep #33) to clean and condition the aluminum.
4. Apply DX-503 (Alodine #1201) brush on chemical conversion coating for aluminum.
5. The DP-40 (Epoxy Chromate Primer) mixed with DP-401 Catalyst can now be applied. A .75 mil film build is recommended.
NOTE: Allow 30 minute induction period for permeation of the epoxy chromate primer and the catalyst prior to application.
6. The topcoat consists of DAR-9000 Acrylic Enamel Black and the DXR-80 Delthane Ultra additive, and DTR-602 Reducer. It is a polyurethane acrylic enamel system which provides fast drying, durability, high resistance to corrosion and good color and gloss retention.
7. The type of spray gun used will determine the proper reduction ratio IMPORTANT: DO NOT use any type of aerosol spray paints, as the paint will not properly adhere to the surface, nor will the coating be sufficiently thick to resist future paint blistering.
NOTE: DO NOT PAINT SACRIFICIAL ANODES "

Ref post #7 here http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=275836

This is how I would do it ..

YD.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Primer to use to re-paint a outboard?

Being an older 7.5 you probably don't want to go all out on the paint, if you just need it to look good everything you need is at Autozone or any other part store.

The Duplicolor paint is pretty good and they also have the etching primer, if you want ot clear over it go with another brand of clear, didn't care for the duplicolor.

I redid mine 2 years ago with the duplicolor and it almost perfectly matches the factory blue I had some auto motive clear left from a car I did so I hit it with that and it looks great.

Go over your paint really well and make sure it is still suck to the engine, I found several spots on mine that the paint looked good but it just flaked right off.

I ended up using paint scraper until I hit good paint tehn sanded down the edge so it was well blended, there is no need to remove the paint if it is still stuck on good, nothing is going to beat the factory primer and it has been there for 28 years so it isn't going to fall off any time soon.

All you need to do is sand the existing paint with some 400 just to scuff the surface and allow the new paint to stick, hit all the bare metal areas with the etching primer and you are ready to paint.

No offense to Yacht Dr, his method is the what you do if you want it absolutely right and $$ is not an object but something tells me you won't want to spend a couple hundred bucks painting your engine.

 

[merc20076]

Re: Primer to use to re-paint a outboard?

I think I'll have to get some Moeller ZC primer. I didn't find other primers that could prime bare aluminum surfaces.

For top coat paint I got a can of Moeller Johnson ivory white paint.

Like I said, i'm not repainting it all since this outboard will probably (not sure) be for sale but I started sanding the areas already.