RM-250 C2 Swing Arm Finish...

slotsquid
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slotsquid
Edited Date/Time 8/16/2015 2:51pm
I am trying to replicate the factory finish the was on the '78.5 Suzuki RM C2 and '78 RM-400 swing arms. Is that finished tumbled?
Have had no luck, does anyone know a metal finisher who can duplicate the texture?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Regard,,
Howie Lloyd
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752dad
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752dad 8/10/2015 8:34am
8/10/2015 8:34am Edited Date/Time 8/10/2015 8:42am
I am restoring a '79 125 and the swing arm is a series of extrusions assembled and welded. All of the extrusions have "lines" in the lengthwise direction. The shock brackets have their polishing lines 90° to the swingarm.
I had the anodizing stripped, then had the polishing shop put the "grain" back in similar to original then re anodize.
Hope this helps,
KC

slotsquid
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slotsquid 8/10/2015 11:43am
8/10/2015 11:43am
Thanks for the info, that is a beautiful restoration you have there!
I don't know if the '78 arms were anodized like the N and T arms, but they had a semi rough surface, perhaps from the forming jig when the pressed the parts out. I will check with an anodizing shop if that is something they can do. I'm up here north of Bellingham, WA.
Thanks KC,
Howie
RiV
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RiV 8/10/2015 12:24pm
8/10/2015 12:24pm
I've had 2 of the C-2s, I don't recall it being tumbled & it had a different finish in the
adjuster area as I recall. Some of the mag wheel cleaners we used recently (Eagle One)
gave a finish to a Suzuki frame that reminds me of the C-2s finish.....hope that helps.
slotsquid
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slotsquid 8/10/2015 12:58pm
8/10/2015 12:58pm
I am probably crazy and remembering the '70's wrong. The bike I'm working came with a polished swing arm and I possibly have a short circuit going on in my brain... Silly
I think I will pursue the avenue that 752 Dad suggested.
Thanks Riv !

Regards,
Howie Lloyd

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RiV
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RiV 8/11/2015 11:53am
8/11/2015 11:53am
Howie, do you have a pic? I'm a bit fuzzy on them,
most of the time I ran Thor swingarms which were
fairly popular at the time, maybe yours has some-
thing similar....or polished is correct. I already have
longterm lapse of short term memory.....maybe my
longterm is out the window too, lol.
slotsquid
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slotsquid 8/11/2015 2:50pm
8/11/2015 2:50pm
I can't find a picture of a bone stock one that has that finish. Looks like I'm wrong and will go with the finish I have.
Thanks Guys!
Howie

xnationalwrench 8/12/2015 9:39pm
8/12/2015 9:39pm
Howie, to the best of my memory the swingarms had a silver paint stock on them, because of them using different pieces . I have seen some that stripped the paint off and gavotte e polished look. Maybe the one you remember someone used a bead blaster on it but didn't smooth out the finish?
slotsquid
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slotsquid 8/13/2015 3:45am
8/13/2015 3:45am
Hi Chuck,
I believe you are right !, That is the finish I have on it now, and I am going to clear coat over the paint with a 250 degree clear coat with a matte finish (Thanks Ron) that will protect the paint. I was remembering a 400 C arm I had a couple of years ago for another bike. Now I just have to Get these Luft remote reservoir shocks rebuilt.
Thanks Chuck!,
Howie
Oldnslo
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Oldnslo 8/13/2015 5:22pm
8/13/2015 5:22pm
Silver painted arm was factory finish....pretty straight forward....
slotsquid
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slotsquid 8/13/2015 7:43pm
8/13/2015 7:43pm
I'm old and slow too! Thanks, that has been the general consensus. I painted the arm (above) and I got a can of Dupli-Color wheel matte clear coat for a protective coating on the arm.
(triple clamps were like that too)
Thanks guys, we can put this one to bed now.

Regards,
Howie

CalRMX
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CalRMX 8/13/2015 7:48pm
8/13/2015 7:48pm
The C2 swingarm isn't painted, I bought a 400C2 in 1986 all original, it's definately not painted, and definately not paint stripped either.

I would be inclined to use a very fine scotchbrite finish along the length of the swingarm.
slotsquid
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slotsquid 8/13/2015 7:59pm
8/13/2015 7:59pm
So I'm not too crazy, the finish I was remembering was pebbly, but I think it was on a 400 arm, not a 250. Perhaps Suzuki did both or the forming molds were different.
Thanks,
Howie
(I know, I'm still crazy!)
PN27416
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PN27416 8/14/2015 2:10pm
8/14/2015 2:10pm

I could get you a closeup shot if it helps.

slotsquid
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slotsquid 8/14/2015 5:54pm
8/14/2015 5:54pm
That would be great! Can you do some at different angles and zooms?
Much appreciated,
Howie
PN27416
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PN27416 8/15/2015 4:45am
8/15/2015 4:45am
Sure will. Just picked this up. Plan on a cleaning this weekend and will get some shots.
Hudweiser9
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Hudweiser9 8/16/2015 10:42am
8/16/2015 10:42am
Here's a few pics of my '78C2 arm... Don't know if it will help or not. Did yours look like this before?



Oldnslo
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Oldnslo 8/16/2015 10:45am
8/16/2015 10:45am
I have a DG arm for that bike....painted silver or a silver paint like finish.......
slotsquid
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slotsquid 8/16/2015 2:51pm
8/16/2015 2:51pm
I think they had two textures on the arm, maybe the 125 and 400 had the other texture?
I'm going to stick with the finish I have, It still looks sharp, Silver paint with a matte clear coat wheel paint.
Thanks Guys!

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