Cooling Fin

[KTC]

Has anyone tried this?

Cooling Fin Cover Up

I took a can of black, high heat, wrinkle finish paint, and painted my cylinder cooling fins. This is very easy to do and makes a big difference in the appearance of the Magna.

First, remove the "false" air breather covers, between the cylinders. This requires an 8mm wrench, then just pull it off. It comes off like a side panel. Then remove the two 10mm bolts that were behind the covers, just the two that go into the cooling fins. Next, remove the little rubber inserts in the chrome head cover bolts, and loosen them up all the way, this takes a 6mm hex wrench. Then remove the spark plug wires, you don't have to take them out of the holes, just take them loose from the plug. Finally, remove the six 5mm hex head bolts from the fins, then they will come right off. NOTE: the front head bolt on the left side is kind of hard to get to, this is where a socket hex tool is helpful.

After removing the fins wash them real good in soap and water and allow to dry. When they are good and dry, start painting. The wrinkle finish paint works best if you put the first coat on heavy, and then wait 2 minutes to apply a light second coat. The more coats the better the wrinkles. It also helps to apply the coats, one horizontal, one vertical, and so on. Don't be discouraged if the wrinkles are not showing up now, that comes later on.

After you have enough paint on, put them on a cookie sheet and pop them in the oven, set on 175°F, for about 2-2 1/2 hours. Once in the oven for about 15-20 minutes you will notice the wrinkles starting to come into the paint.

(Attention! This is what I did, not what I recommend!)

When done cooking, wait for them to cool, then take a rag with some lacquer thinner, and wipe off the edges of the fins, exposing the aluminum color of the fins. This is the part where it isn't so much fun anymore!

After you're done wiping off the fins, and it feels like your finger is going to fall off, replace them on the Magna. Then stand back and look at the difference!

[mtrosclair]

Do you have any closeup pics?  Here is what I did to mine. It is VHT wrinkle plus, Applied about how you did, just 200 degrees at one hour

[KTC]

i haven't actually done it, except for painting some of Greg's once but had found those instructions on another website.  Yours look good I like the difference it makes.

[mtrosclair]

I had read that write up before I did mine but was concerned about wiping the fins off so i did not do that.  It really changes the look of the bike....