Does anyone know what type of paint HD was using in 1972. I have a gas tank I want to prime and paint over with a laquer product. What is on there does not react to laquer thinner when I apply it. I do not want to strip to bare metal. I am going to paint this with aerosol cans and I am trying to shave some time off the project. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

If you're going for "original" colors, I recommend a book called “HOW TO RESTORE YOUR H-D” BY BRUCE PALMER III @ $39.95. However, it sounds like you "just want to paint it" and ride it. From my younger years of wrecking cars and trying to paint over my mistakes, I WOULD recommend removing most of the paint (doesn't have to be "bare" just mostly removed) to the primer then going from there esp. if the primer was a "brown" enamel vice a "gray" sandable. Spray paint does not mix well with ANY factory paint and I think the results would be sub-standard vice the extra time to remove the original paints upper layers and making one whole coat using gray primer (my preference for filling imperfections+softer) and painting over with the final coat.

 

I would take it down as much as possible. A good paint job is mostly prep work. Just painted my bike parts with a rattle can and they all did good but front fender. I sanded mine down with 80, then 120, then wet sanded with 400,600, and 1000. Not sure why my front fender didnt work out good. Going to take it to metal and prime and paint again.

 

There is some paint shops/autopainters who mix and bottle 2-component "real autopaint" to aerosol cans also laquer and primer. These get you better results at home. Only down side is that you need to paint with that stuff within 8 hours after is has been bottled, it dries even in bottle.
You need to remember that top coat of paint is only for changing color, it doesn't hide faults in surface.

 

shaving time usually ends up in a bad paint job if using spray can better off taking down to bare metal and start fresh ive painted many bikes a couple with spray bomb better off bare it,prime it,spray it, clear it,be done with it.