I got the Harley wrinkle paint for the engine and painted it. I guess I must have screwed something up as it looks like elephant hide or something awful. I have not really gotten the engine hot yet but it does look a tad better around the plug area from the quick fire up I did. I took a heat gun and hit a couple of places and the finish seemed to get better. I really do not want to strip the side cover and polish, but jeeze it looks like crap. On the good side it runs and drives really well.

 

It takes heat man,the more even the better.

Glock Man

 

I believe the engine is usually covered in the "texture" paint rather than wrinkle. But they both should hold fine and be good but the texture is a little smoother than the wrinkle paint.

 

I will hit it with a heat gun and see what happens and put it in the sun. If that does not work then I will strip it and polish the side covers. Wishi had just used high heat paint now.

 

As Zanejjnelson1 says above - Harley makes two kinds of (that I'm aware of) engine paint, Wrinkle Black and Texture Black. Wrinkle Black is, well, wrinkley. It's also glossy. Texture Black is a smoother flat black finish with something approximating sand mixed in with the paint to give it texture. When I was painting my engine I made the mistake of buying the Wrinkle Black the first time, not knowing Harley made two very different kinds of black engine paint. I had the same experience as you did - sprayed it on and went "wtf?" It looked like crap.

The Texture Black engine paint goes on easy, looks great and wears like iron.

 

I hear you. I did not know they made texture black. That is what is in my road glide then. Well heck. I guess I will get some texture black for the side cases and leave the jugs with the wrinkle paint. Did you strip yours down before repainting?

 

My engine painting project was...well, a bit of a challenge. I had oxidation under some of the paint on the cases and had to strip it down to bare metal before painting. The primary cover and cam cover I ended up powder coating gloss black. The jugs, for the most part were ok and I just cleaned them up and painted right over the original paint. I had the engine out of the frame when I did it. Tapped off everything I didn't want painted and sprayed it with the texture black. You can find a detailed explanation and lots of pics in the thread Nightster Winter Makeover.

 

Is the textured black just a harley thing or can I find it cheaper elsewhere?

 

I made the wrinkle black/textured black mistake last week. My confusion came from the Harley web store calling all of their dress-up stuff (covers) wrinkle black. They aren't. :/ The wrinkle paint peeled off easily with acetone. Good luck.

 

Perhaps Harley Davidson keeps the distinction between the two types of paint intentionally ambiguous. I don't know. When I went back to the parts dept to buy my second can of paint (another $23) I told the guy I wanted the texture black and not the wrinkle black. He looked at me and said "There's only one kind." When I explained that in fact Harley makes two kinds of paint he didn't believe me. He disappeared in the back for five minutes before returning with a can of texture black paint. Even some employees don't know the difference.

To RedTailChop - I assume you can find a texture black engine paint in another brand but I don't know. All I can tell you is the Harley paint is very good stuff. Very durable once it's fully cured.