On the inside of the final drive unit on my 2012 RT, there is a small amount of "bubbling" of the paint. The paint surface is not broken & the problem area does not seem to be getting any worse. I've now owned the bike for 2 years. If "gassing" has caused the problem during application of the paint, once it has occurred, will it continue to deteriorate or does it become passive.mcbrid wrote:Aluminium is notoriously prone to 'gassing' which has the effect of lifting any paint that is on top of the porous area of the casting.
I was initially of the opinion that the problem was just a rough casting, perhaps this is not the case.
"Powder coating aluminium castings can sometimes be a problem. Immediate problems appear when the powder coat bubbles because of gas evolution from the casting during the heating cycle. Long-term problems happen when white corrosion develops under the coating, and flaking and peeling starts. Even though powder coating is a sophisticated process, these two problems do occur. Fighting off their occurrence is possible by taking correct preliminary steps. Preventative action can mean the use of a better base metal, preheating to degas the casting, extensive chemical cleaning, proper acidic etching rinsing with deionized water, and adequate powder curing. A lack of attention to any one of these steps can mean a rough surface and/or a coating that eventually will flake."