OK to powder coat timing sprockets?

[iTurbo]

I've been cleaning lots of parts with my new Harbor Freight blast cabinet today. I LOVE this thing!!

Would it be OK to powder coat timing sprockets (cam/crank/I-shaft)? I was thinking of just putting a light coat of semi-gloss black on them. It doesn't seem like it would interfere with belt teeth engagement, but I thought I better ask first. I want them to look good years down the road and not start rusting right away again.

[Vigo]

I think it would be fine. It would have to be a pretty thick coating before it caused problems with the belt, i think.

[Dr. Johny Dodge]

I'd worry the surface of the teeth might be to smooth once coated

I've spray painted my pulleys before but always masked the teeth

if you drive the car the teeth will stay nice and clean anyway

if the belt breaks the p-c off the teeth it might fill everything with little chunks of p-c which might be bad for the shaft seals

[iTurbo]

I'd worry the surface of the teeth might be to smooth once coated

I've spray painted my pulleys before but always masked the teeth

if you drive the car the teeth will stay nice and clean anyway

if the belt breaks the p-c off the teeth it might fill everything with little chunks of p-c which might be bad for the shaft seals

Good point. I think I will tape over the teeth.

[135sohc]

Melonite or parkerization would provide protection and not really build any film thickness.

[iTurbo]

Melonite or parkerization would provide protection and not really build any film thickness.

My older brother is a gunsmith and we've talked about parkerization before. I will definitely look into that.

[ajakeski]

I paint mine. The belt wears the paint off the teeth and the rest says clean.

[cordes]

Melonite or parkerization would provide protection and not really build any film thickness.

Park is pretty darn durable too.

[GLHS320]

This is how I powder coated my intermediate shaft sprocket.

[fixit]

why not tape off the teeth and coat the rest? (less shaft)
seems powder coating fills in voids, so the timing belt tooth area wouldn't be as sharp causing a slip.... maybe

[iTurbo]

This is how I powder coated my intermediate shaft sprocket.

Wow that looks nice! I like how it's just coated in the center. Might have to do that myself.

After thinking about it, I may not do anything to the crank sprocket and only coat the centers of the cam and I-shaft sprockets (front/back). As far as the crank pulley and water pump pulley, I may just paint those with black engine enamel. Thanks for all the suggestions guys.

[Vigo]

Im 99.9% certain i've slapped on cam gears that had a way thicker coating of rust than you would have of powdercoat and i never tossed a timing belt.

[cordes]

Im 99.9% certain i've slapped on cam gears that had a way thicker coating of rust than you would have of powdercoat and i never tossed a timing belt.

The rust comes off farily quickly for me. I don't think it tears up the belts as bad as most expect otherwise we would all have to do a lot more timing belts!

[iTurbo]

I PC'd them tonight. I taped them off as to emulate GLHS320's sprockets because I liked the contrast between the teeth/edges and centers. I did them in flat black PC and they turned out great!

This HF blaster cabinet is so awesome I'm just finding random ---- to clean and powder coat!

[turbovanman²]

The TIII cam gears from Cindy have coated teeth, so coat away. If a 1000th of an inch layer of paint throws a timing belt, then something is seriously wrong.

[iTurbo]

The TIII cam gears from Cindy have coated teeth, so coat away. If a 1000th of an inch layer of paint throws a timing belt, then something is seriously wrong.

Between the 4-5 sets of TIII adjustable cam gears I have (all from FWDP), the centers are anodized aluminum, but nothing else coated. I totally agree with what you are saying though.

[turbovanman²]

Between the 4-5 sets of TIII adjustable cam gears I have (all from FWDP), the centers are anodized aluminum, but nothing else coated. I totally agree with what you are saying though.

Weird, my 2 sets were. Maybe it was paint but it was pretty good, they never rusted.