Motor Paint Looks Boiled

Looks like it's had petrol running over it to me.

 

A chemical reaction to a spill over the paint surface or there is subsurface corrosion .

 

Looks like corrosion to me. How old is that engine ?

 

What cleaning agent do you use?

 

Is there a chance that it's been repainted - perhaps a "refresh" to sell it - and the painter used a non-heatproof paint?

 

Looking at all the pics it’s obviously been repainted and it’s broke down with heat. It might’ve not been actual engine heat as that would be just the upper sections but it looks like it’s been forced dry with a space heater which ‘over cooked’ it. I could be wrong. @grharris Is it the same on both sides?

 

That looks to me like it's been repainted at some point and the bubbling is down to poor surface preparation. Any contaminants, corrosion, oxidation or maybe oil or grease etc will eventually show through. A good paint job starts with the prep and many a decent paint job has been ruined by poor prep.

 

Was it like this when you bought it or has it developed since?

 

Did you not question the owner before you bought it?

 

Probably not as the crankcase’s would have to be same temperature as the barrels and head which they never run that hot.

 

Hi gr, I have seen this a number of times and mostly on Triumphs, firstly I think the paint is the original factory finish, the ones I have seen have been cleaned with traffic film remover (TFR) confirmed by a few owners whom admitted they did not dilute it correctly, the TFR is designed for use mainly on commercial vehicles to remove heavy road deposits (tar etc), it is not suitable for motorcycles, it causes initial darkening on the engine cases etc, this quickly starts to "bubble the paint" and further deterioration follows. Triumph recommend Muc-off, personally I would return the machine back to the dealer and ask for a refund, or change the machine, unfortunately it will get worse even in the warm climate you live in. I recently went to buy another machine that was used as a press test machine in Europe, however it had marks on the engine casings, I suspected to be a result of using TFR to clean it, and it would have deteriorated in time, evidently after a track session in the morning, followed by an afternoon road test that turned wet, the press had cleaned them with the TFR, hence sadly I did not buy it. Hope you sort it with the dealer. Ride safe all.