Saving Old Seagulls

If I prime the aluminium engine parts with zinc chromate, will it adhere to them, or is there another product that I could use as a suitable primer?

If you're planning a finish as close as possible to the original then Hammerite Silver Smooth is a pretty close match. They - Hammerite that is - recommend their own 'Special Metals Primer', whose applications include aluminium.

I've known people just use the Hammerite Smooth on its own and get a reasonably long lasting finish.

I have use the Hammerite primer before and wasn't that impressed with it, as its quite thick and makes the Hammerite top coat more prone to damage than using it directly.

Dunno about the zinc part, but certainly chromate used to be or is the preferred primer for aluminium - just seems difficult to get now - maybe because of the chromate content!

I always use a primer on aluminium to get a good key and a bond for subsequent paints, but can never find any 'on the shelf' anywhere, so have to order it from my local inronmonger - the paint is usually called a 'special metals primer' to cover a mulititude of sins I guess.
Destructions on the tin say that it can be sprayed over when dry, but I leave it to cure for three days or so, espectially if I am going to follow with Hammerite

Hi there,
If you want Zinc Chromate try these people http://www.lasaero.com/site/products/ar ... =G03H0GVF9 very good stuff but use outside with a mask
Hope this helps