Bandit Alley

GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MECHANICAL & TECHNICAL => Topic started by: PitterB4 on July 22, 2006, 03:14:51 PM

Title: Tank Repair?
Post by: PitterB4 on July 22, 2006, 03:14:51 PM

So I trashed the tank on my F3 (long story that I'll post sometime).  I just picked up another cheap.  It's in pretty decent shape from the outside but the inside has some surface rust.  I had Kreemed the B4 tank which was a pain in the ass.  I'm thinking of trying Por or whatever it's called this time.  

My question though is why can't I just etch the tank and then fill it up?  Once it's etched, won't it be just like a new tank?  I don't think too many people feel the need to coat a new tank.   I'm sure I'm missing something here.  Please enlighten me.  

Thanks!

Title: Tank Repair?
Post by: interfuse on July 22, 2006, 06:25:25 PM

Another option is to send the tank out and have it professionally coated. I asked the shop if they'd kreem the tank, they declined because kreem stinks. But said they could send it out to a place that specialized in tank coatings. They said it usually takes a week and costs $100. I'm going to have them do it over the winter.

Title: Tank Repair?
Post by: tannerismyhero on July 23, 2006, 01:46:37 AM

another option and i am serious about this.
If you know someone that works in the rotational molding plastics industry they can slap a motorcycle tank on a arm filled with a little crosslink plastic (resistant to gas) into the oven and give er a coat. I have heard of a guy doin this at my work before but I would prolly get canned if I tried. Apparently it works, his tank was pretty much new and all he had to do is cut out the holes for his gas lines and cap after. We made the buell tanks years back, and I know there are a lot of plastics companies thru the world, some of which may be able to help you for cheap.

Title: Tank Repair?
Post by: Ranger on July 23, 2006, 03:20:28 PM

:beers:

Title: Tank Repair?
Post by: PitterB4 on July 24, 2006, 11:13:23 AM

Thanks guys.  If the exterior is worse than I expect when I get it, I'll just have it dipped.  

I guess my real question is - is there any reason I can't just get rid of the rust using the chemical etching stuff like comes with the Kreem kit and then use the tank as-is rather than putting the coating in it?  When I did the B4 tank, I thought it looked just like new after the chem rinse and wondered if the additional step of coating it was necessary.

Title: Tank Repair?
Post by: Red01 on July 24, 2006, 01:14:21 PM

That will be fine if you can keep water from ever getting into the tank again. While keeping it 100% out is not realistic for the average Joe (or Rob), you can go a long way by keeping the bike with a full tank of stabilzed gas whenever you're not riding it.

Title: Tank Repair?
Post by: solman on July 24, 2006, 03:42:44 PM

I had a friend who had a rusted tank.  We did the first two steps of the etching and left it at that.  he didn't have any problems with it.

Title: Tank Repair?
Post by: PitterB4 on July 24, 2006, 09:34:56 PM

Cool!  Thanks.  I always try to keep the tank full.  I've got a cellulous (sp?) baffle in the crushed tank (prevents sloshing) that I'll put in the new one which takes up some space making the full tank thing easier.  

I just figured the freshly etched tank was pretty much the same as a new tank but wanted to be sure.