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Post by jetmechmarty on Dec 2, 2012 22:49:25 GMT -5
 I am doing a restoration of a XS650SH with my daughter. The tank and sidecovers have a new professional paint job done with modern materials. The tank has a liner in it. I don't know what it is, but it's gray. When I put gasoline in the tank, the liner started lifting. I have to remove it and replace it, and I don't want to damage the paint. I thought I might start by putting a box of drywall screws in it and spin it in the dryer for a couple of hours. I'm sure MEK will dissolve it, but how do I proceed with that? I welcome your comments. |
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Post by madmax on Dec 4, 2012 6:36:41 GMT -5
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics magazine (a UK publication but available in the US) did a feature on removing old liners quite recently, they went through a process of wrapping the tank in kitchen cling film, then used polythene bags and finally aluminium duct tape (the kind used on hot air ducting joints), all this to protect the paintwork.
To remove the old liner they used Dicloromethane (methylene chloride), this is the ingredient manufacturers used to put in paint stripper before environmental legislation forced them to change to chemicals that don't work, the results were pretty quick dissolving the old liner (around an hour) with no need to add any abrasive or scouring material, the tank was relined with POR15.
Failed liners is a pretty new problem in the UK as it's relatively recent that the petrol companies have started adding ethanol, the problem is that the oil company chemists are constantly tweaking the composition so the liner manufacturers are playing catch-up, what works now might not in 5 years time.
Max
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Post by preston on Dec 4, 2012 8:39:43 GMT -5
Jet:
we used nuts and bolts and and little rocks and shake the day lights out of the tank,,
also one time, a leangh of steel chain ( 12" ) with multiple flushings and re flushing with gasoline.
The last tank, I tied down the tank to a saw horse, and used a hot water power washer, with L , nozzle on the end, to shoot left right and up top. Worked great, but DO NOT LET the TANK get too HOT,, it will mess up the nice decals you used to have.
Once tank is somewhat clean, i run bike and change the fuel filters,, And always park it with full tank of gasoline. ( to prevent new rust )
Mad Max, hit nail on the head,, Ethanol, is destroyer of tank liners, fiberglass, metal, alumimin, and etc.. it is a crime to allow it is fuel. It can eat though bottom of galvenized metal fuel can and then let the fuel drip out.
Preston
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Post by jetmechmarty on Dec 4, 2012 16:18:49 GMT -5
 I have been led to believe the above is the best tank liner as it is not solvent based. I have considered using it once the tank is clean. Does anyone here have experience they would like to share? If I can get dicloromethane from my local hardware store, I'll give it a go. I would love to have a link to that magazine article.  It's hard for me to imagine how they used the bags. |
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Post by madmax on Dec 5, 2012 6:51:16 GMT -5
It's all in here Marty, issue no 298 (Aug' 2012), red Ducati 851 on the cover www.pocketmags.com/viewissue.aspx?titleid=1219&title=Classic Motorcycle Mechanics&issueid=40116 Unfortunately you've got to pay 3 quid for an electronic download of the magazine, it's been a wee while since I read the article so I might have missed a couple of points. Max |
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Post by jetmechmarty on Dec 5, 2012 10:09:59 GMT -5
As luck would have it, I was able to get those pages. Thank you very much!
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Post by madmax on Dec 6, 2012 17:40:15 GMT -5
No problem, let's know how you get on.
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Post by jetmechmarty on Dec 6, 2012 23:17:34 GMT -5
This is the pretty tank I'm repairing.  Hopefully, this will maintain a good seal.  I wrapped it with cling wrap.  Then heavy plastic.  Finally, it's wrapped in metal repair tape.  Next, I take the plunge and pour a gallon of paint stripper in there. I am following the instructions from the magazine article in the previous page. I'll strip it when I have time to look after it. |
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Post by orforester on Dec 6, 2012 23:49:24 GMT -5
Let us know the progress, as I have a tank to line and a POR 15 kit fresh from POR.
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Post by jetmechmarty on Dec 8, 2012 11:29:00 GMT -5
By local hardware store does not have dichloromethane. I bought Kleen Strip that has dichloromethane in it. I should not have done that. The stripper is thick and I don't know how I'm going to get it out. It did destroy the liner, but I have a gooey caustic mess in there.
I believe I'm going to start with mineral spirits. Ideas? Warnings?
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Post by tonyc2me on Dec 8, 2012 12:30:25 GMT -5
That would work as warm soapy water would too. Either way you will most likely will have flash rust. I would put a mix of 2-stroke oil and petro in the tank when it is clean. This will prevent the flash rust. After you get where you want to be keep the tank full of fresh petro to avoid rust or if you storing light film of oil untill riding season. These are the thinks that work for me and you will have to determine if they are suitable for you. By the way great town that you live in. Tony C. ( Missed placed Georgia Boy)
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Post by jetmechmarty on Dec 8, 2012 15:21:04 GMT -5
The Klean Strip did not work. I succeeded only in making a mess. The remaining tank liner did not dissolve or turn loose. Pure dichloromethane is not available to me. What will dissolve the old liner? It appears I have removed the old stripper successfully with mineral spirits.
As far as keeping a bare metal tank from rusting, I bought some fogging oil from my local auto parts store. I'm using it elsewhere and it works.
I need a solvent that will get after that liner. I'm considering MEK.
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Post by tomterrific on Dec 9, 2012 8:43:13 GMT -5
Hi Marty,
I've thought about this and I suggest you fill the tank with screws or the equivelant and scour out as much of the loose liner as possible by shaking. The liner that is left on the insdie tank surface should be so tenatious that it will be no worry. Run fuel filters to catch any liner bits that get past the petcocks. Mikesxs has nylon screen socks that fit over the inside pipes/nipples of the petcocks if you don't have any. Those inside screen socks will be the first defense and easy to clean by removing the petcock at a later date, if needed.
Tom
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Post by jetmechmarty on Dec 9, 2012 10:35:25 GMT -5
Thnx Tom. I did a good bit of shaking with mineral spirits and a length of chain. It's a mess in there. Where the liner is gone, there's no shortage of rust. So, maybe I should treat that and no new liner? I had not considered that and perhaps I should.
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Post by preston on Dec 9, 2012 12:36:20 GMT -5
Dear Jet:
for what it worth...
I have "removed" tank liners put in place by previous owners,,,, HOURS of work, no mater which way we attacked it ,,, yes some rusty section maybe were viable,,, many tries with many products, you will still see some some brown metal areas, inside tank,, ( and my best easiest method was with a power washer, with soap then hot water) ,, afterward, rinsed with gas, and i changed the fuel filters, after running tank, even though bike was still running good.
neither of bile have liners now, and i see no need from them, in my case anyways,, i may see some hint of brown on the inside, but it seems to give me no ill effects...
I have run the same in line 90 degree fuel filters for years.
The 77 ride, has been running for 13 years, with no tank-rust issues,, ( IT HAS HAD OTHER ISSUES !) the 75 ride, almost 3 years now, with no gas-tank borne issues.
Preston
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It's hard for me to imagine how they used the bags.
