Rusting tank! :(

[Adamastor]

Hi!
Sorry if I am publishing too many threads, but it's that my R65 doesnt like to leave me without anything to do/think/make eheheh [smiley=cheesy.gif]

Anyway, I love my tank paint job, but have found on the bottom  right side of the tank, there are little paint bubbles that simply weren't there not so long ago.
Since I heard that these tanks can rot from the inside because of water on gas, I got a bit worried. What should I do before it's too late and I get a hole on my tank? I really wouldn't like to mess my paint job.. could I simply empty the tank and apply one of those rust converter products inside? Would those products react when I insert gas inside again?

Thanks in advance for your help/advice...

Sergio

[bruce_launceston]

Google for 'POR 15 motorcycle tank repair'. Their kit is claimed to be able to neatralise and seal small rust holes.

I have used the product but I have never has a tank with rust bubbles showing through.

There are a few other similar products/kits available as well.

[Adamastor]

Thanks Bruce, I will try to find that product... I doubt I can find it in Portugal, never seen any "Por" product around here, but should be able to find on ebay..
Each day I love my R65 more, and dont want it to ache in a slow rusting death :p
Any other similar products that could be easily found in europe?

[Lucky_Lou]

These guys ship worldwide
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/POR-15-Motorcycle-Fuel-Tank-Repair-Kit-Restore-Fix-Seal-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem5ad8a42c34QQitemZ390181694516QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools
Dont apologise for posting questions thats what we are here for...
Lou

[Adamastor]

That seems pretty professional, Lou.. thanks for the link

I have however good news, I scrapped those rust bubbles and found it to be exterior rust, and have already done a small treatment. I didnt ruin the paint job much (down there you almost dont see it).
I have been looking inside and there's also some superficial rust. I decided to give vinegar a chance!  
I bough 2L of vinegar and poured inside (no gas inside, obviously) and tomorrow will insert small metal pieces (bolts, screws, etc) and shake it like a cocktail

Wonder what will be the outcome...

[Patrick_Krivacka]

i've used Por 15 with very good results (old honda dream, not the r65) Just follow the directions to the letter and it's a piece of cake. I've also Had good results with vinegar, so that's worth a try.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

I recently read that you use vinegar to remove the factory-applied lining.

If that is what you hope to do, it should work.

Then apply the POR product.

[Justin B.]

I have used several different liners kits and the POR-15 is by far the best, IMHO.  Follow the directions to the letter, though...

[darrylri]

I have been running a POR-15 lined tank on my 1953 R51/3.  It seems to be an excellent product and I've had no problems with it for the last couple years.

However, I would hardly call it a piece of cake -- I thought it was a lot of work.  And it was a good thing I was having the tank painted because I probably would have cried when I noticed the little drips of the really effective paint stripper running down the side of the tank...

But the results were totally worth it.

[Adamastor]

Good morning everyone, I am afraid it is not so good for me...

I went to remove the vinegar and clean it up with water and found out that the little bubbles I had noticed outside converted indeed in little holes Maybe they were micro-holes before and with the vinegar cleaning the rust they became big).
The only good news is that now I can see clean metal inside the tank...

My question now is: what is the best and easy method to close them, would some product like cold solder work? (they are really tiny, but you can see the leak with the tank full)
Would that por-15 solution close the holes or it just makes a protective skin?

Sergio

[Adamastor]

I found another por-15 auction closer to me:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220604667606&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

Doesn't seem exactly the same, is it?

Regards,

Sergio

[Bob_Roller]

The POR 15 directions claim that pin hole leaks will be sealed with their sealer .

You need to get all of the rust, and all of the old red liner out of the tank, or the POR 15 sealer won't get a good bond to the metal in the tank .

[darrylri]

The POR-15 "paint" is very thick.  The R51/3 tank has two small crossover tubes near the back on the bottom, and I ran some house wire through them to ensure that they would stay open.  I think it would fill pin holes OK.

[Adamastor]

I did some research trying to find a fast solution at local stores, but had no luck. I will have to order from abroad... It's better to do it well now and dont worry about it for a long time..
I found this online store:
http://www.frost.co.uk/item_detail.asp?productID=8222&frostProductName=Motorcycle+Fuel+Tank+Repair+Kit&frostCat=&frostSubCat=&CatID=25&SubCatID=

Since it is at UK it should arrive fast at Portugal.. I will give it a try...

Regards and thanks for all the  sugestions. I might take some photos of the process and post here

I don't ride my R65 for one day and miss it already  

Sergio