Orange coating inside tank?

[ShutterPilot]

My 1981 R65 has an orange coating inside the tank. I've Kreemed tanks before, but never saw anything colored orange. It actually looks factory, as its real even throughout.
IS this factory, or more likely some ancient well performed tank coat done by a PO?
Poking around here and elsewhere online almost points to a factory prep, but not enough hits on "tank coat" or "orange tank prep" to tell...
Thanks for any info anyone has.

[Barry]

Mine has the original coating. I'd describe it as more red than orange. I heard it was red lead paint. Not how accurate that is.

[montmil]

That's the original tank liner coating. Count yourself lucky if it's in good shape and not flaking off.

Either way, a filter in the fuel line is always a good idea. All my bikes have the small, sintered bronze, see-thru filters sourced from the lawn mower section at the Big Box stores.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Emptying the fuel tank once a year and letting it dry completely is a great way to preserve that lining.
This gets rid of any water that may be lying at the bottom.

[ShutterPilot]

Thanks all - reassuring to know that the orange/red stuff's supposed to be there.
There are some areas "missing", I assumed flaked off. Very small, like scratches here and there where I can see.
There's a clear plastic fuel filter inline now, but race rules say I need a metal one, so I'll see what I can find at the autoshop.
Snowbum says to look for 350cc/min. flow rate on his site, so I'll check for that after a new filter fitting.
Tank empty and dry is next, being as its too cold and dark for much else, and I have no idea what fuel/age is in it (smells ok and runs fine tho)

[montmil]

... race rules say I need a metal one, so I'll see what I can find at the autoshop.

We'll all be very interested -or at least I will be- to see how you handle the metal fuel line's attachment at the Bings. There may be just the tiniest bit of carb movement due to the Bingos being rubber-mounted at the intake ports. Metal fatigue or leak possibilities? Then again, maybe they won't jiggle. Suggest you confirm all with the tech folks before spending extra bucks.

[Luca]

I think he just needs a metal fuel filter, not hard fuel line.


The fuel tap should have a metal screen in it.  The later, updated version, puts the screen in the tank, before the valve.  The Germa tap my bike came with put the screen after the valve (letting the valve get full of crud and even plugging my reserve on the side of the highway once).

I still use a plastic in line filter to be safe, but with both my old and new fuel taps I never saw anything make it past the metal screen.

[montmil]

Oh. Never mind.