Gas tank questions

jrunberg · 11-29-2012, 03:57 PM

Some things I think I know... some things I don't know if I know, you know?

I've got a CB 125 tank here that goes to a bike I've been picking away at. There's wear through the paint and a little rust inside. I could use some sage advice so I don't just stick it back on (in my haste to ride the damn thing).

Pics are at the bottom of the post for reference.

Question 1. There are several places where the paint has worn through to bare metal. As far as I know matching the metallic paint is impossible so I only see three options. Which is best?

Shut up you ninny and just ride it. To hell with rust!
Strip it and paint it. Maybe flat (ooooo, cool) or red (as it's fastest)
Remove the rust, treat the metal and clear coat that sucker several times. And then go ride.

Question 2. There's a little rust forming in the tank. Nothing that's leaking (yet) but I don't trust it. I'm partial to option #3.

Run what you brung. What's the worst that could happen?
There's this stuff called Creme. It might work for awhile.
Bolts and POR-15 for you!

What say you?

ttpete · 11-29-2012, 04:37 PM

Do NOT use Kreem. Today's fuel will destroy it and leave a mess. For the little bit of rust you have, I'd just put an inline filter in and use it. Or you can use a commercial rust remover. If you feel you must line the tank, Caswell is the way to go. http://www.caswellplating.com/restor...nk-sealer.html

KnowFear · 11-29-2012, 04:52 PM

That tank looks pretty good. I would leave it alone. Original authentic finishes make the bike more valuable. Wax it, and run it! The few specks of rust inside the filler neck also don't look bad. If that is the worst of the inside, then I would forget about it.

bmwhacker · 11-29-2012, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KnowFear

That tank looks pretty good. I would leave it alone. Original authentic finishes make the bike more valuable. Wax it, and run it! The few specks of rust inside the filler neck also don't look bad. If that is the worst of the inside, then I would forget about it.

+1...looks pretty good to me too!

HapHazard · 11-30-2012, 06:15 AM

"Picking away at" - I love it.

The paint looks like it's mostly intact and still shines. If it were mine, given that the places that are missing paint are so small, I would get touch-up paint (as close as I could get, slightly lighter than darker if an "exact match" isn't possible and run it. I had good luck at an large Advance Auto store. Or, for a bit more $, an automotive paint supplier (we have a large NAPA that has paint) can mix you up a touch-up color that will probably come very close (either brush on or a spray).

I'd also either do nothing except run a filter for the inside rust, or try Evap-O-Rust. I wouldn't coat it.

Best of luck with the bike!

00_Green · 11-30-2012, 06:40 AM

I wouldn't touch the inside or the outside, and an inline filter most certainly wouldn't hurt. If you feel as though you must clean and coat the inside my personal experience is with POR-15 and I highly recommend it.

caponerd · 11-30-2012, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ttpete

Do NOT use Kreem. Today's fuel will destroy it and leave a mess. For the little bit of rust you have, I'd just put an inline filter in and use it. Or you can use a commercial rust remover. If you feel you must line the tank, Caswell is the way to go. http://www.caswellplating.com/restor...nk-sealer.html

I used kreme in the tank on my R69S back in 1996, and it's survived a good 5-6 years of 10% ethanol going through it.

Kreme gets a bad rap because so many users do a crappy job of preparing the tank.
A handful of nuts and bolts with wd40 isn't the right way to prepare the tank.

And I think the tank looks ok too.

ttpete · 11-30-2012, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caponerd

I used kreme in the tank on my R69S back in 1996, and it's survived a good 5-6 years of 10% ethanol going through it.

Kreme gets a bad rap because so many users do a crappy job of preparing the tank.
A handful of nuts and bolts with wd40 isn't the right way to prepare the tank.

And I think the tank looks ok too.

Progress moves on. Today, there are better materials than we had 20 years ago. I've seen more crummy Kreem jobs than good ones.

jrunberg · 11-30-2012, 07:09 PM

Thanks for all the replies.

Plan, based on comments here and some thinking, is to just wax the hell out of it and ride. That is... after I put it back together this winter.

caponerd · 11-30-2012, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ttpete

Progress moves on. Today, there are better materials than we had 20 years ago. I've seen more crummy Kreem jobs than good ones.

No question that materials have improved over time. Kreem goes back a lot further than 20 years.
But that doesn't absolve incompetent prep work as the reason for failures of tank repairs done using Kreem.
I have three bikes with tanks lined with Kreem going back to 1984 which are all doing just fine, thank you very much. Two of them will never see ethanol, but that's got nothing to do with concern for the integrity of my repair jobs.

bpeckm · 12-01-2012, 03:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrunberg

Thanks for all the replies.

Plan, based on comments here and some thinking, is to just wax the hell out of it and ride. That is... after I put it back together this winter.

...that's the spirit.... definitely would be my choice!!

Meriden · 12-01-2012, 07:03 AM

Use Red-Kote on the inside of the tank. Just be darned sure that you do it in a well ventilated area.

jackd · 12-01-2012, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meriden

Use Red-Kote on the inside of the tank. Just be darned sure that you do it in a well ventilated area.

What is Red-Kote?

ttpete · 12-01-2012, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackd

What is Red-Kote?

That also comes from Caswell. It's what they used before the newer stuff.

11-29-2012, 03:57 PM	#1
jrunberg ^OP Adventurer Joined: Jul 2008 Oddometer: 98	Gas tank questions Some things I think I know... some things I don't know if I know, you know? I've got a CB 125 tank here that goes to a bike I've been picking away at. There's wear through the paint and a little rust inside. I could use some sage advice so I don't just stick it back on (in my haste to ride the damn thing). Pics are at the bottom of the post for reference. Question 1. There are several places where the paint has worn through to bare metal. As far as I know matching the metallic paint is impossible so I only see three options. Which is best? Shut up you ninny and just ride it. To hell with rust! Strip it and paint it. Maybe flat (ooooo, cool) or red (as it's fastest) Remove the rust, treat the metal and clear coat that sucker several times. And then go ride. Question 2. There's a little rust forming in the tank. Nothing that's leaking (yet) but I don't trust it. I'm partial to option #3. Run what you brung. What's the worst that could happen? There's this stuff called Creme. It might work for awhile. Bolts and POR-15 for you! What say you?

11-29-2012, 04:37 PM	#2
ttpete Rectum Non Bustibus Joined: May 2009 Location: Dearborn, MI Oddometer: 3,542	Do NOT use Kreem. Today's fuel will destroy it and leave a mess. For the little bit of rust you have, I'd just put an inline filter in and use it. Or you can use a commercial rust remover. If you feel you must line the tank, Caswell is the way to go. http://www.caswellplating.com/restor...nk-sealer.html __________________ 10 Ducati 1098 Streetfighter S - "Sleipnir" 09 Kaw Versys "The problem with Socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money" _____ Margaret Thatcher

12-01-2012, 07:03 AM	#12
Meriden Yea whatever Joined: Oct 2010 Location: The nearest dot is called Rabbs Prairie Oddometer: 446	Use Red-Kote on the inside of the tank. Just be darned sure that you do it in a well ventilated area. __________________ Faith is nothing more than hope on steroids. Meriden

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11-29-2012, 04:52 PM	#3
KnowFear Adventurer Joined: Feb 2003 Location: Victoria, BC Oddometer: 60	That tank looks pretty good. I would leave it alone. Original authentic finishes make the bike more valuable. Wax it, and run it! The few specks of rust inside the filler neck also don't look bad. If that is the worst of the inside, then I would forget about it. __________________ "Go soothingly on the grease mud, as there lurks the skid demon." (Honda rider manual, 1962)

11-30-2012, 06:15 AM	#5
HapHazard t00 0ld 2b n00b Joined: Dec 2009 Location: Central CT Oddometer: 1,296	"Picking away at" - I love it. The paint looks like it's mostly intact and still shines. If it were mine, given that the places that are missing paint are so small, I would get touch-up paint (as close as I could get, slightly lighter than darker if an "exact match" isn't possible and run it. I had good luck at an large Advance Auto store. Or, for a bit more $, an automotive paint supplier (we have a large NAPA that has paint) can mix you up a touch-up color that will probably come very close (either brush on or a spray). I'd also either do nothing except run a filter for the inside rust, or try Evap-O-Rust. I wouldn't coat it. Best of luck with the bike!

11-30-2012, 06:40 AM	#6
00_Green Adventurer Joined: Jul 2011 Location: Atlanta & Memphis Oddometer: 55	I wouldn't touch the inside or the outside, and an inline filter most certainly wouldn't hurt. If you feel as though you must clean and coat the inside my personal experience is with POR-15 and I highly recommend it.

11-30-2012, 07:09 PM	#9
jrunberg ^OP Adventurer Joined: Jul 2008 Oddometer: 98	Thanks for all the replies. Plan, based on comments here and some thinking, is to just wax the hell out of it and ride. That is... after I put it back together this winter.