Gas Tank Rennovation

I am getting close to finishing up the Maxim's rennovation. I have rebuilt the carbs but still need to wet set, install and synch/adjust. In the mean time with warm temps here today in Southern Maryland I thought I would do the POR-15 kit I got for the tank.

I had noticed a "scar" on the outside on the tank when I bought the bike but didn't realize it was coming from the inside out. The bike had sat for ~20 years before I got ahold of it and on first inspection the tank looked pretty clean inside as it had been "drained" before it was put to sleep. Guess it wasn't FULLY DRAINED... Check out the nice smooth and even lines, inside and out. Any suggestions short of welding?



Close up of the outside...


Second set of holes on the underside of the tank...

 

Honestly?

Find a solid tank.

 

Hang that tank in the garage for wall decoration and find another one.

 

Fitz is right on this one. Trust me, I know this from experience For every hole you try to fix, you'll find three more.

You may be making a joke, but I cut my first tank in half and I'm making a clock out of it!

 

Too hard to weld a patch on it without it looking like a bad zit afterwards besides who know where else the tank has holes in it. hitting it with a welder you will be chasing rust and very thin metal.It aint no fun

 

I wonder If anyone makes an inflatable bladder for motorcycle fuel tanks. Like you stick it in there, blow it up with air so it forms to the insides of the tank, and then it cures in place.

 

The problem with the inflatable bladder is that the sharp edges left by the rust would puncture the blader allowing it to deflate before having a chance to cure.

There are some good tank sealers available (Por-15, Caswells, Dragon blood). When the tank is prepped properly. These sealers create a liner in the tank keeping rust from destroying the tank.

Whatever you do. Stay away from Kreem tank sealer. It will start to peel within a couple years, and require more work to strip it out to apply a good tank sealer.

Ghost

 

An epoxy liner (is POR-15 epoxy?) will seal that up. Put a strip of tape over it and line the tank. Remove the tape and do your cosmetic work.

Concern I would have is if over time the repair might stress crack in that area and leak. Only one way to know for sure. :wink:

 

Tip a bag of small round pebbles in the tank, then launch it off a bridge.

 

LMAO wizard , but good advice . Thank you ghost i was about to look into Kreem

 

I want to see it..........

 

As soon as I'm done with it, I'll definitely post pics!

 

Thanks to all for the feedback. I think for now I will put the bike (and tank) in a "time out" in the corner of the garage and let it think about what it's done. I may even throw a blanket over it, just like I do with my kids...