I realize this is posted outside the paint section, but I figured the post may get a few more views this way.
I'm looking for a good (yet not terribly expensive) person/shop to fix several paint issues I've had. A few months ago, I sent my tank to a local body shop to get repainted. They completed some body work (Bondo) and shot it with paint. After taking the tank home and filling the tank with gas, the paint began peeling along the gas cap opening and bubbling along the middle seam. The shop stripped the tank back down and told me it had hairline cracks along the seam which they proceeded to weld. Again they completed the body work, primed and painted the tank ensuring the paint would be good. However I've continued to have issues. The paint once again began peeling from under the gas cap. Rather than leaving the lip along the opening for the gas bare, they painted all the way over it so the gas is simply eating away at the paint. I've also noticed the paint seems very sensitive. It isn't nearly as durable as I would have expect (or had with my previous paint). It scratches and nicks very easy and has even pulled off along the seam along the top. To make matters worst, I had to reline the tank after receiving it back the second time because the previous liner had pulled away from the top of the tank after it was welded. Unfortunately I must have spilled one of the chemicals on the top of the tank when relining it which ate away at some of the clear coat.
At this point, I'm calling the $ I've already spent sunk cost however I'm hoping not to have to repaint the entire tank as amount I can spend is limited. I have $350 in the tank painting so far. I'm sure you can imagine, I really don't want to bring it back to the same shop. Side note, I dropped the tank off the first time at the end of October and have had a total of about 4 weeks riding time since this started.
I am willing to ship the tank to anyone who knows what they're doing. This bike is a rider so I'm not in need of 'show' quality, but I would still like quality work. I would need a pretty quick turnaround if at all possible.
1966 CA77 - Black
I'd really appreciate any help you guys can give. Thanks in advance.
Assistance Needed | Months Of Dealing With Paint IssuesI don't think I'd want to leave any of the old paint. I'd either do some of the work myself to save some money (sounds like you are capable) or I'd look into getting a nice ready to go tank.
I'm not sure what they are going for but I sold a really nice Hawk tank not long ago for around what you paid to have yours painted. Go to Wal-Mart and get some "Aircraft stripper". It will take all the old paint off. Then make sure the tank has no imperfections or foriegn substances on it. They make a bare metal prep.
I don't know that you're going to be able to escape that problem of the paint lifting from under the gas cap (even if they leave it bare under the cap). I had the same issue with my SuperHawk tank when I first got it repainted, and it was suggested to me at the time that I don't fill the tank up quite as full as I had been doing. What happens is as you're riding, the gas is getting splashed around, and is making its way between the gasket of the cap and the lip of the filler hole of the tank (seems that even if the gasket is new, it will still do this). Then it starts to get under the paint, and then the paint lifts. Plus, the way that the tank is designed (no filler neck), it's inevitable that the paint is going to do that (just from my personal experience with my tank). If you check out my 'Japan Meets Britain' thread in the Customs/Racers/Choppers section, you'll see the solution that I came up with -- a bit more involved than you'd probably want, and not original, but it does solve the problem.
I wonder if you could have a filler neck/collar put into the tank without altering the exterior look of it? What have others done to solve this issue?
filler sealWhen I was putting my bike together I was aware of this problem from forum posts. So I mixed up some epoxy and painted/globbed it around the filler neck, smoothing it with a finger dipped in rubbing alcohol. Looks funky but you can't see it with gas cap on. No problems after a few years and a few thousand miles. I always wipe off any spilled gas immediately after filling and leave a little space at top of tank (ie, don't fill all the way to top).
good info here: http://www.honda305.com/forums/viewtopi ... &highlight I got one of the modern gas caps, part #17620-402-010 from local honda dealer and it works fine, doesn't leak.
'62 CB77. "It's a rider."
A couple things I have learned over the years painting gas tanks:
-strip to bare metal and clean, clean, clean. -next-- do your tank inside cleaning/lining -learn about the paint system you will be using and make sure everything is compatible contamination even under primer can come back and bite you later. -mask off the filler neck down almost to the flat of the tank before any primer/paint, leave it bare metal -after paint is dry, swab super glue around the filler neck down to cover the transition from paint (or clear coat if using two pack) -get a NEW rubber gas cap gasket -wait as long as you can before putting gas in the tank, preferably weeks not days. -even then, when first filling a new painted tank, mask it off with plastic to prevent any drips from that leaky gas can filler tube -remember, the gasoline we are getting now ain't the gas grampa was getting. It can damage even cured paint. always have a rag handy when filling up and don't fill clear to the top, no matter what you do, the tank vent can still leak if exposed to splash. -I have been using two pack paints for quite a few years with no paint failures at the neck sticking to these guides. Good luck Randy
I'm not sure what color you have but have you considered having it powder coated? The only problem I would see is if the tank has a significant amount of bondo. There are hi-temp fillers available for use with powder coating but they can be a little difficult to work with as they typically don't sand as easily as auto fillers.
The bake cycle would ruin any liner currently in the tank, but if you are starting over anyway I think it could be an option.
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