Recommend Me Tank Sealant

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GuzziPaul
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Recommend Me Tank Sealant

Post by GuzziPaul »

The petrol tank on my DT175MX is quite rusty both inside and out. I've rinsed it out with citric acid and there are still a few rust patches inside the tank and I've sprayed some wd40 in it while deciding what to do.
The underside and seams are bubbling with rust as well. I'm not sure how much of a restoration to do. I've had the bike for about 25+ years, iherited from my best mate who was killed in a crash on a different bike. The tank and badges still have the wear patterns from my friend.
I'm not sure whether to completly strip the tank and respray and get new tank stickers or just do the underneath and around the seams which will look a bit more obvious.
Either way I think I need to seal the tank to stop any future rusting/leaks. There seems to be a range of tank sealants from about £18 to £50, whats the difference? aprt from cost?
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KungFooBob
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Re: Recommend Me Tank Sealant

Post by KungFooBob »

My Ducati SS tank had rusty seams internally, which allowed fuel to leak.

I used the full POR-15 treatment (there was three different products in the kit iirc), it wasn't cheap, but it did a brilliant job. Tank looked brand new inside and the leak was gone.

I think it was this one...

https://www.frost.co.uk/por15-motorcycl ... epair-kit/
Le_Fromage_Grande
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Re: Recommend Me Tank Sealant

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

You can get replica plastic DT tanks from Clarke in the USA
Or you could get your tank repaired, but it won't be cheap, try MCS in Brightlingsea
My only experience of sealants is then breaking up in 2nd hand tanks I've bought
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GuzziPaul
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Re: Recommend Me Tank Sealant

Post by GuzziPaul »

Just spent the last 2 hrs striping the paint/rust off the inderside of the tank back to bare metal, there doesn't appear to be any obvious holes. I've put two coats of Rustins Rust converter on and just waiting for that to dry then the underside will be done with Hammerite. The outside of the tank will just be touched up where necessary as I want to keep the patina. Its never going to be a nut and bolt restoration as I still want to use is fror green laning and playing in the snow.
The POR-15 was the one I fancied so thats the one I'm going for
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Re: Recommend Me Tank Sealant

Post by Jody »

Bit of a derail, but does anyone know of a sealant that works on plastic tanks?
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Re: Recommend Me Tank Sealant

Post by ZRX61 »

Jody wrote: Tue Apr 06, 2021 9:13 am Bit of a derail, but does anyone know of a sealant that works on plastic tanks?
Epoxy.
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GuzziPaul
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Re: Recommend Me Tank Sealant

Post by GuzziPaul »

Used the Por15 kit to do the tank. Spent a Friday and Saturday morning degreasing the tank shaking it every hour with half the degreaser nleft in over Friday night and the rest Saturday morning. The degreasing got a lot of rust and crap out despite me having already cleaned it once with citric acid. The drying between treatment took a lot of effort, with the tank in front of a fan heater and me pointing a hot air stripper into the tank.When it was dry I dropped a bit of chain in to try and get of bit more rust off the inside. I spent 20mins shaking the metal prep around the tank which got even more rust out.
The liner is an epoxy/silver paint. I put duct tape round the petrol cap thread and over the hole with a large bolt in the petrol tap hole. Pouring the liner in I didn't think there would be enough but after spreading about 10mins moving the tank through all angles there was quite a bit still left as liquid when I peered in. I suspended the tank upside down for a couple of hours for it to drain. You then have to leave it for 4 days to harden which is today.
Took the duct tape off tonight and epoxy has got into the thread of the so I'm going to have to scrape that out. The metal prep is reusable so I have saved it and will use it on the Guzzi this winter.