HI All

a few weeks ago I tested my repaired 3HW tank which did not show and leaks after it came back from dent repair works, So went on and painted the tank, done the markings (maltese camo) filled the tank last night as I was going to test run the bike this weekend and now I have a very small wet spot on the bottom left seam,
Any advise in tank sealer would be very helpful please or am I looking to strip the paint back and start again

email (option): carl.chezz@cwgsy.net

All depends where the leak is! if its on a seam or underneath you could clean back the area and solder it, I done this to my WM20 tank which had a hairline crack at the rear of tank near saddle so you got soaked in petrol.I just cleaned it back to bare metal and using a large soldering iron ran solder over the crack then touched in paint , this was done around 3 years ago and is still good.. Dave

I have done the same to my pin hole(s)
Like Dave said, strip to bear metal and then solder it.
Done it over a year ago, and it's not leaking any more.
Had a bad experience with tank cure sealer, and ethanol in modern fuel.

Menno

hi Carl,
If you go down the tank-sealer route, I would suggest Caswell. A very nice lining that (if applied correctly) will see you in good stead. Next option for me is Red Kote. Cheaper but maybe not quite as good. It all depends on what you can get - whether you in the UK or USA. Anyway, both of these liners are pretty good.

email (option): cas.vanderwoude@gmail.com

I've had good luck with the Bill Hirsch tank sealant, they sell a motorcycle tank size kit with the degreaser,etch, and sealant.

email (option): msawicki@mailer.fsu.edu

Try soldering - you need a good acid flux and a good soldering heavy duty spldering-iron for this to be effective.

Then try PetroSeal or whatever its called (from local car shop) - basically a metal filled epoxy which i have found to be EXTREMELY effective.
I've also used metal filled Plastic-Padding before now.

I would not resort to a lining the tank - i've had and heard nothing but trouble with this process.

I lead wiped the bottom of the A 10 tank that looked like a sponge it had so many holes.
Worked a treat.
Rode with it raw for a tad too long because I was not sure that it would hold but it did.
Washed out the tank with a very agressive detergent and stripped the bottom.
The lead actually flowed quite a lot inside as well as under the tank.

email (option): bsansw1@tpg.com.au

I recently sealed a couple of leaks in my ES2 tank using instant metal/2 pack resin, which works brilliantly and doesn't burn your paint off. I only used a smudge in the right place and you can smooth it over with a wet finger, then touch up the area with paint. I also did this on my Trident tank over 25 years ago and its' still petrol tight.

email (option): horror@blueyonder.co.uk

thanks for all your help guys , I went with a 2part epoxy which is Fuel and ethnol proof so will see how we go

Regards
Carl

email (option): carl.chezz@cwgsy.net

I don't think the sealants are particularly problematic now that the manufacturers have got on the case with ethanol resistant products...

I'm inclined to repair tanks that have been stripped to bare metal but once they are painted and particularly if it's a chrome plated tank, sealant is the least destructive option...Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

Ian - i tend to think that the problems with tank-lining compounds, are caused by the inability to properly clean/prep the parent metal.
As a result the epoxy doesn't really adhere to the inside of the tank.

I also suspect its used as a bodge - where the inside of the tank is so flaky with rust NOTHING would adhere for long.

I have used them with success - on the inside of a tin-plate Brought-Superior oil/petrol tank (an internal leak, almost impossible to repair any other way) and inside the CCM GRP tank (starting to break up) - but not really had any success with rusty steel tanks (easier to cut rotten bottom out and start again).

I have however been very surprised by how good PetroPatch is !!!

Up untill the 60's a lot of tanks were made from Tern plate which is a lead lined seel sheet.
It was also used in most cars.

POR 15 tank sealer wors very well .
Epoxies do not bond particularly well to steel no matter haw clean it is.

email (option): bsansw1@tpg.com.au