white tank refurb.

robfromga · Post by **robfromga** » January 8th, 2011, 5:00 pm

My white tank looks pretty sore. Looks like its had a 20 year bath in Ga red clay....which it probably has. Any ideas how to get it white again? I tried to wet sand it, just got smooth and tried the Mothers head light restore and that didn't do anything.

Tharrell · Post by **Tharrell** » January 8th, 2011, 6:16 pm

The Georgia clay probably has something to do with it but the gas has a lot to do with it.
I bought a white 5 gal fuel container and it sat for 3 weeks with straight gas and it stained pretty bad.
Even the vintage guys don't really have a solution other than coating the inside and painting the outside.

robfromga · Post by **robfromga** » January 8th, 2011, 6:36 pm

Tharrell wrote:The Georgia clay probably has something to do with it but the gas has a lot to do with it.
I bought a white 5 gal fuel container and it sat for 3 weeks with straight gas and it stained pretty bad.
Even the vintage guys don't really have a solution other than coating the inside and painting the outside.

Didn't think about the fuel. Was under the impression that you can't paint it? The gas fumes would kill the paint in weeks

robfromga · Post by **robfromga** » January 8th, 2011, 6:57 pm

Did some google work and sounds like its fuel stained, no help but the only thing is maybe dye it red.

Post by **AlisoBob** » January 8th, 2011, 8:15 pm

This stuff does wonders sometimes...

robfromga · Post by **robfromga** » January 9th, 2011, 5:59 am

Bob, I poured 3 cups into the tank and it didn't do anything.....and now the dam bike wont start! Wtf?

But seriously rub a dub scrub or try to let it set on it?

Gmbond · Post by **Gmbond** » January 9th, 2011, 6:47 am

My 1995 tank was awful. The previous owner had graphics on it that had held dirt under the glue and made it all spotty different colors plus they had tried to trim the stickers to fit so using a razor they had left nice score marks all over which had filled with dirt/grime and looked awful.

I started with 80grit on a random orbit to take down to the scoring and did the whole tank to even it out. Once I got most of the stains and mess cleaned up I worked up thru grits to get it smooth and finally wet sanded with 400grit. Then used a wool pad on a high speed buffer with car polish (cutting compound). All it it looks great from 5 feet. Any closer and it starts showing some flaws but for a bike that gets ridden it was good enough.

Tharrell · Post by **Tharrell** » January 9th, 2011, 7:58 am

You can try this guy but it's gonna cost you.
Probably cheaper to get a new one, no easy fix.

http://www.plasticrenovations.com./index.html

pstoffers · Post by **pstoffers** » January 9th, 2011, 8:19 am

Gmbond wrote:My 1995 tank was awful. The previous owner had graphics on it that had held dirt under the glue and made it all spotty different colors plus they had tried to trim the stickers to fit so using a razor they had left nice score marks all over which had filled with dirt/grime and looked awful.

I started with 80grit on a random orbit to take down to the scoring and did the whole tank to even it out. Once I got most of the stains and mess cleaned up I worked up thru grits to get it smooth and finally wet sanded with 400grit. Then used a wool pad on a high speed buffer with car polish (cutting compound). All it it looks great from 5 feet. Any closer and it starts showing some flaws but for a bike that gets ridden it was good enough.

You were on the right track you just got off to soon with the sand paper. You need to get the sand scratches down to 1200/1500 and it will polish out

Post by **AlisoBob** » January 9th, 2011, 9:22 am

robfromga wrote:Bob, I poured 3 cups into the tank and it didn't do anything.....and now the dam bike wont start! Wtf?

You dont know how funny that is!!! Awhile ago somebody posted a thread from another board where some guy poured radiator stop leak into his tranny ( or some shit like that, I cant remember exactly what it was...) and was wondering why his car stopped.

Anybody remember that???

Surpizingly, it didnt involve Brit.....

britincali · Post by **britincali** » January 9th, 2011, 10:23 am

He poured barrs headgasket fix into the oil fill and wrecked his motor, how about the guy that put 2 bottles of NOS energy drink into his sportbike

Post by **AlisoBob** » January 9th, 2011, 10:32 am

britincali wrote:He poured barrs headgasket fix into the oil fill and wrecked his motor, how about the guy that put 2 bottles of NOS energy drink into his sportbike

Forgot about that one!!!

Nice going Brit, so much for the THC / Memory loss myth.

90cr500guy · Post by **90cr500guy** » January 10th, 2011, 6:26 am

after sanding the tank use a heat gun to get the shine back.
Don't store with fuel in the tank.
I always wash my bike with soft scrub with bleach as PM.

BannedCR500Riders.com

white tank refurb.

white tank refurb.