Question for any painters out there

rz500

rz500

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At the beginning of the season I spent a tremdous amount of time and effort on my gas tank. I took the time to smooth out the entire tank with alot of high build primer and sanding. The tank was the painted Yamaha factory blue base/clear. It looked awesome until half way through the season. The paint started to bubble in a couple of spots. It has continued to get worst to the point that the joke amoungst my riding friends is "My sled has warts".

My question is: Is it possible for the gas vapour to seep through the plastic and cause the bubbles? I do not want to repaint the tank if this is going to happen again. If this is the issue, is there a product available that would seal the tank? Epoxy primer? Thanks for the help.

IMG_1454.jpg
 
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rz500 said:
At the beginning of the season I spent a tremdous amount of time and effort on my gas tank. I took the time to smooth out the entire tank with alot of high build primer and sanding. The tank was the painted Yamaha factory blue base/clear. It looked awesome until half way through the season. The paint started to bubble in a couple of spots. It has continued to get worst to the point that the joke amoungst my riding friends is "My sled has warts".

My question is: Is it possible for the gas vapour to seep through the plastic and cause the bubbles? I do not want to repaint the tank if this is going to happen again. If this is the issue, is there a product available that would seal the tank? Epoxy primer? Thanks for the help.

IMG_1454.jpg
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the gas vapors are the problem,thats my thoughts anyway.i,ve seen that a few times on plastic dirt bike tanks.you can,t even get stickers to stay on the bike tanks,they also become full of warts. hopefully some one knows a fix for it cus your tank looks great in blue.nice job.
 
Yes looks pretty cool.I cant see if it has peeled down to the tank or it looks like the primer.

There is sealers , flexagents and adheashion promoters that can be used for products like the urathane bumpers on cars.

Is it more a flexing of the tank than bleading through.Mabie the paint they use on plastic in cars would be better.
 
I believe it is the fuel vapors seeping through. On the dirtbikes I had with an aftermarket vinyl graphics kit, there was little 1/16" holes every inch or so on the part of the sticker that was on the actual tank. The rad shroud vinyl was solid with no holes in it, so this leeds me to believe that the fuel tank needs to "breathe".
 
rz500 said:
snip - My question is: Is it possible for the gas vapour to seep through the plastic and cause the bubbles? I do not want to repaint the tank if this is going to happen again. If this is the issue, is there a product available that would seal the tank? Epoxy primer? Thanks for the help. snip -
Click to expand...

I think your problem is permeation through the plastic.

You might try an internal sealant that's used to seal steel tanks which requires etching the steel prior to it's application. Since it's used to seal up partially corroded steel tanks and not stop permeation (steel tanks aren't proned to permeation), I'm guessing you'd still have permeation. Not sure how it'd work on a plastic tank but I'm guessing your options are very limited.

Your tank does look nice though... for now.
 
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Thanks for the replies guys! I recieved many questions about this sled, so I started a new thread in the SRX/Viper forum. Any further insight in to my paint dilema is appreciated. I would hate to go back to a black tank at this point.

Here is an updated photo of my tank. As you can see it is starting to get pretty bad!

IMG_1515.jpg
 
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i'm guessing that is why the tanks are black. you would almost have to make a new tank out of blue plastic to really make it work. don't think that is going to happen.
 
Maybe a stupid suggestion....Why couldn't you take another tank, cut it in half, and bond it over the top of your tank? Kind of make a false top for it.
POR 15 is a coating I have used in some harsh conditions. Maybe coat the tank with that and then paint.
 
Your problem is definately permeation of the gas fumes. That is why fuel goes bad so quickly in sleds & bikes & gas cans made of plastic. Yuo would be surprised how much longer feul stays "good" in a steel tank or can. I like the idea of using a stock tank & somehow using your smoothed tank as a shell over that.
 
fuel tank

Your issue is diffently permiation, the tank is made from single layer HDPE (high density polyethelene), same plastic your milk jugs are made from. Why is the tank black? because that is what yamaha wanted, they could have made it in other colors. Color choices just cost more money in material, labor, and inventory. Another issue is the material, HDPE it is one of the plastics that you can't clue or paint.
There is a treatment that can be applied to the interior to reduce the permiation, it is a Air Products process called florination but it won't eliminate the permiation 100%.
Time to find a replacement black tank.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions guys. It looks as though a simple repaint is not the sollution. I am not sure what I am going to do at this point. When I first painted the tank I was not all that keen on the way it looked. Over time the blue really grew on me. It looks as though it is going to have to go. The idea of a cover is interesting. I would be curious to know how much of a market there would be for fiberglass covers? The saga continues. I will keep everyone posted on the out come.

Thanks

RZ
 
I think it looks great and is very original. Maybe you could try to make a fiberglass shell over the summer? Wrap the tank in some sort of plastic cellophane, use fiberglass matting and resin, let it sit. Use some body fill over the top. You could blend in the contours or "smooth" it out. I personally love the look. Stick with it. You will figure it out.
 
I would try a couple layers of fiberglass right over top of the tank, then use some body filler, then paint it. Or try to find some sort of really durable, thick coating that you could paint a few layers on, to help seal it, then try painting over that?????? Worth a try I think, looks really nice by the way ;)!
 
Would it help at all if the paint had an extended period of time to cure? I mean if the tank was empty and vented prior to painting, and then left alone for a while? I know I painted a tank on a mini- bike and it did the same thing, just wondering now if it was allowed a lengthy time to to cure, if it would help?
 
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