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Post by SuzukiRE5 on Jun 28, 2008 20:35:03 GMT -5
After seeing Tim's really nice RE5 on the Sundial board, my interest in these bikes seems to be getting stronger and I want to get mine on the road.
First thing I have to do is get the leak in the gas tank fixed. I got the petcock and the sensor out of the tank a few minutes ago and will seal up the holes tonight or tomorrow to prepare for the Por 15 treatment.
A thread on the Kaw Triples Worldwide message board mentioned this procedure recently. The user got some of the Por15 on the gas tank and the paint was ruined. Others mentioned that they have spilled some on there tanks and nothing happened as long as they wiped it off fairly quickly.
I'm concerned about this happening to my original paint so I am going to be very careful when I do this. I hope it works out ok.
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Post by gttim on Jun 28, 2008 23:54:37 GMT -5
First, thanks for the kind words on my bike. Still have a way to go until I will be totally happy with it. I will watch your progress with interest as I have never repaired a rust through damaged tank. I have experience second handed (not my bike) with Elizabeth Radiator..they did excellent work. Here is their contact info. Bill Sovitski is the owner of Elizabeth Radiator in Elizabeth, PA. Bill offers excellent fuel tank repair at reasonable prices. He uses a plastic material called Red-KoteĀ® which is superior to other methods. This process locks in surface rust and prevents further rusting. In addition to this coating service, he can help if you need more extensive tank repairs.
Bill's process requires the removal of the pick-up screens from inside the tank.
Expert radiator repair is available as well.
Elizabeth Radiator 1550 Hayden Boulevard Elizabeth, PA 15037 (412) 384-5310 Web: www.elizabethrad.com/
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Post by SuzukiRE5 on Jun 29, 2008 1:51:19 GMT -5
Hey Tim, I certainly can thank you for helping me to get my butt in gear and trying to at least get my RE5 ready to be put on the road. I had been slacking off on it the past months, concentrating more on the triples. When you put the pics of your RE5 on the board and all the guys commented about the bike and the characteristics of it, that is all it took. I want a cycle that I can take for a cruise and that is why I got mine in the first place.
I'll definitely post my progress with the tank. My 1 week vacation starts Monday so hopefully I can make some really good progress with many things on the bike. I have to get this gas tank done so I can at least start the bike again. After that I have to fix the master cylinder and possibly the calipers and it also needs front and rear tires and the water temperature gauge fixed as it doesn't work. I think that is everything.
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Post by suzsmokeyallan on Jun 29, 2008 19:57:31 GMT -5
To safeguard getting any Por15 on the paint you could wrap the tank in some plastic and seal around the neck with duct tape. This should be good enough for the duration of the pouring process. Recently i used a product from Autozone (cant remember the name now) to remove some minor surface rust from inside a tank. Its a slow dissolving rust removing gel that wont etch the metal like stronger chemicals do. I put some in a tank i was cleaning and added a bit of water which allowed it to thin out a bit. A quick slosh around every 10 minutes or so and in about an hour the tanks interior was really clean. This would be good for an internal surface prep before the Por 15 is applied since it will allow a really good bond.
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Post by SuzukiRE5 on Jun 29, 2008 23:14:18 GMT -5
I like the idea of the plastic. I will do that. The Por15 kit comes with a product called Marine Clean that is supposed to clean the inside of the tank before putting in the sealer. I will probably use that as long as I have it already. The parts of the inside of the tank that I can see look like brand new. Amazing shape. I emptied out what was loose inside of the tank and got a small pile of rust dust. I wish I could see what the inside of the tank looks like where the pinhole is but I can't. I imagine it looks pretty bad there.
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Post by SuzukiRE5 on Jul 5, 2008 9:06:35 GMT -5
I finished up with my H2 yesterday and rode it for the first time in 2 months. Now for the RE5. Here is a pic of the small hole in the bottom of the tank that caused my problem with the leak. I hope the Por15 takes care of this.
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Post by SuzukiRE5 on Jul 7, 2008 19:32:40 GMT -5
I have the inside of the tank washed out and am now almost ready to start with the Marine Clean. All I have to do is seal off the holes where the petcock and fuel sensor goes along with the bolt holes. Don't know how I will accomplish that yet. From what I am told if the sealer hardens where the holes and threads are, it is a pain to remove it. Maybe get more bolts to screw in while doing the clean and then remove them as soon as I am done? Don't know about blocking the large holes where the petcock and sensor are. Any ideas? Maybe duct tape will work for all of this except for the threaded parts.
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Post by tom93gts on Jul 7, 2008 20:12:16 GMT -5
Maybe you can find some rubber stoppers, or large vacuum nipples to jam in the larger holes like the petcock and fuel sensor?
Thats a tiny hole, hopefully it seals up nicely.
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Post by SuzukiRE5 on Jul 12, 2008 0:13:41 GMT -5
I have the holes taped up with duct tape and have the tape up into the screw holes also. I want to see how it holds before I use the Marine Clean. I'm going to dilute the marine clean, probably 2 to 3 parts water to one part cleaner and do multiple cleanings until what I pour out of the tank is clean. I'm also thinking of going to Home Depot or a local hardware store to see if they might have something better to use to plug the holes, like you suggested Tom.
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Post by RE5Gary on Jul 27, 2008 19:16:30 GMT -5
I finally tried my first soak with the Marine Clean. I diluted this first try heavily just in case it leaked. Sure enough, the duct tape came loose and it leaked out of the petcock and sensor holes after about a minute.
I'm stuck here. I'm not going to ruin the gas tank over a pinhole leak. I'll sell the cycle with the leak in the gas tank before I allow that to happen. I'll have to see if I can find someone creative who can fabricate something up to block these holes.
I'm getting very discouraged over this. I know I am going to ruin the gas tank if I continue the way I am doing it now.
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Post by Jess on Jul 27, 2008 19:46:27 GMT -5
Gary,
Take some aluminum sheet and fabricate some blanking plates for the petcock and fuel level sensor.
Use a high quality gasket sealant and attach the blanking paltes with a smear of sealant.
Let dry for two days and you should have no problems using marine clean and then coating the tank.
Whatever you do... don't use kreem. It stinks.
I use Bill Hirsch coatings... They work great.
With some patience, you'll do fine.
Best,
Jess
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Post by RE5Gary on Jul 29, 2008 1:12:19 GMT -5
I'll see what I can come up with. This tank has been sitting here since April. I want to get it done so I can at least get closer to getting the bike on the road. I have had it for almost 2 years now. Thanks for your reply.
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