Thread #2 on repairing my Honda.

As mentioned in the "Suspension" thread, I also need to clean out my carbs and delouse the fuel tank.  It got really rusty and sludgy after sitting there for several years.  I tried to clean the heck out of it when I refurbished the bike in December '06, but apparently it is still shedding microscopic rust atoms through my fuel filter into the pilot/idle jets.  This theory is based on discussions with Randy McCarter.  The engine won't idle at all and will barely start, but if I get it past idle it will run at higher revs, so I'm sure Randy is right.

He recommended using a tank cleaning and sealant kit called POR-15.  I've heard of this stuff before and it's supposed to be really good, so I'm going to pick up a "Cycle Tank Repair Kit" tomorrow and have a go at it.  Randy said he'd never done it personally, but knows others who have had good results, so he thought even I could possibly handle it.

Anybody done this kind of thing before??  I assume there are a few tricks to it and many ways to screw something up, but I'll see what the instructions say and hope for the best.

The guy doing the Monza is doing the tank with POR 15, he highly recommended it.
I think it's messy & is a 3 stage process, consuming time...
Sure you don't want Randy to do it for you?!?

I have never tried it but it does sound familiar. I have used the Tank Creme (sp?) stuff several times over the years. The last bike I resurrected was my 1990 Kawi ZX-11 back in 2004 and it's tank was for shit. Used the Creme stuff (minus the sealer), sold the bike to a friend's son with a disclaimer about the tank, they bought it anyway and sure enough he had problems. Bingo, $800 for a new gas tank. Can't believe they could still find a new one for a 1990 bike! Oh well, the rest of the bike was perfect so they knew what they were getting into.

It is a semi messy job for sure. The POR-15 stuff sounds better than what I used. Where do you get it?

Quote from: General Charming on August 21, 2008, 03:09:04 PM
The guy doing the Monza is doing the tank with POR 15, he highly recommended it.
I think it's messy & is a 3 stage process, consuming time...
Sure you don't want Randy to do it for you?!?

I had EVERY intention of Randy doing it, but since he hasn't done it before either and he didn't sound highly thrilled about it, I might as well learn how to do something new.  Not to mention the total cost with the kit and his labor, he observed that this would be getting into some money.  Nice of him to be that way about it.

Here's what's in the kit.  I believe you are correct, 3 stages and I predict very messy.  Yuck.  With my luck, I will either drop the tank while I'm shaking up the goo, or I'll dribble it on the paint and douche it out.

Each Kit Contains:

MARINE CLEANâ,,¢ to remove gum, sludge, varnish
METAL READYâ,,¢ to remove rust & prepare tank for sealer
U.S. STANDARD TANK SEALERâ,,¢ creates a permanently sealed tank
  CLOTH PATCH for sealing large holes or reinforcing weak areas
  BRUSH for applying patching system to exterior of tank
  DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS to take you easily through each step of tank restoration

Quote from: fastwin on August 21, 2008, 03:15:06 PM
I have never tried it but it does sound familiar. I have used the Tank Creme (sp?) stuff several times over the years. The last bike I resurrected was my 1990 Kawi ZX-11 back in 2004 and it's tank was for shit. Used the Creme stuff (minus the sealer), sold the bike to a friend's son with a disclaimer about the tank, they bought it anyway and sure enough he had problems. Bingo, $800 for a new gas tank. Can't believe they could still find a new one for a 1990 bike! Oh well, the rest of the bike was perfect so they knew what they were getting into.

It is a semi messy job for sure. The POR-15 stuff sounds better than what I used. Where do you get it?

Randy said the Cream isn't near as good, it tends to flake off and clog up your stuff.

I had to do a search on the google, and the English Color stores in the area carry some of the kits.  The store in Duncanville had the Cycle Tank Kit.  You can also order it straight from the POR-15 website, but I'd like to "mess" with it this weekend. 

I'm getting "excited" to ride again.  Have not two-wheeled since the Hill Country trip and my mojo is all out of sorts.

try any off road shop or jeep outfitter.........POR15 is very popular with Jeep Owners.  It comes in quarts and gallons, but is usually painted on using a brush or roller, after the marine clean and metal ready of course......how do you do the inside of a gas tank??  Hope you have adequate ventilation!  Stinks like hell....  we bought ours from www.quadratec.com

coming from the jeep background i have know plenty of ppl who used por-15 on their frames and such.
it does a kickass job with rust.

i say we do this after a couple beers on the labor day weekend!   

and you're always welcome to ride the SS around town...just let me know.

I REALLY hope I can get it done this weekend. Got my kit yesterday. Looks like the chemicals are really nasty so should be a good mad scientist lab experiment! 

i repeat......lots o ventilation 

Quote from: her baby daddy on August 23, 2008, 07:24:06 AM
i repeat......lots o ventilation 

Ventilation... Do they make that at Miller Brewery?

dunno check w/ richd

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HONDA-CBR900-GAS-TANK_W0QQitemZ120297171543QQihZ002QQcategoryZ35586QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

pretty good price so far

Quote from: Ronr on August 23, 2008, 06:29:50 AM
I REALLY hope I can get it done this weekend. Got my kit yesterday. Looks like the chemicals are really nasty so should be a good mad scientist lab experiment! 

Shake N Bake, Baby