sealing tank with Red-Kote

[Eville Rich]

In my effort to sort out a no-start issue, I've emptied the fuel tank on my 1987 K75S.  Sloshed water to clean things up a bit. I'll do a rinse with acetone.  I'm then planning to use Red-Kote to seal things up and prevent potential future leaks (no leaks now).  Right now, the inside of the tank looks really good.  I don't see any of the varnish that others have shown.  There was some relatively minor debris but nothing major, IMO.

In rinsing the tank with water, I found it difficult to get the last bits of water out.  It's dry now, largely by a combination of a hair dryer and sitting over the week.  But the two main holes - the filler hole and sending-unit hole have a lip or are somewhat raised from the surrounding surface. It made getting water out a bit of a challenge.  With Red-Kote, you need to drain the excess out and avoid it pooling in the nooks and crannies.  I'm wondering if there's a better way to drain the tank of fluids than relying on the filler hole or sending-unit hole.  For using Red-Kote, I'm going to be closing off the various fuel hose openings with tape, which Red-Kote won't stick too (or can at least be pulled off of).

Thanks for any insight/advice.

Eville Rich

[Laitch]

Thanks for any insight/advice.

There are photos in various threads on this site of tanks prepared for coating. Record with photos how you do it so you can help others if the outcome is successful.

[Eville Rich]

It's not water that's the issue. It's the excess Red-Kote that needs to come out and avoid pooling that is the issue.  I'd think using a sponge on that would defeat the coating.

To avoid pooling I am thinking of using small amounts of Red Kote thinned a bit with acetone. That would avoid much in the way of excess to drain.  Two thin coats appears to be a viable option

Eville Rich

[The Mighty Gryphon]

Instead of Red Cote in a sound tank I would, going forward, just make sure I don't let the bike sit idle with moonshine in the tank for more than a couple weeks.  Winter storage only requires a full tank of corn-free real gas and some stabilizer and a bit of Techron.

You've done a good job cleaning, just make sure you don't let water sit in there and you'll be okay.

[Laitch]

In my effort to sort out a no-start issue, I've emptied the fuel tank on my 1987 K75S.  Sloshed water to clean things up a bit. I'll do a rinse with acetone.  I'm then planning to use Red-Kote to seal things up and prevent potential future leaks (no leaks now).  Right now, the inside of the tank looks really good.  I don't see any of the varnish that others have shown.  There was some relatively minor debris but nothing major, IMO. Thanks for any insight/advice.

+1 to the Mighty Gryphon.

After reading your post again, my advice is to cancel this procedure. If your fuel tank is clean as you've described, if its various vents and ports are clear and if there is no sign of paint beginning to blister along the lower seams of the tank, it isn't the source of your no-start issue but might become one if you don't diligently follow manufacturer's instructions or interpret them in an unintended way.

The fuel tank will stay clean if it has fresh fuel run through it often. It will stay clean if it is stored with conditioned fuel—corn or no corn fuel hasn't mattered to my bike, but it's special  :Rabia: —for approximately six months or less. For longer periods, store the tank empty with good air circulation, or empty and well-sealed.

If you intend to proceed in your quest for tank immortality, be certain all ports are sealed. This post shows a small hole in what the post's author refers to as a burrito of the roof of the tank. If your bike has one of those, be sure it's sealed.

[Eville Rich]

Well, I certainly like the advice of "might be better to not do it."  Saves me a ton of time and a bit of risk if Red-Kote goes wrong.  But what am I going to do with the extra gallon of acetone I've got?  This sort of goes against my tendency to take a deep dive, but in truth, it's not that big a deal to pull the tank should a leak ever emerge.

Maybe I'll just get it buttoned up, get the engine going and go ride around some before snow falls.  I've got a new sending unit I'll be installing, which should solve my no-start issue (continuity at between the plug and sending unit).  I'll fix up the old one as a spare for the next 30 years. 

Thanks everyone.

Eville Rich

[Laitch]

But what am I going to do with the extra gallon of acetone I've got?

That will help with meth production, should you go that route.

[Eville Rich]

That will help with meth production, should you go that route.

And there goes my plausible deniability.   :eek: