I was sooo mad!

[muukow]

I was so mad today after the replacement tank I was working on still leaked! I ha dso much trouble with that damn thing it fought the whole way,when it leaked again today the bike was close to being an Ebay parts special :-\ But after coming back here and reading I'm going to stick it out until I find another tank I can start over with! I' going to tirn the othe other on into a mail box! I think it can hold mail!I haven't had the Vision to ride all summer and I miss it,but there is a 79 650 at the end of the street and it is looking very tempting 8)!

[QBS]

Idea for you:

1.  Locate all leaking spots and clean area around them to bright and shiny condition.

2.  Acquire POR 15 tank lining kit.

3.  Apply kit materials as instructed by kit.  During initial tank cleaning process block, any way you can, all holes to keep the cleaner from leaking out.

4.  When tank is is cleaned/treated and ready to receive POR 15 liner liquid, from the outside of the tank, stuff cotten tightly into all tank holes.

5.  Apply POR 15 liner liquid as directed.  Be sure and get liner liquid well into bottom of the tank where the holes are stuffed with cotton.  Dribble some of the liner liquid onto the cotton from the outside of the tank. Let sit undisturbed for a week or so.  Two weeks is better.

6.  The POR 15 should now be quite hard, perhaps even brittle.  Gently sand the exposed POR 15 soaked and cured cotton down to just a little above the level of the tank metal, not quite level to the surface of the tank steel.

7.  Test for leaks

[Tiger]

What are you using to fill the holes?? Have you tried lead solder ??

              8) ....... TIGER ....... 8)

[fret not]

He said to stuff cotton in all the holes, then apply the POR 15 to it all.  Thus soaking the cotton with POR 15, which gets hard and sanded level to the outside surface of the tank.  Pretty good idea if it works.

[Tiger]

He said to stuff cotton in all the holes

I mean before Q's post...However, lead solder would work pre-POR15  ;)

                      8) ....... TIGER ....... 8)

[Lucky]

can't stress how importaint it is to find ALL the holes first too.  these tanks often look like swiss cheese when stripped.  We are doing Spectre's tank & we are going over the bottoms with fiberglass.  ethanol softens resin, but the tank will be PORed too.

[Cdnlouie]

Tank repair is perhaps the most difficult aspect of motorcycle restoration  >:(. People have been known to go suicidal as a result, so do not keep any loaded guns in your house!  While there are many approaches most only result in a temporary repair (a few months/years at best).  You have to make peace with this or get a new tank.

In addition to the good ideas expressed in various places and times here, do not neglect to properly evaluate your tank (those hand video snakes would be a good choice) before launching into any of these proposals.  What may work well for someone else largely depends on the inside condition of the tank. If you only have rust in the lower corners the best idea is to cut them out and weld (solder/braze) in some new metal for strength and long term durability.  When all the rust is removed then do a tank liner and hope for the best.

Using epoxies and fiberglass do work, but not as well. Lucky's idea of using POR on the inside is good idea to keep the ethanol away from the epoxies which will degrade the material.  Using the POR requires the removal of all the rust or it will be temporary too.  The ideal use of POR is in a preventative role rather than restorative unless you can guarantee the base is solid and clean.

The conclusion of the matter is that you need a clean/solid tank before having a hope of making it safe to use, or for a long and happy Vision life. If rust is throughout the tank then it is probably hopeless for the average Joe.  Consider also the prospect of your house burning down due to a gas leak in your garage. A nasty tank has the potential to bring on more than merely suicidal thoughts, try to find a good one and build your Vision around it.

I feel yer pain  :( ( been there done that, and got a new tank).

[muukow]

This tank was baad! When I got it back from being dipped you could see through it! I welded the holes I could and used por-patch on the spots that were too thin,got to hold the metal ready and. Stuff but there was something in there the por would not stick to.I've done many tanks and this was the first failure I think it was to far gone!

[spectre]

Oh, don't even get me STARTED.
My tank... -.o  :o It's being a huge pain, the repairs are tedious, time consuming, messy and a pain in the @$$.
I just can't wait till I'm finished so I can paint it and go,
"Yeah, that's my bike, I did all the bodywork myself  ;D "
I'm almost ready to ride, but this tank will be the death of me. (lol Cdnlouie)