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Sb6r fuel tank liner info please
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Horseheed



Joined: 31 Aug 2018
Posts: 37
Location: Co Durham

PostPosted: Wed Mar 13, 2019 6:13 pm    Post subject: Sb6r fuel tank liner info please Reply with quote

Hi, could anyone give help and advice on what sealer to use for the dreaded fuel tank problem pleas ? It looks as if my tank needs sealing but I don’t know the best sealer to use. Many thanks
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brian



Joined: 22 Aug 2011
Posts: 3769
Location: Australia

PostPosted: Wed Mar 13, 2019 11:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

What makes you think it needs sealing? Maybe it just needs a good clean out.

I’ve not tried this yet but I plan on giving it a go in the near future with a slightly rusty and scaley steel tank..... Put a couple handfuls of 1/8” nuts inside it, wrap the tank up in blankets, shove it into a cement mixer bowl and give it a spin for 20 minutes.
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'99 DB4 #104, '96 SB6 #1165, '94 DB2 J #652, '99 DB4 #088, '08 VTX1800, '93 ZXR750R M1, '95 ZXR750, '95 ZXR750 Race Bike, '94 CBR400rr NC29 Race Bike, '94 CB250, '49 BSA C10 250, '61 BSA A10 650, '89 ZXR750, '91 Ducati 851


Last edited by brian on Wed Mar 13, 2019 11:55 pm; edited 1 time in total
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brian



Joined: 22 Aug 2011
Posts: 3769
Location: Australia

PostPosted: Wed Mar 13, 2019 11:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

As far as tak liners.....

I’ve never used one, but I’ve heard people talk about using a product called POR-15. As with everything, you’ll hear good and bad reports about it, depends on the person doing the job I think.
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'99 DB4 #104, '96 SB6 #1165, '94 DB2 J #652, '99 DB4 #088, '08 VTX1800, '93 ZXR750R M1, '95 ZXR750, '95 ZXR750 Race Bike, '94 CBR400rr NC29 Race Bike, '94 CB250, '49 BSA C10 250, '61 BSA A10 650, '89 ZXR750, '91 Ducati 851
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Horseheed



Joined: 31 Aug 2018
Posts: 37
Location: Co Durham

PostPosted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 1:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Brian, I've just removed the carbs for a clean and noticed what looks like a very light grey substance on the inlet ports , I've not cleaned the carbs yet but I have noticed messages on the forum about trouble with the inside of some tanks causing problems. Cheers
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brian



Joined: 22 Aug 2011
Posts: 3769
Location: Australia

PostPosted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 7:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Horseheed wrote:
Hi Brian, I've just removed the carbs for a clean and noticed what looks like a very light grey substance on the inlet ports , I've not cleaned the carbs yet but I have noticed messages on the forum about trouble with the inside of some tanks causing problems. Cheers


In that case I definitely wouldn't use a liner sealer yet. I’d give it a good clean out, clean the carbs and put a cheap inline filter in. Give a run for a couple tank of fuel and see what the filter looks like
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'99 DB4 #104, '96 SB6 #1165, '94 DB2 J #652, '99 DB4 #088, '08 VTX1800, '93 ZXR750R M1, '95 ZXR750, '95 ZXR750 Race Bike, '94 CBR400rr NC29 Race Bike, '94 CB250, '49 BSA C10 250, '61 BSA A10 650, '89 ZXR750, '91 Ducati 851
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brian



Joined: 22 Aug 2011
Posts: 3769
Location: Australia

PostPosted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 7:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I’ve never used a sealer because I’m worried that down the track the sealer will cause more trouble than the original problem! If done correctly with a good quality product, I guess it would be worth a try as a last resort on a problem tank. I’m going to give my cleaning method a shot eventually though.
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'99 DB4 #104, '96 SB6 #1165, '94 DB2 J #652, '99 DB4 #088, '08 VTX1800, '93 ZXR750R M1, '95 ZXR750, '95 ZXR750 Race Bike, '94 CBR400rr NC29 Race Bike, '94 CB250, '49 BSA C10 250, '61 BSA A10 650, '89 ZXR750, '91 Ducati 851
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Jonny B Bad



Joined: 05 Dec 2009
Posts: 555
Location: NE London

PostPosted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 8:22 am    Post subject: SB6R tank Reply with quote

I've had this problem across a sufficient number of 6Rs to conclude that there is no escape from it, even if you use BP Super unleaded, which it is claimed does not contain ethanol. Blocking jets in the carbs with a grey paste is the beginning and then the tank starts to swell, so that you can't get the carbon battery cover on without a real fight.

I have lined a number of tanks, but success is constrained by low ambient temperatures in this country - you need mid-twenties centigrade to get the liner to flow sufficiently well to coat the entire inside of the tank. I now use twice the recommended quantity on a very hot day to try to achieve coverage and the problem has not recurred - at least not to the extent of blocking the carbs so that it won't idle properly anymore. But using excess material brings it's own problems in terms of draining the excess out of the tank, before the stuff sets very hard indeed.

Having said that, one of the tanks I lined some years ago, when I was still using only the recommended amount of material, has just started to run rough and I suspect the problem has returned, although I've yet to open it up to inspect the carbs.

The real solution here is to commission a run of alloy tanks. This would be expensive per tank and prohibitively so, unless it was a run of say ten or more - even then you will be looking at in the region of £1,000 per tank. Perhaps 6R-owning members of the forum would indicate their interest and any recommendations as to anybody they might know who would want to quote for the business. There are one or two firms in the UK I've looked at, who look like they could do it, but I've yet to provide any of them with a plastic one for them to price the job up.

I would advise against trying to solve the problem by paying £1000 or more for a NOS plastic tank - probably money down the drain!

So let's here from the 6R community please.
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stockcar



Joined: 07 Apr 2011
Posts: 836
Location: in the shadow of the "angel"

PostPosted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Brian they dont use STEEL tanks...............

Ethanol in general is the bain of modern motoring, classic wise anyhows...

we can source a product that helps neutralise the Ethanol that you use as an additive in your fuel
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GeeKay



Joined: 29 May 2009
Posts: 1767
Location: West Yorkshire

PostPosted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I use a specialist company in Hartlepool who have cleaned, repaired and lined quite a few metal fuel tanks for me. But when I asked them about my Triumph T595 plastic tank they just shook their heads and said I was on my own with that one. T595 tanks are made by Acerbis in Italy - same company that made most of Bimota's plastic tanks
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brian



Joined: 22 Aug 2011
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Location: Australia

PostPosted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 11:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

stockcar wrote:
Brian they dont use STEEL tanks...............



Yep, I realize that mate. When I mentioned the steel tank I was referring to the method that I plan on using to clean a steel tank out. Still worth trying with a plastic tank, just might need to choose a different media to do the cleaning. I have no idea if POR-15 or any other sealant would work on a plastic tank
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'99 DB4 #104, '96 SB6 #1165, '94 DB2 J #652, '99 DB4 #088, '08 VTX1800, '93 ZXR750R M1, '95 ZXR750, '95 ZXR750 Race Bike, '94 CBR400rr NC29 Race Bike, '94 CB250, '49 BSA C10 250, '61 BSA A10 650, '89 ZXR750, '91 Ducati 851
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Spongebob



Joined: 03 May 2016
Posts: 144
Location: Oxfordshire

PostPosted: Fri Mar 15, 2019 3:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Talk to Frost's Restoration products. They market POR 15. I think it definitely works for fibreglass but not sure about plastic. I have used POR15 on an alloy tank on a Harris. The preparation takes far longer than the application but it worked and i have had no problems in 2 years now.

On my own SB6R i completely drain the tank when it is going to sit for any period of time.
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Bud977



Joined: 03 Mar 2013
Posts: 525
Location: Sydney

PostPosted: Fri Mar 15, 2019 7:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The problem with lining the plastic tank is that if there is any porosity or a uncovered area, the fuel will get behind the liner, swell the plastic and could separate the liner from the tank.

It sounds like draining the tank after each ride would be a good short term option.
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Horseheed



Joined: 31 Aug 2018
Posts: 37
Location: Co Durham

PostPosted: Sat Mar 23, 2019 9:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Many thanks for all the reply’s , all much appreciated. Cheers
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Weed



Joined: 29 Dec 2013
Posts: 250
Location: Perth Australia

PostPosted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 2:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have used Red-Kote to seal a steel tank & was very successful. It is one of the few sealants that is approved for use in aircraft fuel tanks. It is a single pack sealant & can be used to re-coat a tank if required.
I think it should be fine for other fuel tank materials but you need to check.
Acetone can be used as a thinner if required or to clean up spills.
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Weed



Joined: 29 Dec 2013
Posts: 250
Location: Perth Australia

PostPosted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 2:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have used Red-Kote to seal a steel tank & was very successful. It is one of the few sealants that is approved for use in aircraft fuel tanks. It is a single pack sealant & can be used to redcoat a tank if required.
I think it should be fine for other fuel tank materials but you need to check.
Acetone can be used as a thinner if required or to clean up spills.
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