Rusty fuel tank

So, the Morini has developed a bit of a rusty patch on the side of the
fuel tank - about half way along the length, just above the bottom
seam on the left hand side. It seems to be a thin patch as the paint
hasn't blistered and I can't feel any movement in the metal by gently
pushing it with my finger. But there's a patch where the fuel is
coming through the paint - not dripping, but enough to moisten your
finger when you touch it. It's discoloured the paint in about an inch
circle and making the garage smell "petroly". I first noticed this
just before Xmas and I petsealed the inside of the tank, hoping that
would sort it, but it hasn't worked.

Does anyone have any contacts for anyone who could fix this? I have a
painter who can probably rematch the area, or redo the whole tank if
needs be (though he's not cheap so if anyone knows anyone else, advice
gratefully taken). Best of all would be someone who can fix and
repaint the whole shebang.

Failing that a ssound second hand Morini tank?

Cheers,

 

A replacement tank is probably the best and cheapest bet. There's that
Petseal stuff, but I've always regarded that as a temporary bodge, given
that the tank is so corroded that it's actually leaking.

The alternative is to get a decent bodyshop panel beater[1] to cut out
the rotten section, reweld in a new section, make good, and then have
the whole thing professionally refinished.

[1] Try a car bodyshop place. Seriously. They're used to this sort of
work, albeit on a larger scale.[2]
[2] A mate with a Healey 3000 had two new wings hand-made from scratch,
out of aluminium, by a bod whose only tools were a set of hammers and
tin-snips[3]. Cost something silly like ukp170 per wing!
[3] Like many ukrm-ers[4]
[4] Except for the tin-snips.

 

I noticed that Message-ID:

Don't they need to be able to get to the back to beat?

 

eh???

 

I had a similar problem with the Guzzi, the bit behind the badges.
Classic Guzzi spot.

I used a Scotch/3M adhesive that was resistant to petrol. It looked and
smelled like evo-stick and came in a black and green tin. I just put
half a tin in the tank, kept it moving until it had coated the interior
and drained the excess out. Then left it to dry. Had to use a drill bit
to clear the fuel outlet stubs.

Its held up for the last 8 years.

Sorry, I can't for the life of me remember its name.

 

Speak to Elite Engineering. They will probably be able to give you back a
completely repaired and refinished tank. Was talking to them yesterday and
they were telling me about an old BMW tank they did repair work on due to
the number of Russian Army bullet holes it had in it.
They are in Bootle, Merseyside: 0151 922 8314

 

They have the tools. At least a proper panel beater will.

 

Hrmph. Not good. 'glass the tank and stick it on ebay ?

TOG's suggestion would be a possiblity if you can find someone who'll
tackle a fuel tank - most panel beaters probably won't.

I'd normally recommend the guy who painted two of my bikes, who AFAIK
should be able to do the panel work as well. Trouble is, he's badly
messed up his leg and is probably still not able to work. Paul
Carmichael probably knows, alternatively drop me an email to the
'normal' address (i.e. not this one) and I'll try to dig out his
email.

Oh, I should probably mention that he isn't cheap either - his quote
for doing TOG's monkey bike in the proper colour was in
TOG-gets-heart-attack territory.

Phone NLM, they should have a few in stock. Get it vapour blasted and
respray properly and Bob's your mother's brother. Probably the
cheapest solution in the long run.

BTW, did you get the manual?

Cheers,

T.

 

Wot, twenty-five quid??

 

Sounds just like the sort of bike Timo would buy.....

 

Sweet. Thanks.

 

muttered

No worries. I sealed the tank on my SOT100, must be 15 years ago with
some sort of pet seal - tank wasn't holed but there was a constant
need to wash fine rust out of the fuel filters - been as good as
goldl, it has. But it didn't work with the Morini tank - probably too
far gone...

Oh well.

 

Timo @ work muttered

Or glass the bloke I bought it from? No, it's only just cropped up -
it was fine for the first few months of ownership, and I know the bike
was stored under a cover in the side alley to his house for a year or
two after he moved up to Stamford - the bike was restored in London
by Phil Smith when the bloke lived about 1/2 a mile from where I do
now...

Ebay, probably the best option if I get a replacement.

Heh. So - more than a pound then ;-)

Should think so, really. Probably better than faffing about as I
intend keeping this bike for the foreseeable future...

Surely did, sorry should have emailed you. Many thanks, it's going to
be put to good use. I've bought and fitted a set of Dial-a-ride shox
to the Morini and took it out for a test run on Sunday (when I noticed
that the petrol tank "repair" hadn't worked). Very nice indeed - good
and supple so the back of the bike isn't unsettling the front when I
hit bumps mid corner any more. Well chilly on Sunday and the back
lanes were fairly wet and slidy, but I was having too much fun to slow
up much. What a fun bike....

 

The Older Gentleman was seen penning the following ode to ... whatever:

Yeah, by about a factor of ten...

 

The Older Gentleman was seen penning the following ode to ... whatever:

Gabriele was just looking over my shoulder and suggested that you're
right...

*sigh*

 

Backbeat. Rock'n'roll. It's a youth thing, old man.

But you can't get there:

http://www.backbeat.co.uk/

 

Two pahnd fifty then. Sounds about right ...

 

around the inside of petrol tanks and once hardened it will stop further
corosion and seal your leak.> --

 

POR-15 if you don't want to repaint

Thanks,Ripper
We Need DEATH SQUADS in the USA to Get Rid of Terrorists AND Street
Gangs!