Repairing a fibreglass tank

machten · Post by **machten** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 7:19 pm

I'm going to repair a friend's 750 sport fibreglass tank. It has a hairline crack allong the bottom edge of the seam where the base joins the tank wall that seeps fuel. I've got plenty of fibreglassing experience from my surfing days, but the crack is so fine, I'm not sure about being able to get resin into it to seal it.

Anyone got any experience/advice on this? Other less viscous sealant products? What effect if any does the impregnation of fuel into the fibreglass over the years have on binding to it?

Jon · Post by **Jon** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 9:56 pm

I would put a structral patch on the outside and seal the inside of the tank with something to be sure that the fibres are sealed from the fuel.

regards
jon

MartinMille BANNED · Post by **MartinMille BANNED** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:20 pm

Rather than disturbing the hair line fracture why not just tread it with Por15
http://www.ppc.au.com/coatings_sealer.htm it is made for stuff just like this

machten · Post by **machten** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 1:39 am

Thanks for the replies. por13 seems to be aimed at metal tanks. Does it work with fibreglass too?

MartinMille BANNED · Post by **MartinMille BANNED** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 2:37 am

I think they are all based on metal tanks but because it is flexible it should work on glass as well
My glass tank has been done before I bought the bike for the same reason I think this is what they used but I'm not sure on that http://www.caswellplating.com/aids/epoxygas.htm

Aussiess · Post by **Aussiess** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:12 am

All good info, but heres a spanner in the works, what about a sealer that is clear? I need to do my tank (NCR with fuel strip) and certainly dont want a grey colour covering this! Any ideas??
Appreciate any feedback as it must be done soon before i grt problems

Vince · Post by **Vince** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:49 am

My TT2 Pantah replica ended up with a melted glass tank,I was speaking to the Gowy blokes and they recon the new tanks dont do this,maybe coat the tank with what they are made from now,I went back to a metal TL tank and am staying with it.Worth a phone call,if you get a good answer pass it on.

Jon · Post by **Jon** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 1:08 am

Aussiess wrote:what about a sealer that is clear? I need to do my tank (NCR with fuel strip) and certainly dont want a grey colour covering this!

Straight fibreglass resin should do the job;
Mix some up with hardner , pour it in a roll it round as per any tank sealer.

regards
jon

Vince · Post by **Vince** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:17 am

That will seal a crack but my old Fiberglass TT2 tank melted with the use of modern fuel and if your attempting to seal a glass tank it would be useful to kill 2 birds,seal any crack and protect it from the modern soup but still allow the clear strip to work.

MartinMille BANNED · Post by **MartinMille BANNED** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 11:26 am

I had another look for a product as I might be sealing a new glass tank soon and this stuff works on fiberglass and is well priced
http://www.kbs-coatings.com/Tank-Sealers_c_7-1-0.html

Post by **BevHevSteve** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 2:41 pm

Caswell works GREAT and is clear so your stripe will still be there and you can still see through it. I would not use anything else on my glass tank

machten · Post by **machten** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:54 pm

Thanks guys. Good info. I'll let you know how it goes.