Do I need to seal my new alloy tank?

gortnipper · Oct 30, 2016

I have a new/unused alloy tank from madass which I got second hand. It has never had fuel in it.

I can get e-free petrol here in NZ, and typically run it. But, occasionally, I run some e10 for one tank.

Would it be recommended to line my alloy tank with Caswell?

concours · Oct 30, 2016

DO NOT seal it, pressure test it with 3 PSI & soap bubbles. IF there should happen to be a previously undetected pinhole, a 5 second TIG torch repair is the best choice.

cjandme · Oct 30, 2016

concours said:
DO NOT seal it, ....

I'd have to second that advice. It should be good to go if it is from Don. :mrgreen:

let me add that I have on old Roadster tank that a previous owner and OVER pressurized and really messed it up. So, if you do pressure check it, keep the pressure low. All you need is enough to get the soapy water to blow bubbles out of any pin holes that it might have.

gortnipper · Oct 30, 2016

I tested it by filling a hot bath and holding underwater for a couple minutes. No bubbles.

Fast Eddie · Oct 31, 2016

Add me to the list of those saying NO!

nickguzzi · Oct 31, 2016

And another...
Albeit mine was for a Laverda. (sorry for the non Commando content).

gortnipper · Oct 31, 2016

Sweet. All y 'all are telling me not to do something I really didn't want to do anyway...

Brithit · Oct 31, 2016

I stripped some Kream out of a alloy Commando tank I recently got as part of a bike deal. The strange part is that it doesn't leak one drop, so it wasn't like they were trying to avoid getting a leak welded. Just beautiful inside once I got all that snot removed.......

Deets55 · Nov 1, 2016

Brithit said:
I stripped some Kream out of a alloy Commando tank I recently got as part of a bike deal. The strange part is that it doesn't leak one drop, so it wasn't like they were trying to avoid getting a leak welded. Just beautiful inside once I got all that snot removed.......

Don,
PM sent

madass140 · Nov 1, 2016

for some reason PM's are not showing up in my inbox, its not full so I cant reply to PM's until I sort this out
Don

acotrel · Nov 1, 2016

Some fuels which contain ethanol might cause corrosion if bacteria such as cladosporium resinae or aspergillis niger get active. It happens in aircraft tanks if there is a water and petrol interface and appears as pitting and a slime which can block fuel systems. If you think you might have your bike standing around for long periods with fuel in the aluminium tank, it might be worth giving it a rinse out first, with a chromate conversion coating such as Iridite or Alodine 1200.

https://advancedplatingtech.com/aluminu ... -services/

Mr. Rick · Nov 1, 2016

Or in case the Iridite and Alodine 1200 don't show up on yr grocery store shelf, you might just be able to keep it cold and prevent growth.
Neither of these organism seem able (yet) to tolerate temps below 5C or above 45C.
"The optimum temperature for growth of the kerosene fungus on an agar medium is reported to be around 30°C with a range from 5-40°C. (Hendey, 1964; Parbery, 1971a; Sheridan, Steel and Knox, 1971). There is one report of an optimum at 37° C. (in Parbery, 1971a). None of the New Zealand isolates so far studied would grow below 5° C. or above 45° C. (Tan, unpublished)."
http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarl ... dy-d4.html

acotrel · Nov 2, 2016

Any metal finishing shop that does work for the aircraft industry. All you want is a bit in a bottle. You are not supposed to wash the waste down the drain.

Do I need to seal my new alloy tank?

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