sticky gunk on amal slides

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dynodave said:
AFAIK GP resin is gasoline PROOF. Old fashhion GP (general purpose) polyester resin is dissolved by ethanol, the glass fibers are immune to "E". I spent over 10 years trying to source a resin type material that resisted BOTH gasoline and ETHANOL. Only the novolac epoxy/vinylester resin sold (at the time) by Ashland chemical in Ohio, claimed to do the job. Two of the 3 blends were approved by the US coast guard for use with E-10 use in boats. Mainly for flame suppression properties. I bought the 3rd generic type.
It was a process developed by another company then sold to Ashland , and now sold to a company in India :(
I do not believe in the long term protection of slosh type chemical linings. The resistance to gasoline and ethanol is NOT guaranteed in print by the manufacturing company. It is documented as ocassional contact ethanol"resistant" NOT ETHANOL PROOF.
novolac epoxy/vinylester resin is I believe what a very few tank makers use ( I have a 5 gallon pail to try it out)
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reposted edited version
 
In the UK there is a distinct difference between proof and resistant.

Proof means no reaction at all

Resistant means it will stand up for a period of time or a maximum concentration.

Think of waterproof vs water resistant. Waterproof means it does not let water in, water resistant will have a depth say 8m where it will stop water but beyond 8m it will leak.

Now look at all the blurb given out by the various coating sellers.
 
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batrider said:
One of our local Norton club guys was able to seal his Interstate tank by carefully cutting the bottom out, coating everything with Caswell's and then reattaching the bottom.
Fiberglass tanks only good for holding your ashes later on...
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Fully agree. Untill I see more than a "caswell" sticker on a repackaged product, like a manufacturers test results and certification would I treat it more than a stop gap elixer that "hopefully" is more than "resistant".

Kommando
agree IMO it is about the meaning of words and not a particular country and lawyers
It is ALL about : Resistant VS Proof

Keep that sticky stuff off the carbs and valves and rings etc
 
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A mate lined his fastback tank and all was well for a while
Then the petrol managed to seep in around the filler cap neck
Then it got between the liner and the tank with the usual results
Although the liner was still intact
 
cliffa said:
So far so good.
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baz said:
for a while
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baz said:
got between the liner and the tank with the usual results
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baz said:
petrol available in the UK melts fiberglass tanks fuel pipes carburettor O rings
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Is what baz has called "petrol" really 100% petroleum gasoline or really misidentified as ethanol containing?

NO-E (real 100% road legal gasoline blend) in the USA is getting very scarce to buy. In the USA the government technical term is "spark ignition fuel" but is more currently and commonly known as E-10.
NO-E is available at the airports for legal use ONLY for off road or OPE outdoor power equipment & airplanes.
NO-E has not hurt my OPE carbs hoses orings.
E-10 is very distructive and definitely has detrimental effect on norton plastics, rubbers and certain metals(amal) are hurt by the corrosive addition of water to the ethanol.
 
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UK fuel is typically 5% ethanol, but I think 10% is on its way?
Some 'super unleaded' (97-99 RON) fuel is ethanol free, but not across the whole of the UK. With a dab of Tetra-boost it works great in tuned motors :)
Avgas (100LL) isn't too easy to come by either - most regional airports will only pump fuel into aircraft, so some 'knowledge' required as to where to go.
 
I have a FG fastback tank, purchased new from Burton Bike Bits, on my Commando since 2008. I sealed it with Caswells before its first filling with fuel. No issues at all. Whether that's due to the resin, claimed by BBB to be suitable for ethanol or the Caswells, I can't say. Only gas that has ever been in it is "standard" gasoline from whatever station was near when I needed gas.
 
So you/Brits actally are getting mostly E-5 soon to be E-10. We/USA currently mostly have E-10 but green politics VS much of the population, fight over the proposed E-15 implementation. Virtually all modern MC manufacturers won't warranty E-15 damage.

MM?
Real gasoline or I don't know?
THE BBB tanks, if correct, may well be the novolac/VE resin blend. In which case would seem to me (IMO) be more reliable than the caswell brew. My first repop tank will be the replica Dunstall slimline tank.
 
Dave,
California governor is working on a plan to eliminate all fossil fuel burning vehicles sold by 2035. At that point the Commando will be a museum piece. At least the question of fiberglass tank won’t matter at that time.
 
Fingers crossed on the testing dynodave has planned. Two of my three fiberglass tanks are really nice and go on bikes I have (69' and 71')...... replacing them with steel tanks, including painting, decals, and incidentals adds up in a hurry.
 
Rod R said:
Fingers crossed on the testing dynodave has planned. Two of my three fiberglass tanks are really nice and go on bikes I have (69' and 71')...... replacing them with steel tanks, including painting, decals, and incidentals adds up in a hurry.
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Even at $60/hr shop rate, any idea the cost of my dunstall tank to:
1. make the multi section mold, dress and prep it for production of a single repop
2. manufacture the metal BSP inserts(2) and molded in steel mounting studs(3)
3. make new copies with novalac/vinylester resin.
4. Join the tanks halves, dress, install new gascap, finish decals

I'd be shocked if the first copy came in under $2000.
I would not even consider a volume production tank for making a fiberglass copy.
I do already have molds for the fastback tank, decal version, but otherwise only the custom Dunstall commando tanks would I consider doing from scratch.
 
cliffa
I have a Morini with a fibre glass tank and lined it with this a year ago. So far so good.
from the quoted page:
Armour coat product "A"
so we went back to development and created the 100% ethanol-proof Flowliner Armour Coat that we provide today.

Good luck,
hope it works. Be nice to know what the chemical brew is. Would like to see some actual test results and data.
 
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Rod R said:
That's interesting, thanks for posting that information. I have 3 fiberglass tanks that have not "yet" been attacked by ethanol. I am really interested in what your testing shows, thanks in advance for sharing your results.

Has anyone else had any success lining a fiberglass tank?
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I lined my original 1968 tank with Caswell about ten years ago. So far so good.
Oh dear, what have I said!
 
illf8ed said:
Dave,
California governor is working on a plan to eliminate all fossil fuel burning vehicles sold by 2035. At that point the Commando will be a museum piece. At least the question of fiberglass tank won’t matter at that time.
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NEW vehicles sold by 2035. This will not ban used fossil fuel vehicles being sold nor will it eliminate gasoline being sold as a fuel for
our museum pieces.
 
I have serious doubts that I'll be around to concern myself with what bozos like newsom(whatever) plan for their Utopian world of the future. However.... I am concerned with how their current ruining of perfectly good gasoline has brought about the demise of many beautiful Norton fuel tanks bringing pain and worry to the unfortunate owners..... along with unnecessary costs.
 
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