Why is my paint doing this?

DogT · Mar 23, 2014

Primer/MetalSpecks/clearcoat, all DupliColor brand on fiberglass. The panels haven't done that. It appears to be happening all over the tank.

Dave

comnoz · Mar 23, 2014

That is normal with modern fuel and a fiberglass tank. Jim

commando6868 · Mar 23, 2014

Put the tank on a shelf, get a metal one.

MF

bwolfie · Mar 23, 2014

I used a the same paint over a metal tank, doing the same thing. I just uncovered the bike and it's worse than last year. The side covers went first, crazing in the clear coat. This year the tank started doing it. I think the spray bomb job is a short term solution. It turned out really nice when it was done, but it just does not last. I'm currently gathering up body work and will do a proper paint job on an Interstate and Roadster set for mine.

dennisgb · Mar 23, 2014

My guess is that most Dupli-Color is acrylic laquer. Laquer continues to shrink through most of it's life. The fiberglass tank may add expansion and contraction to that equation but most likely it is just the laquer shrinking.

B+Bogus · Mar 23, 2014

dennisgb said:
My guess is that most Dupli-Color is acrylic laquer. Laquer continues to shrink through most of it's life. The fiberglass tank may add expansion and contraction to that equation but most likely it is just the laquer shrinking.

+1

Aerosols aren't great for longevity in the first instance, and different paint types rarely mix well for very long.

Damned shame - it looked great too

DogT · Mar 23, 2014

No modern e fuels, just avgas. And also no one has addressed why the panels are not doing it, but I did use lots more clear on the panels, like 8-10 coats, or maybe it's just that the panels are smaller and have less expansion/contraction. I'm assuming it's mostly the clear, but that doesn't make any sense either.

I have to say the price was right though, less than $50 and it did look fine for a while. I may try it again with the 2 pack clear.

Dave

Hobot · Mar 23, 2014

Postby dennisgb » Sun Mar 23, 2014 8:18 am
My guess is that most Dupli-Color is acrylic laquer. Laquer continues to shrink through most of it's life. The fiberglass tank may add expansion and contraction to that equation but most likely it is just the laquer shrinking.

2+ on the rattle can clear coats if not drying very well between the layering on. If was the gas it would show up first around the filler cap and on the sides if fiber glass resin dissolving. An ice pick probe into interior tank surface may reveal if fibre resin softening by the feel of it slightly sticking in and resistance to retract. On Peel I plan to do cheap Duplicolor base color but have auto paint shop put on two part clean coat then I'll rub it down to the lasting shine. Do not leave masking tape on finished areas more than a few days or it may also impress its texture on removal.

DogT · Mar 23, 2014

The 10 or so clear coats I put on the panels was about 1 hour after another, within the recommended window. The tank had very light clear on it, really not enough to make a shine. The panels I buffed after the 10 or so coats and they turned out real nice as far as polish, with some blemish pits due to improper primer coat, but they look good still. I just haven't decided on decals or paint lettering yet. The metalspecks does look lots better when it's in the sun.

olChris · Mar 23, 2014

Incompatable paints and thinners is usually the main reason!! And the tank top side is exposed to more sun rays than side panels so will effectively "age" quicker than the rest ... Generally you get what you pay for.

pierodn · Mar 24, 2014

Hi Dave,
I do not think it is the fault of the gasoline.
It seems more a delamination of fiberglass due to osmosis (which i sfrequentemente in veifica boats).
Ciao.
Piero

nortriubuell · Mar 24, 2014

Hey Dave, sorry to see this happing to your fiberglass tank. . I've had Nortons since 1982 ... and everyone that had a fiberglass tank, ended up leaking, the paint going bad like yours (duplicolor spray paint) ... or both. And that was before ethanol in fuel.

Bite the bullet ... just buy a metal one. I've got $1500 in the "Fireflake Royal Blue" set below, but I'm not getiing any younger. Was glad I finally "bit the bullet" as I wanted a set like this for almost 30 years; then I finally got it. The last straw, for me, with fiberglass gas tanks ... was a "Fireflake Royal Green" (not a Norton OEM color) ... but man was that paint job gorgeous !!! All "sparkly" metal flake Green 8) It was my very first purchase off ebay back in 2002 (FB tank and sidecovers set) Just made me sick when the gas tank paint started to bubble

Yes I know, the sidecovers say 850. I have an 850 motor I plan on installing someday ... maybe ... probably ... if I get around to it.

debby · Mar 25, 2014

I did the same. Retired my Fireflake Royal Blue tank and went with a steel tank and professional paint. I ran the glass tank for years, coated with Caswell, but eventually the gelcoat started getting pimples and blisters.

The new look:

It's metallic, not metalflake, but I like it.

Bernhard · Mar 25, 2014

comnoz said:
That is normal with modern fuel and a fiberglass tank. Jim

Re; fibreglass tanks. These are not normally painted but come with a coloured Gel coat. Hence you do not have to paint them. HTH.

B+Bogus · Mar 25, 2014

Bernhard said:
comnoz said:

That is normal with modern fuel and a fiberglass tank. Jim

Click to expand...

Re; fibreglass tanks. These are not normally painted but come with a coloured Gel coat. Hence you do not have to paint them. HTH.

Not strictly true - I have proof!
Yes, the silver ones were flake in the gelcoat, also the straight colours, I.e., yellow & orange, but not the Fireflake blues - The flakes were definitely painted on.

Bernhard · Mar 25, 2014

B+Bogus said:
Bernhard said:

comnoz said:

That is normal with modern fuel and a fiberglass tank. Jim

Click to expand...

Re; fibreglass tanks. These are not normally painted but come with a coloured Gel coat. Hence you do not have to paint them. HTH.

Click to expand...

Not strictly true - I have proof!
Yes, the silver ones were flake in the gelcoat, also the straight colours, I.e., yellow & orange, but not the Fireflake blues - The flakes were definitely painted on.

Please note the words "not normally" :!:

commando6868 · Mar 25, 2014

I have mentioned this in other posts about fiberglass tanks. I believe they were banned due to the danger of a tank breaking and spilling gas all over the rider. This happened to one of the guys in the NENO club. He was in an accident, and when the fiberglass tank broke apart he was soaked with gasoline. Fortunately it did not ignite. I got one tank from Waldridge motors, made in England. It is very high quality. There are other suppliers out there. Used tanks are available too.

MF

jaydee75 · Mar 25, 2014

In the US I believe the manufacturers went away from plastic and fiberglass because of new DOT regulations some years ago. If you check mfgrs like KTM, Husky, etc they still make plastic tanks for off-road models but the same bike for on-road (supermotard) has a steel tank. The hazard was thought to be static buildup and discharge while filling the tank at a station and possible fire. At least that's my theory.
Jaydee

chasbmw · Mar 25, 2014

I also understood that fibreglass tanks for new bikes were banned after an accident and fire. There were a hell of a lot of poor quality fibreglass in the aftermarket tanks made at the time.

Mind you an alloy tanks might not be much stronger.

nortriubuell · Mar 30, 2014

DogT said:
No modern e fuels, just avgas. And also no one has addressed why the panels are not doing it, but I did use lots more clear on the panels, like 8-10 coats, or maybe it's just that the panels are smaller and have less expansion/contraction. I'm assuming it's mostly the clear, but that doesn't make any sense either.

I have to say the price was right though, less than $50 and it did look fine for a while. I may try it again with the 2 pack clear.

Dave

Ok Dave, I just "gots to know." Are you going to "bite the bullet", and buy one of those NEW, steel, emgo brand Roadster tanks ??? The reviews on this forum are lookin' very positive, yesiree ...

Why is my paint doing this?

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