Oh hell!
So today my buddy who is an experienced rider comes over to look over the bike, and take it on a short test ride in the neighborhood. We started out by working on the clutch adjustment so we could get the bike in gear without stalling it. We got that dialed in perfectly, and my friend rolls the bike down the driveway, puts his leather jacket and helmet on, and starts the bike.
Well damn. It was running like complete crap and getting worse as it sat there. It required more and more throttle to keep it running until it just wouldn't run at all. I open the gas cap to see how much fuel is in the bike, and I got a surprise.
The gas tank sealer was all blistered and pealing! I used the Caswell kit, and it dried very hard. I was actually quite impressed with the stuff. I let it cure for 26 hours before putting fuel in it, and it seemed good to go. I decided to take the tank off the bike, and in the process, splattered gasoline in my eye. Once the tank was off the bike, the bike ran awesome with the fuel that was left in the fuel lines. That is a great sign to me, as I don't think the stuff got into my carbs. But, the petcock is probably all gunked up now.
I called Caswell, and they were as befuddled as I was. At first, they said I had not properly mixed the stuff, and it must have never cured. I explained that I followed the directions to a "T" and the sealer had actually hardened to resemble solid plastic. The guy on the line said that if it hardened that hard, then I had mixed it correctly. The only thing he could opine was the problem is the possibility there is a fuel additive in the local gas that ate it up. They are being very helpful and sending out another kit.
So, I am going to have to get the old stuff out, and start the tank over. Its going to push me back a couple of weeks, but I guess I will push through.
Well damn!
