Topic: Need Tank liner reviews/experiences

[Duanob]

My 550F tank has some issues that need to be fixed. The pros are it looks great, no dings, dents, or rust on the outside.

The cons: Rust on the inside, bad kreem job, pin holes.

I looked and looked for a good tank to repaint but haven't had any luck finding one that didn't need a bunch of bondo or a liner or tons of work anyway so I decided to refurbish the one I have.

Step one will be to remove the old failing liner.

Step two strip the paint.

Step three to bondo and sand the pin holed area

Step four remove rust and clean the inside.

Step five to put another tank liner inside.

My question is what kind of experiences has anybody had with:

Kreem?

Por-15?

Caswell tank lining?

they all cost about the same so I want the best product so I don't have to do this again.

Step six and seven: Prime and paint.

Thanks for all advice it is much appreciated.

[Untold]

I've used POR-15 in the past, and see no reason to ever use anything different. It was super easy and affordable (I think it was around $30 for a 3-part kit), and arrived in a day or two when I ordered it online.  Has held up great for 3 years with no issues.

[youn6372]

Thats a tough call.  I had a tank that looked ok but needed to be restored on the inside too.  I used Moyer http://www.gas-tank.com/.  It wasn't cheap but the end result was/is amazing.  Of course the tank had to be repainted.  They actually cut the bottom, media blast the tank, weld it back together, coat the inside then rough prime it.  Good luck!

Somewhere in my build page there are pics of the tank restoration. http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=94073.msg1047743#msg1047743

[harisuluv]

A lot of people on the board prefer not to line their tanks but to derust and clean them thoroughly with their preferred method and then coat with oil just to prevent flash rust; fill with gas then ride away.

As far as tank liners go, I hear the most good things about por-15 and hear negative grumblings about Kreem. 

[Duke McDukiedook]

I had a local radiator guy etch and redkote my tank for a little over a benjamin.
If you have pinholes I would recommend youns methos of cutting the tank open and repairing the pinholed and roached out metal with metal- welding if you need to.
You could line if you want to after that but bondo on the indside won't really cut it.

[tomkimberly]

All those liner work great "provided" the instructions are followed to the letter.

As for using bondo to seal pin holes, not a good idea and very prone to failure. Either weld them or use fiberglass.

Tom

[surveywaters]

I've used RedKote, Kreem, and POR-15. RedKote and Kreem both ended up failing and making a huge mess but the POR-15 is still holding up great.

[Nikkisixx]

1. I'd strip it
2. braze/weld any holes,
3. pull/push/hammer any dents,
4. body work/bondo
5. epoxy prime outside
6. then POR15
7. then spray high build urethane prime, wet sand, and final paint

Tried the other liners and had shifty results.  Won't run a bare tank now that the EPA tries to shove corn in my gas-hole. 

[youn6372]

  You know, ultimately your going to have to ask yourself how deep your pockets are and how you want the end product to look and function.  I wanted mine too look showroom and I only wanted to do the restoration process once.  I  didn't want gas seeping out of some half assed  cream job and running a nice paint job.   Two years later my tank still looks and functions perfectly.

[lucky]

I used Kreem 3 times and do not like it and the third time it really went south on me.
A bad batch or something.

Now I use Caswells and it is much much better. Very hard and glossy white.
I used a full kit with white colorant from TAP plastics, It was approved by Caswell.
I bought the $6.50 premixed colorant from TAP.

Use the whole kit on a CB750 tank.

[Lostboy Steve]

I've found that electrolytic rust removal and then all the steps in the por15 stuff yield an extremely nice, and durable finish.

[Juan1]

I have had luck with por15. I only had the bike 1 year after applying it, but it held up fine. Take your time and follow the directions exactly.

[VTNick7]

Just purchased the POR-15 kit myself. Here's to hoping it works!

[74750k4]

POR-15. Works.
Absorbs moisture as it gets harder, and harder over time. Only drawback...  hopefully you never need to remove it.
The Ethanol fuels do not attack it. Some of the cheapo sealers melt away with Ethanol.

[Bailgang]

My first attempt with red kote failed miserably, I gave it a solid 24 hrs to dry but gas just dissolved it. Tried it again except that time I let it set for a week, it's been in there 4 years and counting now with no issues.

[davidtime]

Haven't done mine yet but I bought Caswells, even though expensive one of its major points is that it will repair failed liners and the prep is pretty basic. I read a ton of reviews before coming to the decision. Another reason for the choice is because of the fact that it will repair pinholes. Put tape over the pinholes and apply the liner. I bondoed mine first.

My next choice would have been por-15

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

My Kreem job was applied properly and has lasted close to 20 years

[Bootlegger56]

RedKote thinned as recommended with Acetone put in a de-rusted Acetone rinsed and dried tank; thoroughly drained the excess so no pools developed.  I let it dry for over a week while I finished the paint prep and painted the tank.  Its been holding up well in its second year now.  I think with all sealers the success is in the prep and follow up drying.

[kghost]

I've had a fair bit of experience over the last 12 - 15 yrs repairing tanks.

Not a fan of Kreme. Seen it fail too often.

Big fan of POR-15. I use it exclusively. Never had one fail.

Can't comment on redcoat. Never tried it.

To remove the old Kreem, acetone and deck screws with lots of shaking.

If there are pin holes my preferred method is to TIG weld them up.

But I have a TIG. Paying someone may not be economical. It takes a steady hand and sometimes while welding you just wind up chasing rust.

If its too far gone you are best off just sealing it.

I use a flexible bore scope type camera to look at the bottom and seams.

Follow the directions on whatever you use to the letter. Don't rush or skip anything.

Best of luck.

[fmctm1sw]

I've soldered pin holes before.  I don't have any welding apparatus though either...

[74750k4]

What kind of solder is compatible with steel???

[Black 750K8]

What kind of solder is compatible with steel???

Silver

[seanbarney41]

anybody got any experiences with lining old fiberglass?

[Duanob]

Wow thanks for all the responses. Kghost you give me confidence. Have you ever tried Caswell's? I've heard on other sites it works pretty good. As dividtime mentions it seals pin holes.

I don't want to spend a ton of money but I want it sealed and looking good for resale mostly. I don't like passing on problems if I can help it. I don't want to be one of those POs.

[kghost]

Wow thanks for all the responses. Kghost you give me confidence. Have you ever tried Caswell's? I've heard on other sites it works pretty good. As dividtime mentions it seals pin holes.

I don't want to spend a ton of money but I want it sealed and looking good for resale mostly. I don't like passing on problems if I can help it. I don't want to be one of those POs.

No, sorry. Never tried Caswells.

Pretty sold on the POR-15.

It will seal pinholes as well.

Lead solder will stick to steel. It does need the proper flux/paste. After all lead is what was used in the old days before body filler (bondo).

About 10 years ago......I did a tank with POR-15 with a buddy in Houston.

His solution to left over POR-15 was to pour the excess down a manhole.

Course some spilled on the manhole cover. It's still there, sealed onto it, and looking good lol.

(I wouldn't recommend dumping it down the sewer drain however)

Was just an interesting byproduct, the sealed manhole cover lol