Author Topic: re clear coating tank  (Read 1468 times)

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Offline HWdesign

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re clear coating tank
« on: December 19, 2016, 09:10:53 AM »
I'm a total newbie here so please excuse me if this has been asked and answered a thousand times.

The question is about clear coat.  The tank has some paint imperfections and touch ups that are not done all that well, but they don't really bother me.  The badges and decals are in great condition.... The question is, should I think about re clear coating the tank to preserve the condition that it's currently in, OR should i just learn to love the character that it brings to the bike?  Can a tank be re cleared or do I need to strip it and totally repaint. I love the look now but want to be sure I can preserve that....

The bike is a 1977 CB550 Super Sport.

thanks

HW
« Last Edit: December 19, 2016, 09:13:15 AM by HWdesign »

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: re clear coating tank
« Reply #1 on: December 19, 2016, 09:29:07 AM »
Even a tank with outside surface rust/patina can clear-coated to preserve its appearance and stop further oxidation.  You'll still want to prep the tank before shooting it with clear.
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline HWdesign

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Re: re clear coating tank
« Reply #2 on: December 19, 2016, 09:36:44 AM »
thanks.  I assume that I would need to use lacquer clear? 

What are the steps in prepping it? Obviously it needs to be clean and dust free but what products should I use...thanks for the advice.

If I wanted to "touch up" a couple of spots that a previous owner "touched up" is there a place to buy the color or is it best to leave them  and call them battle scars....

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: re clear coating tank
« Reply #3 on: December 19, 2016, 10:37:50 AM »
thanks.  I assume that I would need to use lacquer clear? 

What are the steps in prepping it? Obviously it needs to be clean and dust free but what products should I use...thanks for the advice.

If I wanted to "touch up" a couple of spots that a previous owner "touched up" is there a place to buy the color or is it best to leave them  and call them battle scars....

You will need to clean the surface.  It would be advisable to scuff the surface with some mild wet sanding and then cleaning with acetone.  Touch up will be difficult.  Paint is available (http://www.ct70paint.com/paint-coverage.html) but the color will be difficult to match since yours has about 30-40 years of age/fade/etc.
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline HWdesign

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Re: re clear coating tank
« Reply #4 on: December 19, 2016, 11:30:49 AM »
many thanks

I think I'll pick up a touch up kit and see if I can make it better.

With proper prep, can I spray this clear over the original clear coat?  http://www.ct70paint.com/clearcoat.html

A local body shop told me that it was not a good idea to spray urathane over lacqure clear coat...


Offline b52bombardier1

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Re: re clear coating tank
« Reply #5 on: December 19, 2016, 12:20:43 PM »
Any good automotive paint distributor should be able to match your faded paint. Set the tank on their counter and see what their paint shade guesser predicts.

Rick

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Offline HWdesign

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Re: re clear coating tank
« Reply #6 on: December 19, 2016, 12:32:45 PM »
thanks Rick

Offline greenjeans

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Re: re clear coating tank
« Reply #7 on: December 20, 2016, 05:00:48 AM »
I have sprayed SprayMax2k clear over an old tank before.  It is a 2-part urethane.   I wet sanded/scuffed it with a fine scotchbrite and some dawn dish soap first.   Not really the best prep, I didn't fill any dings,dents or scratches as this tank is my test/tuning tank.  3 years later, it still looks great - way better than you would think.   I didn't have any problem with the urethane reacting to the old paint.  40 year old paint doesn't usually like to come off. 
Yep, I'm the kid that figured out how to put things back together...eventually.

Offline HWdesign

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Re: re clear coating tank
« Reply #8 on: December 20, 2016, 05:27:19 AM »
thanks for the reply.

I'm gonna give it a go.  The bike has the original decal stripes that are in perfect condition, so I am going to be really careful on those....