Topic: Liner a cure all?

[Ace Blackwell]

All, (CB550F 77)

Ive got a few pin holes in my tank.  Over the last year or so I've cleaned a few times with vinegar.  I've done the bolts and BBs thing.  As expected, the tank keeps flash rusting.  I need to line the tank.  The more I thought about it, I became curious.  Does a liner cure pin holes or just prevent further rusting?   Will I need to weld the pin holes (about 3 total) first?   Part of the problem there is one pin hole is at the seam of the tank in a visible area and one is in a rough area behind one of the emblems.  Would be difficult to know exactly where it is.

I've also been searching on here about liner preferences / experiences.   From what I've read, Kreem sounds problematic.  I've seen a lot of references to Por-15.  Looking on line there are several to choose from Northern,  KBS, Por-15, Caswell, Red-Kote, etc.   Is there a preference among those on here that's went down this path before?

Thanks,

[Phoenix]

I researched the hell out of it and went with Caswell seven or eight years ago.  Very happy with it.  Had no pin holes but had questionable areas.  Haven't read anything bad about it in posts since.

[carnivorous chicken]

A liner will seal up pinholes, generally. POR-15 comes with a little kit for slightly bigger ones, or at least it used to.

Kreem is terrible. I've used POR-15 and Redkote both with no failures, but you have to follow the instructions to the letter. Others rave about Caswell but I have never used it.

[jakec]

POR 15 and if you know where the hole is, you can paint some onto the outside as well. If it under the tank.

[70CB750]

Best bet is to solder holes and forget the liner.

[jonda500]

Best bet is to solder holes and forget the liner.

- I have an oxy-acetylene welder so I braized the many pin holes that my 500 tank was left with after pulling all the dents out. I got the outside sandblasted but went against the painters recommendation and elected to NOT have a liner put in it even though the inside is far from perfect - that was around 8 years ago and it still has no leaks (but it does get used regularly!).
With my 550F tank however, I let the painter talk me into a liner as the pinholes were caused by corrosion in the bottom of the tank and these larger 550 tanks seem more susceptible to corrosion pinholes than the earlier ones. He used equivalent of POR-15 and braized all the holes first - I have had no trouble with the liner but the bike was only used for two weeks and has now been just sitting since an engine oil blockage occurred several years ago... so with it sitting unused, I am glad I lined it.
If you are spending a lot of time or money on a paint job and more pinholes in the future seem likely to happen then a liner may be worthwhile insurance, but I also definitely wouldn't use Kreem brand!
John   

[carnivorous chicken]

I think this also speaks to what to do depending on the condition of the tank. If the paint is sound, lining can be done without wrecking the paint at all (if you're careful). If you're going to repaint, stripping and brazing might be the way to go. Although I do think that brazing isn't necessarily a cure all -- if you miss a thin spot and repaint your tank, and it develops a pinhole 6 months later, you're back to square one.

[Ace Blackwell]

I don't have original paint.  Only primer at the moment.   I was looking local and found Red Kote.  I've heard good things about it.  (Im really getting tired of ordering online and waiting a week for stuff to show up) The down side is it's not a kit.  All the prep will have to to be gotten separately.  I'm concern it will leave it to me to get the "best brand" of cleaner and etch/prep.  Just seems like too big of a margin of error on my part.   Everyone has gotten me nervous with the whole "follow instructions to the letter".

The Red Kote comes in a quart @ 30 bucks, or 75 for gallon.  Wouldn't a quart cover a 550 tank? 

I'll read a little more, if I've going to be out another 40-50 bucks on prep stuff, I'd rather buy a kit on line and just wait I guess.

Thanks 

[The Sovereign Man]

I don't have original paint.  Only primer at the moment.   I was looking local and found Red Kote.  I've heard good things about it.  (Im really getting tired of ordering online and waiting a week for stuff to show up) The down side is it's not a kit.  All the prep will have to to be gotten separately.  I'm concern it will leave it to me to get the "best brand" of cleaner and etch/prep.  Just seems like too big of a margin of error on my part.   Everyone has gotten me nervous with the whole "follow instructions to the letter".

The Red Kote comes in a quart @ 30 bucks, or 75 for gallon.  Wouldn't a quart cover a 550 tank? 

I'll read a little more, if I've going to be out another 40-50 bucks on prep stuff, I'd rather buy a kit on line and just wait I guess.

Thanks

Red Kote is excellent. One tin will do multiple tanks, just pour the excess back into the tin and seal tight. As for the “prep” part, I use acid from the local pool shop.

Happy to answer any questions you have.

[carnivorous chicken]

I don't have original paint.  Only primer at the moment.   I was looking local and found Red Kote.  I've heard good things about it.  (Im really getting tired of ordering online and waiting a week for stuff to show up) The down side is it's not a kit.  All the prep will have to to be gotten separately.  I'm concern it will leave it to me to get the "best brand" of cleaner and etch/prep.  Just seems like too big of a margin of error on my part.   Everyone has gotten me nervous with the whole "follow instructions to the letter".

The Red Kote comes in a quart @ 30 bucks, or 75 for gallon.  Wouldn't a quart cover a 550 tank? 

I'll read a little more, if I've going to be out another 40-50 bucks on prep stuff, I'd rather buy a kit on line and just wait I guess.

Thanks

Red Kote is easier than POR-15, and I've had good results as well. It's a two-step process instead of a three-step process. You can also use acetone as a final prep for your tank, and you don't have to dry it completely -- Red Kote mixes with it, and you can actually thin Red Kote with acetone. A quart will do more than one tank.

[Ace Blackwell]

Thanks guys,   I think I'll go with Red Kote then.  I'm sure I'll have questions later.  Thanks for the offer to help.