Topic: Removing a tank liner

[1981cb650c]

Or should I say remove whats left of it. I  bought the bike with what appears to be a Kreme kit installed in it. Heres the problem, I filled up and noticed the top half of the liner kit hanging down like a bad roof liner in an old car. I tried to pull it out, hoping the rest would let go and I could remove it like a deflated balloon, no such luck. What options do I have? the tank has near perfect paint, just this stupid liner problem. Any advise guys?

[736cc]

Kreem's website has info to remove old Kreem liner

[KB02]

What is Kreem's website? I'm having trouble finding it.

[736cc]

search google maybe Kreem remove old lining

[ofreen]

As I recall, Kreem recommends methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) for liner removal.  You can get it at hardware stores, Home Depot, etc.

[mmtsquid]

Just use caution when dealing with MEK, as it is NASTY STUFF!
And may be unavailable in CA (if that matters)

[Porscheguy912]

Yo,
Screw kreme! Go with POR-15
I had the same problem in a old suzuki tank (1966)
some one had lined it before etheynol was regulary added to gasolines.
And apparently (so i was told) thats why it got screwed up; because of the etheynol.
I had just rebuilt the carbs and when i put fresh gas in the tank, it turned to some sort of sticky #$%* like glue. It royaly ruined my carb rebuild.
SOOOOOOOOOO to my really point.....
I used the POR-15 heavy duty motorcycle tank stripper kit. It worked great. But my tank was so bad that i had to buy extra "marine clean" and stripper. Luckly the shop i got the kit at was a por-15 dealer and they had extra bottles for really cheap.
But definitly try to get as much of the "hanging" debris out first.
here is the link to the kit i bought : http://www.por15.com/s.nl/it.A/id.1517/.f
My tank looks just like new! cool thing too: I bought a dental/medical video camera at a camera show a few years back. Its llike a wand the size of a sharpie marker with two fiber optic lights on it. That was realy helpful to see inside the tank to all the places that were out of eye-shot.
Good luck!!

[KB02]

In case anyone was interested, I found this site listing the MSDS for MEK:

http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/m4628.htm

I finally found another F tank on ebay for my bike, but the guys says the inside is very rusty. Guess I'll just start in on restoring my tank - Step one, Remove Kreem liner. Step two, remove rust. Step three, seal it up with a quality sealer. Step four, Paint... step five, pre-empt Step one by keeping an eye on ebay for a cheaper way out... 

[greenjeans]

The electrolyisis method for removing rust is very cheap (if you have a battery charger) and very effective.
Go over this thread:  http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=21623.15     page 2 has a diagram etc.
I used arm & hammer dishwashing powder (sodium carbonate)  cost me 3 bucks at the grocery store.
I cleaned a tank last weekend that I almost threw away....  no need to line it - unless it leaks...
I'll be posting some update of my projects  w/ pics of tank  before & after

[Bodi]

I want to recommend not coating the tank - unless it leaks of course. I see plenty of 30+ year old tanks in excellent condition. The factory finish for the inside of the tank is... no finish, just bare steel. If you choose to treat the bike such that water accumulates in the tank, it will rust at the bottom. The whole inside can get surface rust during storage. But, treated well, a tank will not rust much at all. With ethanol either already in your gas or coming soon, water is absorbed rather than just sitting at the bottom of the tank rusting it.
So cleaning off the existing rust and using a fuel filter to trap any crunchy bits should be fine. Keeping the tank full, especially for long storage periods, will avoid water buildup. A shot of gas line antifreeze occasionally if you don't have 5% or 10% ethanol will eliminate any pooled water.
If you have pinhole leaks, POR-15 or Kreem (if it's ethanol proof now) will work but you have to be totally anal about following the instructions and not trying to hurry up the process.

[schneider419]

i agree, the kreem coating is bad. had the same problem with it comming loose in my tank and shutting the bike down. soooo i pushed it one mile back home on a nice 90 degree summer afternoon. went to a salvage yard and got another tank, cleaned it and used por-15 on it and so far so good.

[paulages]

i agree with not coating unless it's necessary, but i just painted a tank that i had to weld a few holes up in. after painstakingly filling all of the dings and dents, the last thing i wanted was some pinholes at the weld ruining my paintjob, so i used a product made by the same people who make "redkote." seems like pretty much the same thing, but they sell it in quarts. anyway, i had fantastic results with it. i'll post the product name if i can remember to look in my garage. it's blue.

[KB02]

Okay, I've got the MEK.

Now, what is the actual process?

[ofreen]

The MEK is supposed to dissolve the liner.  I guess would pour it in and let it sit, then turn the tank so the MEK covers another area, let it sit some more, and repeat as needed.  Let us know how it works.