Topic: POR 15 Prep

[MgMt CB550K]

I have looked through the site and found many helpful posts about what tank sealers to use and how to use them.  However I have one issue.  I removed my fuel petcock but the screen that goes up into my tank does not come out.  Is there something special that I need to do to get this thing out?? 

I am concerned that in if I do not get it out the screen may get coated in POR 15 and be useless.  At this point I am thinking if I can't get it out I might just slowly add the POR 15 and be carefull not to get any on the screen.  Any suggestions?

[333]

It should come out.  It's probably trash now, so stick something up there and rotate it around and break it loose.  The fiche shows the filter sealed to the petcock with an o-ring.

My 2 cents:  I've never been a fan of tank sealing.  Neglected tanks rust.  Tanks on bikes that are ridden and have relatively fresh  gas in them typically don't.  And I realize that is human nature to only remember the negative, but I don't remember seeing a sucessful seal job.  I hear tell of 'em, but I also hear tell of Sasquatch.  And these comments will surely bring out the sucess stories from the forum.

[MgMt CB550K]

So you think I should just break it out hu?  If I do that is it going to be very important to get one back in immediately.  I can order one and have it come it but if I use an in line fuel filter while I wait for the part to come in would that surfice?

[Geeto67]

It should come out.  It's probably trash now, so stick something up there and rotate it around and break it loose.  The fiche shows the filter sealed to the petcock with an o-ring.

My 2 cents:  I've never been a fan of tank sealing.  Neglected tanks rust.  Tanks on bikes that are ridden and have relatively fresh  gas in them typically don't.  And I realize that is human nature to only remember the negative, but I don't remember seeing a sucessful seal job.  I hear tell of 'em, but I also hear tell of Sasquatch.  And these comments will surely bring out the sucess stories from the forum.

actually bikes that are parked in an area with temprature changes rust. In order for a tank to rust it must have water in it and although a protion of this comes from the water that is in your gas from the local pump (there is always some small amount), the majority of it comes from condensation formed in the tank by changes in temprature. Water is heavier than gasoline so the water settles to the bottom and the gas holds it there as it varnishes. I had a friend whose tank rusted on his daily rider because he parked it right next to his garage door and the temp changes from opening and closing the garage door when the rest of his family came in and out the house caused it to flash rust pretty fast, not as fast as if he left it alone with stale gas but it rusted none the less.

I used to work for a radiator shop and sealed gas tanks all the time. The reason you don't "hear" about a successful seal is that when it goes great people rarely post, but when it goes sour people post looking for help. I probablt have sealed about 50 gas tanks in my life and the only one that went bad on me was a rush job where I didn't prep the tank well and I used kreem (which I despise because I find it really hard to work with and because it breaks down in gas). If you can use Redkote or Por15, both are excellent products.

now to get this thread back on track:

get a pair of needle nose pliers and yank that old filter out of there. it is probably junk anyway at this point and if not it is atleast going to be clogged. If you pour the liner in there with the filter still in place you will render your tank useless as it will seal the filter up and not allow anything through. Since the tank liner is depending on your petcock to exit the tank, pushing through the filter out is going to seal it up but good.

after you have gotten it out, go to honda and order a new one, or run an inline aftermarket filter.    

[okie]

Amen to Everything Geeto67 said.

I have used POR-15 on 5 tanks so far and plan to use it on a 6th tank tomorrow.  No complaints.  No problems.  I only wish every product I have tried worked as well as POR-15.

Also, coating the inside of the tank isn't something you can do a little bit at a time.  Either you do it right (which means completely) or don't do it at all.

[GroovieGhoulie]

Successful POR-15 user here.  Done three tanks with it and have had nothing but success.

[fuzzybutt]

por15 is the best stuff

[yd72]

I have also did my tank a few months back with por15, easy to use and good result.
Highly recommended..

[KB02]

I sealed up my tank this spring with POR 15 and so far have seen no ill effects (Unlike the old Kreme liner that was in there before...) As winter approaches, though, I'll be keeping an eye on it as I get it ready for storage.

[MgMt CB550K]

Well I got that fuel screen/filter out of the tank yesterday and started my tank.  Every one says to take their time and do it right, does about 4 hours sound right?  Everything looked fine to me. 

My only complaint is that I got it on my hands and my hands now seem water proof haha... 

[Geeto67]

I suppose it is too late now to tell you but use rubber gloves with any por 15 products. Their stuff is durable to the point where it takes a very long time for it to come off your hands.

it isn't the length of time so much as how closely you follow the directions but 4 hours sounds like it took you a fair amount of time.

[GNXFan]

I have yet to try POR 15 but it is in the tank on my K1 I bought and seems to be fine. I usually use Redkote because a pilot friend of mine recommended it and he said that's the only tank sealer approved by the FAA for airplane tanks. I wouldn't use any Kreem products because that stuff always eventually breaks down and clogs up the fuel system.

[paulages]

I have yet to try POR 15 but it is in the tank on my K1 I bought and seems to be fine. I usually use Redkote because a pilot friend of mine recommended it and he said that's the only tank sealer approved by the FAA for airlplane tanks. I wouldn't use any Kreem products because that stuff always eventually breaks down and clogs up the fuel system.

i've used a product sold by the same company that makes redkote, but comes in a quart can, and it worked great. the stuff is blue. #$%* Kreem.

[Geeto67]

most radiator shops I know use redkote or some form of it. the one I worked at years ago used redkote for industrial stuff like radiators in CAT earth movers and such. I prefer it to Por15 but I know it is not available everywhere.

[KB02]

i've used a product sold by the same company that makes redkote, but comes in a quart can, and it worked great. the stuff is blue. #$%* Kreem.

I was talking with a guy once about linig the tank. I mentioned that someone had used Kreem in the tank once. His responce was, "Good stuff. Used it many times."

I guess some people are happy with it... either that or if he had used something else, he wouldn't had had to "use it many times." 

[Geeto67]

kreem used to be good stuff. I have an older tank that someone else did a real nice kreem job on. However Kreem begins to breakdown when it comes in contact with E85 ethanol, you know the corn stuff they have been putting in our gas since the late 1990s. It is a slow breakdown so you don't notice it right away, but if there is a weakness in the lining the breakdown accelerates.

Someone told me that they have changed the formual recently to be resistant to e85, but I have no way of verifying this.

One of the reasons I prefer redkote and por 15 to kreem is that they are both easier to work with and very forgiving. With Kreem that tank needs to be preped exactly rigth for it to take and if you get one greasy spot the thing will fisheye and your liner will be useless. Also por15 and redkote are thinner coatings so you don't lose any capacity. My only warning with redkote is if you screw up you have to burn it out of the tank and the heat needed will warp your tank for good.

Although it is not recommended for this at all, the only fiberglass tank I built I lined with redkote (it workd barely ok, had I known more about glass I wouldn't have needed it). That glass tank cracked all to hell and eventually a friend of mine and I destroyed it. When we peeled away the cracked fiberglass we had a perfect replica of the tank in redkote (which is somewhat flexible btw) and it was still holding fuel without any leaks. The radiator shop still has it wadded up in a corner to show as a demonstration of redkote.