Author Topic: Fiberglass tanks (Read 10115 times)

GroovieGhoulie · « **on:** March 21, 2006, 11:10:15 AM »

I saw these "CR750" parts at this website:

http://www.airtech-streamlining.com/hondaz/cr750.htm

I'm 99% sure it's fiberglass. I LOVE the CR750 look, and want the tank and bumpseat for a Cafe project, but I'm not sold on Fiberglass tanks.

Any input?

Real aluminum CR stuff is probably $$$$$ huh?

my78k · « **Reply #1 on:** March 21, 2006, 11:46:39 AM »

Sorry got distracted by the blonde in the ad....what was you question again??

ohiocaferacer · « **Reply #2 on:** March 21, 2006, 12:39:53 PM »

I just became an authorized dealer for Airtech parts and they are quality stuff.

The only thing....and Airtech states this on their website...."these tanks are meant for closed course competition use only". Heres the reason why....using the fiberglass tanks is perfect on a race bike, where you are running a low amount of fuel and usually are draining the tank often to remove the tank...to work on the bike. If you use these tanks on a street bike......leaving the gasoline in the fiberglass tank over an extended period of time will break down the resin. I do know of people who have used tank sealer kits to line the inner walls of the fiberglass tanks and it has worked for them. If you need more info on the Airtech stuff...feel free to drop me a line.

Now...for the alloy CR750 tanks. I have worked with the guys at MeadSpeed.com and they have some nice CR750 items...feel free to drop them a line.....heres some info on the CR750 alloy tanks:
http://81.27.97.6/meadspeed/products/index.asp?ECommerceDisplay=TheProduct&catId=492&NoCache=21/03/2006%2020:30:55

Later,
Greg

cbjunkie · « **Reply #3 on:** March 21, 2006, 12:54:53 PM »

so - could you buy the fiberglass tank and then Kreem it?

volthause · « **Reply #4 on:** March 21, 2006, 12:56:21 PM »

Quote from: ohiocaferacer on March 21, 2006, 12:39:53 PM

that is dead f'in sexy.

cbjunkie · « **Reply #5 on:** March 21, 2006, 12:58:35 PM »

it surely is...all 500 dollars worth...

GroovieGhoulie · « **Reply #6 on:** March 21, 2006, 02:21:50 PM »

I like those CR750 parts from that Mead Speed and when my Cafe gets underway, I will be using them to outfit it.

Cost is an object, but when I see something I want, I will make sacrifices to get it. Those aluminum gas and oil tanks are friggin' SEXY and the bump seat is hot as well.

Is the CR750 oil cooler as offered by Mead Speed worth it? I'm in Texas and Louisiana, where the summers are brutal, running over 100* for weeks and months at a time.

Sam Green Racing · « **Reply #7 on:** March 23, 2006, 05:04:22 PM »

Some years ago (about 4) when I put Chrises bike togeather I used Bartel eng in Northern Ireland, they were a lot cheaper than Meadspeed and the quality was first class.
Search Bartel Eng on this site for their contact details, you'l find it under 836 power started by myself.

Sam.

750deepsouth · « **Reply #8 on:** March 23, 2006, 05:31:47 PM »

Cheaper than Meadspeed $:-\$

Damn just ordered my oil tank from Meadspeed. Thems the breaks.

Quote

I just became an authorized dealer for Airtech parts and they are quality stuff

I'm trying to contact them to get the chrome screw cap for the CR750 tank and additional clips in the fairing mount kit. They haven't replied to my fax yet, I found them a bit hard to contact sometimes.

When I bought my tank they didn't include the tank cap, now they do.
The kit has 3 more parts now - looks like two circular lugs that probably mount on the lower frame, and a short rectangular mount, on their pic it's on the left.

ohiocaferacer, would you be able to supply these for me?

Andy

bill440cars · « **Reply #9 on:** March 23, 2006, 06:35:00 PM »

Quote from: cbjunkie on March 21, 2006, 12:54:53 PM

so - could you buy the fiberglass tank and then Kreem it?

I never saw where anyone answered cbjunkie's question. Can you just Kreem it and go or is there
something else you would need to do? Later on, Bill

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #10 on:** March 23, 2006, 06:36:46 PM »

I wonder if there would be any chemical incompatibilities between the liner material and curing process and the fiberglass.

Sam Green Racing · « **Reply #11 on:** March 23, 2006, 06:48:09 PM »

I have made glass tanks and never had to coat them, however if you use methanol or any alcohol based fuels then you would to treat the tank.

Sam.

cbjunkie · « **Reply #12 on:** March 23, 2006, 06:54:58 PM »

...treat it wiiiith...?

Sam Green Racing · « **Reply #13 on:** March 23, 2006, 06:59:57 PM »

Not a clue, I use aloy tanks with alcohol

cbjunkie · « **Reply #14 on:** March 23, 2006, 07:04:29 PM »

i'm just messing around

the likelihood of me dropping 500 bucks on a tank is about as likely as me reaching into the computer screen and pulling out a girlfriend

well, one can dream...

Geeto67 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 23, 2006, 07:10:45 PM »

I made two fiberglass tanks a long time ago when I worked for a radiator shop. Both leaked after 6 months (probably due to my resin mixing and not the gas) and I ended up putting Red Kote (we called it red liner, by Damon Chemical) inside it and it held great. I would not kreem a tank because kreem breaks down when exposed to the corn alcohols used in modern fuels. If I were to use a fibreglass tank I would line it with either the Por15 kit or Red Kote.

hey Ohio, are you a dealer for Meed speed?

cbjunkie · « **Reply #16 on:** March 23, 2006, 07:21:29 PM »

good info geeto - if i ever end up fabricating one myself i'll take your advice. - i wasn't sure if the POR-15 would bond to glass...

GraveRobber · « **Reply #17 on:** March 23, 2006, 07:34:29 PM »

When I was running my first bike, (see my avatar) That tank was fiberglass. only had 1 leak. Patched it with fiberglass. But that was before ethanol was popular in gas.

theunrulychef · « **Reply #18 on:** March 24, 2006, 05:15:18 AM »

I haven't finished my fiberglass tank yet, so I can't tell you about longevity, but I'm using TAP PLASTIC's Super Hard Epoxy Resin, which claims to be very fuel resistant.

From their site:
"TAP Super-Hard Epoxy
Fast setting epoxy for repairs, coating, and fiberglassing with superior surface hardness and excellent chemical resistance. Resists gasoline, corrosion, and acid. Great for tank linings, fume hoods, ducts, floors, and splash areas. Great adhesion, bonds metal, wood, fiberglass, concrete, and most plastics. 10 to 15 minute pot-life. Kit includes resin and hardener in a 4 to 1 ratio."

From my research on it, polyester resins are much more likely to break down, but there are many different flavors of resins out there. TAP has a ton of stuff on their site, from filler powders you mix in with resin (think really light/strong body filler), dyes, gel coats, surf board supplies, mold making materials, and many many different types of cloth. I'm using Aramid fiber cloth, which is basically Kevlar. It's a total #$%* to cut with scissors, but I figure that's a good thing when I'm gonna be storing a flammable liquid on a moving vehicle. Their stuff isn't cheap, but they supply professionals (you can buy 55 gallon drums of resin), and that's good enough for me.

The 4 laminations I've done is far more rigid than having 4 laminations on my seat w/ polyester resin. It's viscosity is thicker than polyester, so it's a little harder to wet out, but I'm digging it. It doesn't stink quite as bad either.

I wish I was done & could say for sure whether this stuff works, but I'm feeling pretty confident about it at this stage.

-Jay in Philly

cbjunkie · « **Reply #19 on:** March 24, 2006, 06:19:57 AM »

jay - you are actually making your own tank? that's pretty ambitious - i'm impressed - have you posted any photos of this process?

if not, please do - i'm fascinated by the idea.

thanks,
junkie...

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #20 on:** March 24, 2006, 06:54:29 AM »

Quote

you are actually making your own tank? that's pretty ambitious - i'm impressed

Likewise. I would be curious as to the details of how you make accommodations for the filler neck/cap and petcock, etc.

volthause · « **Reply #21 on:** March 24, 2006, 08:19:19 AM »

I'll third that request for pics.

Sounds like a good thing for the FAQ too... a run through of fiberglass layup for tanks, seats etc. Seems like several people have been doing their own glass work around here.

Geeto67 · « **Reply #22 on:** March 24, 2006, 08:23:20 AM »

Quote from: cbjunkie on March 23, 2006, 07:21:29 PM

good info geeto - if i ever end up fabricating one myself i'll take your advice. - i wasn't sure if the POR-15 would bond to glass...

now that I think about it I'm not sure about the Por 15 bonding to tanks either...I'll have to check. It does have a pour in liner but there are so many steps before you pour in the liner I would check with them first.

As for Ret Kote, it doesn't matter what you pour it in. If it comes loose inside the tank it will still function perfectly, it is basically like forming a new tank inside your old one.

As for filler necks and petcocks, The first tank I cut the filler out of a new sport bike and glassed it in to the top of the tank. I cut the petcock tap (the threaded part) out of the tank and glassed that in too. Had to be careful with such a small opening that the resin didn't block it. The second tank I used some threaded plumbers pipe and a pair of triumph petcocks (which are surprisingly similar to plumbers fuel taps).

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #23 on:** March 24, 2006, 08:31:58 AM »

Filler cap and petcock info makes sense now that you described it, thanks.

TwoTired · « **Reply #24 on:** March 24, 2006, 10:01:34 AM »

Quote from: Geeto67 on March 24, 2006, 08:23:20 AM

As for Ret Kote, it doesn't matter what you pour it in. If it comes loose inside the tank it will still function perfectly, it is basically like forming a new tank inside your old one.

I sent an email to the Damon Industrial product customer service rep about Red Kote use with fiberglass. His response:
________________________________________
Lloyd,

Sorry to say that Red Kote is not to be used with fiberglass tanks. It is designed for metal tanks only.

I don't know of any product for fiberglass, but my guess is there is something out there.

Best of luck, Brent
________________________________________

I sent a similar request to the POR-15 people. No response yet, though.

So far, it looks like the best approach to lining a polyester glass tank is to coat it with an epoxy lining more resistant to fuel attacks.

Cheers,

News:

Author Topic: Fiberglass tanks (Read 10115 times)

GraveRobber

theunrulychef