Emptying gas tank for repaint

[DaveT319]

I'm planning on repainting my bike when the rain finally stops up here in Oregon. Thinking of using VHT paint that you bake on for better durability, especially on the tank for minor gas spills/drips. As such, I need to get ALL the gas and fumes out of the tank before baking it. How do you think I should go about doing that? Would pouring out the gas, soaking up whatever doesn't pour out with rags, and letting it vent for a week be good enough?

 

[Junkie]

I'd want more than that given the current weather.

I'd drain, dry with rags, rinse with water a couple times, dry with rags, and then bake it to dry the water

 

[HadesOmega]

I honestly would not paint it yourself. I tried painting the tank on my 750 turbo and while it did turn out nice its starting to bubble. You need to use those professional paints the shops use that you use a mask when painting. I'd find a shop that has painted gas tanks before.

 

[ST Guy]

Do all the prep work yourself and have a pro paint it. I did that with a VW once and it worked out pretty good. I did all the body work and sanding.

 

[afm199]

Dry out tank:

Dump gas. Let sit until everything evaporates. Wash out with hot soapy water twice, rinse, and then slosh some alcohol inside to get out the last of the water. Paint.

 

[stangmx13]

a 2K clear like this stuff isn't harmed by gasoline. https://www.spraymax.com/en/products/product/clear-coats-and-spot-blender/2k-clear-coat/

duct tape is good enough for blocking gasoline vapors when painting. I've done it plenty of times on tanks that arent even completely empty.

 

[sjuels]

Dry out tank:

Dump gas. Let sit until everything evaporates. Wash out with hot soapy water twice, rinse, and then slosh some alcohol inside to get out the last of the water. Paint.

This!

Use Dawn, don't accept any substitute.

/Soren

 

[HadesOmega]

a 2K clear like this stuff isn't harmed by gasoline. https://www.spraymax.com/en/products/product/clear-coats-and-spot-blender/2k-clear-coat/

duct tape is good enough for blocking gasoline vapors when painting. I've done it plenty of times on tanks that arent even completely empty.

I tried that the paint underneath bubbled. I used an engine enamel spray paint though. You need to have the same stuff for the paint/primer also. But yeah the gasoline doesn't eat through it as bad though.

 

[stangmx13]

I tried that the paint underneath bubbled. I used an engine enamel spray paint though. You need to have the same stuff for the paint/primer also. But yeah the gasoline doesn't eat through it as bad though.

not necessarily. 2K clear is actually less reactive than 1K stuff and should lay flat over more paints. most bubbling caused is because u didn't wait long enough for the previous layers to cure. if u want to paint after flash (10min), ya u should know that the paints work together. if u can wait til cure (day or two), u can use a lot of paints. I used that clear over many diff types of primer and paint, including some shitty artist paint cuz I liked the color.

 

[Lucytriple]

Before you paint and after you're sure all the fumes are gone! run a blowtorch over the surface to blow off any last hint of residue or it'll come up on you.

If you do decide to have someone paint it, have Pete the Painter at Underground Colors do it. He's like, legendary.

 

[57x]

Clean with whatever the techniques mentioned, then purge the tank with argon. I bet you know a welder with an argon tank that can assist with the purge.

 

[ST Guy]

Unless you seal the tank, purging with argon isn't going to do anything. The argon or other gas will just go in and then out again. Just clean it and dry it and blow it out with air.

Hell, when I was a kid, my father had fun showing me how he could throw his cigarette butt in a pan of gasoline and the gas would put the butt out. After a good cleaning, there's not going to be enough fumes to hardly smell, let alone worry about exploding.

 

[57x]

Yeah, of course, seal the tank. It is not hard and required by all the guys that have worked on my tanks.