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Letters bubble on tank
https://ukbeg.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=13584
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Author:  julek780 [ 10 Feb 2012 13:34 ]
Post subject:  Letters bubble on tank

Hi i have noticed over the last year that the Buell letters on the left side of petrol tank are starting to fill up as if there is air under them. Is this a common problem with the tube models, mine is a 1998 thunderbolt, can i just prick the letters to let gas out?
Julian

Author:  Nutah [ 10 Feb 2012 13:41 ]
Post subject:  Re: Letters bubble on tank

yes it is common (not on X1 though :mrgreen: )
leave the filler cap off or partially open over night :yup:

Author:  pash [ 10 Feb 2012 14:06 ]
Post subject:  Re: Letters bubble on tank

julek780 wrote:
can i just prick the letters to let gas out?


That is what I have done. There are more knowledgable people here, but from what I have read and been told, the issue is that the tank is permeable and hence low boiling point fuel fractions can permeate and react with the glue on the stickers. This reaction creates a gas consisting of higher order hydrocarbon that cannot permeate through the tank and has to go somewhere, hence the bubble.

If the paint and lacquer are still soft, you can puncture the bubble...

Nutah wrote:
yes it is common
leave the filler cup off or partially open over night :yup:


What kind of poppycock is this? The tank has a breather already. Leaving the cap off is a fire risk and will make the garage smell of fuel or allow rain to get in the tank if parked outside...

Author:  Nutah [ 10 Feb 2012 14:13 ]
Post subject:  Re: Letters bubble on tank

it works on the S1 Nick, ask Toyboy :mrgreen:

Author:  pash [ 10 Feb 2012 14:28 ]
Post subject:  Re: Letters bubble on tank

He's pulling your leg...

Author:  Nutah [ 10 Feb 2012 14:29 ]
Post subject:  Re: Letters bubble on tank

http://www.ukbeg.com/archive/modules.ph ... ic&t=33437

wheelie bin plastic :mrgreen:

Author:  cactus [ 13 Feb 2012 15:54 ]
Post subject:  Re: Letters bubble on tank

Yes, the tank acne is a common problem as stated by other posters, I've sealed the tank on my S1 with Caswells GTS 1750 it is a 'Phenol Novolac Epoxy Gas Tank Sealer' as stated by the manufacturer. It's specially formulated for plastic and composite fuel tanks. Hopefully this will cure the problem, no more tank acne, ever!!

Author:  battyone [ 14 Feb 2012 10:08 ]
Post subject:  Re: Letters bubble on tank

The problem will probably get worse as they continue to add increasing % of ethanol.

As I said on another thread,I deal with one of the largest suppliers of resins for tank seal kits and they have hit the wall.Although a big part of the problem is the application and curing conditions. Neither being ideal,if the resin was definitely spread evenly over all surfaces,then properly cured-depending on resin type that may be best with air excluded.-the current resins would probably last for years.

I resealed an old brit fibreglass tank by cutting the base out,sealing the interior then bonding the base back in with epoxy.

Author:  Motorrad [ 14 Feb 2012 14:13 ]
Post subject:  Re: Letters bubble on tank

Although one could let the gas out from behind the letters, the bubbling will have stretched the letter material, and it won't just sit back down where it was all that easily.

Author:  pash [ 14 Feb 2012 14:18 ]
Post subject:  Re: Letters bubble on tank

Mine do :D

Author:  Motorrad [ 14 Feb 2012 17:15 ]
Post subject:  Re: Letters bubble on tank

pash wrote:
Mine do :D

Dude, you are just waaaaaaaay more relaxed than I. :run:

Author:  Adam [ 14 Feb 2012 18:50 ]
Post subject:  Re: Letters bubble on tank

I think there was a Class Action against Ducati in the USA, where they have a greater % Ethanol in their fuel. A lot of the early Superbike tanks swelled up and wouldn't slide onto their frame mounts properly. Everyone got new tanks lOl

I'd have thought it was a good thing. The tank on my Duc is so tiny, that after 100 miles, I'm walking lOl

Author:  deepsix [ 14 Feb 2012 20:29 ]
Post subject:  Re: Letters bubble on tank

Adam wrote:
I'd have thought it was a good thing. The tank on my Duc is so tiny, that after 100 miles, I'm walking lOl


That's good then, cos after 100 miles on some sports bikes you'd have trouble walking :shock:

Author:  Nutah [ 14 Feb 2012 22:29 ]
Post subject:  Re: Letters bubble on tank

Adam wrote:
I'd have thought it was a good thing. The tank on my Duc is so tiny, that after 100 miles, I'm walking lOl


... Ducati reliabilty not improved then ;)

Author:  Lars [ 15 Feb 2012 00:29 ]
Post subject:  Re: Letters bubble on tank

Is it the liquid or the gas that penetrates the tank to cause this problem? Or in other words should I try and keep the fuel levels low when not in use, or high?

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