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

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

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Feros Ferio

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...



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...

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08 Specialized Langster

it works on the S1 Nick, ask Toyboy

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Feros Ferio

He's pulling your leg...

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08 Specialized Langster

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

wheelie bin plastic

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Feros Ferio

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!!

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.

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Nige...1125d 9.43@140mph

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.

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2006 XB12Ss..... 1998 S1W..... 1996 S2T
We do not need the help of our friends so much as confidence that they will help us when we need it. –Epicurus

Mine do

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08 Specialized Langster

Dude, you are just waaaaaaaay more relaxed than I.

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2006 XB12Ss..... 1998 S1W..... 1996 S2T
We do not need the help of our friends so much as confidence that they will help us when we need it. –Epicurus

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

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

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If your dreams don't scare you, they are not big enough.

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

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I'm a Hornithologist, I get excited by exotic birds.........

... Ducati reliabilty not improved then

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Feros Ferio

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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'40 Indian Chief, '80 Moto Guzzi Le Mans MK2, '97 Buell S1 Lightning, '19 Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe.