Author Topic: Petrol is melting paintwork  (Read 1002 times)

guest1350

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Petrol is melting paintwork
« on: August 16, 2011, 05:25:57 PM »

My lovely SRX400 was rebuilt by the last owner. I can see he put a lot of effort into it. Everything was repainted, only problem is if the paint gets a sniff of petrol it just dissolves and peels off.

The crank covers I will remove and polish to a gloss. The cylinder is silver and done in heat proof paint so should be ok. I might respray it black (in-situ) and sand off the edges of the fins to make a contrast.

The really big issue is the tank. I moved the tank and some petrol touched the edge around the filler cap and its lifting the paint. Do you have and ideas what to do? Do I put up with it and be very careful or bite the bullet and strip/repaint.

BTW it has a lacquer on it, that seems to be better than the paint but it makes no odds as it still all comes off.

Cheers
Tim

Ian

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Re: Petrol is melting paintwork
« Reply #1 on: August 16, 2011, 08:54:30 PM »
Im afraid that is the problem with modern day fuels. I had the same problem with all my SRX tanks after they had been resprayed. "Petrol proof lacquer" only slows down the process. Im afraid if your paintwork is ruined there is only one option  >:( If the damage is restricted to inside the fuel cap then you will have to live with it. Sorry I cant be of much more use. Just try to be careful when filling up.

HTH

Ian :)
1 New SRX 1 C400X 1 GB350S

guest1350

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Re: Petrol is melting paintwork
« Reply #2 on: August 16, 2011, 09:45:10 PM »


Thanks for the info. The damage on the tank is restricted to the edge were the tank dips in under the cap, so I will take care of it. Its interesting that paints have trouble with petrol these days.


guest295

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Re: Petrol is melting paintwork
« Reply #3 on: August 17, 2011, 09:56:03 AM »
Strip and respray, starting with several layers of grey primer and wet-sanding with 600 grit. The idiot former owner used the wrong paint, probably rattle-can stuff. Good paint is not affected by petrol, modern or not. My favourite tank paint is brush-on enamel, but it takes some technique to get it on smoothly. I mount the tank on a long piece of timber so it can be rotated, then flow the paint on with a very good brush while rotating it. When it's covered, I keep turning it and start a heater to set the paint. Rotating makes it impossible for runs to get going. As soon as the paint is stiff enough not to run, turn the heat off, turn it for a few more minutes (to make sure) and go away. Needless to add, there should be no flying insects in the room. Next day, put it in the sun if you've got any. The paint will be soft for a week or two, so avoid scratching or knocking it, and no petrol or other solvents.

Frog

  • Guest
Re: Petrol is melting paintwork
« Reply #4 on: August 24, 2011, 09:04:40 PM »
Sounds a bit odd but Polyurethane varnish over acrylic works if you have to use rattle cans....

PU can be bought in spray cans although I use an airbrush.

once cured PU is pretty resistant to most things - including nitromoors when I tried to strip a guitar neck ::)

It will, just like petrol resistant lacquer, give a slight yellow caste to things - unnoticeable on anything other than the lightest colours. This will increase with age upto a point but is not really a problem.

Frog