Thumper Club Forum
Club House => Chatter => Topic started by: scottie on November 12, 2007, 08:33:25 PM
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hi everybody!!
i am a newbie to this site,but i was wondering if anyone knows where i can get a fuel tank for GB400 TT OR IF A TANK FROM ANY OTHER HONDA IS THE SAME?
thanks
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The GB400 is exactly the same as the 500. But finding a tank for either is problemmatic. Can't you fixthe one you've got?
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the tank is full of holes at the bottom,i am thinking about fibreglassing the outside at bottom and petsealing the inside? but im not sure how it will come out!
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Hey Scottie
I had an SRX tank like this. Well, a single hole, where the water collects, but a hole's a hole!
;D (that takes me back to my slightly smutty teenage years)
Anyway, we're all grown up now.
I repaired said tank with a product called "PetroPatch" from Holts. Basically cotton and 2-pack resin.
Clean it up, slap the resin on, cotton on top, work some more resin on, let it dry.
Then I petsealed it inside. It was fine, I raced with it, no leaks. After about 2 years, the outside repair was starting to come away so I redid it. I just gave the tank to a mate, not sure if he's had fuel in it yet . Didn't re-petseal, but I'm assuming that its ok... john!
I'd try to repair your existing tank while keeping an eye out for a new (2nd hand) one. Glassing up the bottom if its very bad, and then lots of petseal seems like a good bet. Noting to loose, bar a few quid.
good luck
andy
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'nothing to lose except a few quid' is not the answer we've come to expect from the clubs senior 'blagger'!!
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i have ordered some petseal premium and petro patch,so hopefully i can get it sealed!i cant wait to be able to ride the little"thumper".mind you i still need an mot and registration!it is an 1987 ,never been registered before so that is still to come!!
scottie
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Rather than that cotton petro patch, I'd strongly recommend cleaning both sides to bare metal and buying the following: WEST or equivalent epoxy [the best stuff uses a resin:hardener ratio of 5:1 or 4:1]; microballoon powder; and 6oz glass cloth. Sand the surfaces lightly, clean with degreaser or acetone, put on vinyl medical gloves, apply thin layer of epoxy, apply pre-cut cloth. Fill weave with epoxy by dabbing with a stiff brush but use as little as possible. Put microballoon powder into a little epoxy until the mix is dryish but still sticks together. Pat a little powder onto the wet laminate and apply the micro putty, pressing it down and smoothing it. This forces the cloth into contact with the metal and sucks up excess resin. I mould the putty so as to eliminate the flange where the tank parts are welded together; it looks better. Finally, when the moulding looks right let it harden and wet-sand it all smooth. Then remove the petcock, put in a rubber plug, and put rust-killing acid inside. Slosh it around for a while as per instructions on the container. Drain it out, wash with water, wash again with meths. Paint tank. If you leave the petcock in while acid washing, the acid will eat the brass.
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As far as cleaning out the inside goes, I've just used a kit from www.frost.co.uk on my CB900 tank. You get everything you need, marine clean to remove all the crap, metal ready to etch all the rust off and a tin of tank sealer. you also get a piece of cloth patch in case the etching reveals any holes. Its supposed to be enough for a 4 1/2 gallon tank providing you don't spill it everywhere which i did when I knocked the bung out of the petcock hole. I reckon i had just about enough although for a bigger tank there's not much sealer to spare. Its not a pleasant job and it stinks but I'm happy with the result and the full kit's only £25.
Dave B
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Don't you just love MS swear catcher - cannot say petcock but you can say crap as much as you like..
Cleaning out the inside - have always loved the handful of large gravel or old (steel) nuts shaken about in there with some water or the like - batters the hell out of the rust.
With the laminating resin and the glass fabric, make sure you get the fabric doped for epoxy and not polyester - it is more expensive but does a better job. I have done the lark of putting the epoxy on to a bit of card, brushing it out and then laying the glass on this and pummeling it till it is wetted through - lift the glass and lay it on the tank - keeps the epoxy to a minimum but wets out the glass fully.
Not sure if I put it in the recommended suppliers - no thtat I have used them but Caswell Europe do an epoxy formulated for coating the insides of petrol tanks - would probably be good after glassing the outside.
R
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Nope have not listed them - there again I have not used them
Their tank gunge (http://www.caswelleurope.co.uk/gastank.htm), mind the rest looks good too.
R
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My mate has just rebuilt and registered a GB400. It ran quite well, especially since the cam wear turned out to be the worst he's ever seen :o
This particular GB has obviously had a very bad of time of it, but it looks very pretty.
Yet again it proves that regular oil changes are vital with the RFVC motor
GC
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The problem with the gravel is with some tanks it can be a bugger to get it all out again. I've heard of putting a length of old chain in there, does the same job and easier to get out. Never tried it though.
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thanks for all the ideas,i have got some fibreglass tissue(much finer than the norm) and some petseal premium to have a go!.this gb400 only has 11km on the clock!and it belonged to my brother-in law before me..he spent quite abit on the engine and other bits,but then lost interset!! it also has a brand new stainless steel predator exhaust as the old one was not repairable!
i will try fixing?(he says hopefully)it this weekend
cheers guys
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hi everybody!!
i am a newbie to this site,but i was wondering if anyone knows where i can get a fuel tank for GB400 TT OR IF A TANK FROM ANY OTHER HONDA IS THE SAME?
thanks
If push came to shove you could fit an XBR500 tank, although it's shorter and doesn't look as nice.