New shock and damaged paint!!

[lstat]

About two months ago I stumbled across the DIY for installing a zx6r shock on the little ninjette by TheDuck, I liked the idea so i ordered one from eBay. Well, I grasped my down time today and ran with it. I tore the entire bike down and stuck that bad boy in there. It is definitely much more aggressive when riding now and looks great (I think), but that is not the issue at hand.

Unfortunately when I removed my gas tank, gas spilled out all over the top. Stupid me was excited for this shock install and did not think, "Hey, that gas is going to eat the paint off." Needless to say I have a large area of bare metal on my tank, I have attached a picture for you all to see (sorry for the quality, my spare phone is a Blackberry and my cameras zoom lens zooms to much to use for this). It isnt THAT bad, the ride is still enjoyable, looking at it really is not, though. My main issue is I do not want to take the time to repaint the tank as I had planned to order a tank cover from Sportisi when I stumbled across the site. I like the idea of the added leverage but at this point I am just looking at it as an escape route/added looks (still).

http://sportisimotorsport.us/index.p...products_id=52

Here is the link, but unfortunately it is out of stock and has been for the last few weeks when I was hoping to order it. Does anybody know where I can get a tank cover like this? I do not want the half covers since the paint is peeled all the way back to the gas cap, and I do not want a leather cover, either. I keep searching all kinds of terms in Google but the only things that come up are this one from Sportisi and the leathers....


Any help will be GREATLY appreciated as I do not want this to look bad for very long I am yet to email and ask about it, I decided to ask first just incase there is something similar/cheaper that looks just as good. These are the times living in Indonesia sounds really great since this is the only bike in my garage at the moment.

[Jiggles]

Dip the rest of the tank in gas, could look cool

[lstat]

I actually thought about that, but I like my white/black color scheme to much to throw silver in there If worst comes to worst I will finish removing it all, if I like it then painting isnt necessary, I suppose!

[lstat]

I just realized I posted this in the Pregen section, oops. Somebody can move this, right?

[Bob2010]

Could always re paint yourself right? Satin black would be nice and it's eaiser to lay than gloss

[lstat]

Originally Posted by Bob2010

Could always re paint yourself right? Satin black would be nice and it's eaiser to lay than gloss

Yes, but I really dont care to, lol. I hate waiting for paint to dry and unfortunately since my car is in the shop for repairs these are my only wheels; did I mention I am always on the move and hate waiting for paint to dry?

[Monkeytofu]

You could buy some adhesive vinyl and cut it so that it covers your bike in a way that looks cool. Would be a bandage until you can repaint it, but That would limit your tank's exposure to the elements.

You could sand it down and repaint whenever you get the time.

[Confuzshuz]

Originally Posted by lstat

Yes, but I really dont care to, lol. I hate waiting for paint to dry and unfortunately since my car is in the shop for repairs these are my only wheels; did I mention I am always on the move and hate waiting for paint to dry?

bake it in the oven at low temp and it will dry in very little time.

[dubojr1]

Wait.... Gas will not eat paint off so I'm confused. Has to be more to this story.

[lstat]

Originally Posted by dubojr1

Wait.... Gas will not eat paint off so I'm confused. Has to be more to this story.

That is the entire story. Gas leaked on the tank, I wiped it off and paint started flaking by merely touching it.

Looks to me like the gas ate the paint off

[dubojr1]

That is SUPER weird...

[lstat]

Lol, I said the same thing. I suppose I will do as Jiggles says and clean the rest of the tank with gas sometime in the near future...

[bdavison]

Sounds like a perfect time to get a sweet airbrushed tank.

Whatever you do, you need to at least get some primer/paint back on it quick, or you wont have a tank to paint. It will rust away quickly.

[fatestkid]

That is so surprising because that means any drop of gas you get on your tank while filling will damage your tank. Was your bike used, maybe the tank was painted by the previous owner?

[lstat]

That's the funny thing, I drip gas everytime I fill up and have never seen any damage of any kind appear, suddenly it happens, though. I did buy the bike used, the fairings are, of course, aftermarket. I think that the original owner laid it over before trading it in to the dealer and replaced the fairings because I did get a few stock pieces which were scuffed, I never thought about the gas tank being painted, though. That is a very good point. Come to think of it there is a dent in the left corner of the tank. Looks like I may have found the issue. I suppose I will be painting it although I do want the cover Sportisi sells, that is why I created the thread, you know!

Thinking about it, if the tank were repainted wouldn't it make since to apply a little bondo and fix the dent, also? I can't see somebody painting the tank without fixing the tank. Hmm..

[Goom]

This might be a more extreme case, but gas DEFINITELY eats paint. If you watch some of the older, wiser dudes on bikes at the gas station, you might notice a lot of them will grab a paper towel to hold over the end of the nozzle to catch the drips.

[dubojr1]

Originally Posted by Goom

This might be a more extreme case, but gas DEFINITELY eats paint. If you watch some of the older, wiser dudes on bikes at the gas station, you might notice a lot of them will grab a paper towel to hold over the end of the nozzle to catch the drips.

That's to avoid stripping the wax off. I sometimes do the same thing (and I'm not THAT old). Think about it for a minute. Do you know how many cars/trucks and bikes for that matter would be missing paint at the fuel lid if gas ate paint.... Hundreds of thousands. Hell I've even over filled most of my vehicles before including a dodge truck, multiple Acura cars, a Yamaha Jetski, both my ninjette, etc. It happens but the paint is resilient to it.

[Goom]

Originally Posted by dubojr1

That's to avoid stripping the wax off. I sometimes do the same thing (and I'm not THAT old). Think about it for a minute. Do you know how many cars/trucks and bikes for that matter would be missing paint at the fuel lid if gas ate paint.... Hundreds of thousands. Hell I've even over filled most of my vehicles before including a dodge truck, multiple Acura cars, a Yamaha Jetski, both my ninjette, etc. It happens but the paint is resilient to it.

Go out to your car right now with a gas-soaked rag and start scrubbing it. Don't actually do that...unless you need proof. It's not that it doesn't eat the paint, it's that it won't take much off at a time, and it would have to go through multiple coats of clear before you would actually notice.

Look for bubbling paint near gas caps. That damage is from gas, and it's extremely common.

[dubojr1]

When you have proof... I'll be listening. Until them I'll look around to see what I have that I can do some test with. How long should I leave a soaked rag on it so there's no denying it?

[Goom]

Just pour the gas directly on your car. Don't even bother with the rag. It won't hurt the paint anyway.

[dubojr1]

Originally Posted by Goom

Just pour the gas directly on your car. Don't even bother with the rag. It won't hurt the paint anyway.

Ok... Now what? Gas evaporated.... No damage...

[Stamatos]

Yeah, this thread worried me at first. I had to run out and look at my tank. The last time I filled up (6 weeks ago, thank you little ninja's MPG!) I spilled quite a bit over the tank. I went inside, got some paper towels and wiped away at the top of the tank. No paint missing and it seems the metallic colors would show wear worse than the chromatic ones. Did the OP have some sort of additive in the gas that might account for the quick stripping qualities of his fuel?

[Liquidtoon]

I think, and I'm not positive, but gas eats oils based paint but vehicles are painted with a latex or spirits based. If the tank was painted at a shop it wouldnt have eaten through the paint, but if it was a well done rattle can it would.

As for what to do about it, you have to repaint it even if its just a single coat of rustoleum to keep the tank from rusting out. personally I would get a semi gloss and a can of clear. Its hot enough this time of year the paint will dry enough in 10mins to add the next coat. All said its only about an hour project.

[7oxSin]

why hasnt any one suggested putting a tank bag over the tank?

[k-os]

Originally Posted by 7oxSin

why hasnt any one suggested putting a tank bag over the tank?

Because that still won't prevent it from rusting.

[JA-Moo]

Gas will not screw up factory paint. I bet the tank was repainted with spray can. Gas tears that stuff right off......

[Liquidtoon]

Originally Posted by JA-Moo

Gas will not screw up factory paint. I bet the tank was repainted with spray can. Gas tears that stuff right off......

Agreed, I think the poly-enamel clear coat stuff in cans holds up better.Might look into something you could spill a drop or two during fill up without major trouble.

ebay, wrecking yards ect., find a painted tank for below 100 bucks and be cheaper than paint and a cover.

[lstat]

Originally Posted by Stamatos

Did the OP have some sort of additive in the gas that might account for the quick stripping qualities of his fuel?

As far as I know there was nothing added to the gas; it was regular old 91 octane from the gas station. I have grown to ignore the large paintless spot, it still really bugs me but I will have it fixed soon enough. I suppose when I tear down my bike this Winter I will repaint it, I will live with it until then.

[Lychee]

Originally Posted by lstat

As far as I know there was nothing added to the gas; it was regular old 91 octane from the gas station. I have grown to ignore the large paintless spot, it still really bugs me but I will have it fixed soon enough. I suppose when I tear down my bike this Winter I will repaint it, I will live with it until then.

There's yer problem, should be using 87.

[lstat]

Oh man, I hope 91 doesnt hurt any engine components like it did the tank (I know nothing about motors). My last three bikes I have always been told to run 91.

[JA-Moo]

91 won't hurt anything but your wallet......

[dubojr1]

Originally Posted by JA-Moo

Gas will not screw up factory paint. I bet the tank was repainted with spray can. Gas tears that stuff right off......

Thanks for backing me up! Nice to know I wasn't going crazy thinking that gas had no effect on factory paint.

[2012NewRider]

I've spilled gas on my tank after pulling the nozzle off too quickly but nothing happened to the paint. I would recommend Plastidip to cover it up quickly and create a temporary layer of protection. I once owned a car that had that happen to the paint when I over filled it but it was because the previous owner used latex spray paint and some clear coat to make it look ok.

[staulkor]

I vote you drain the tank and take an air grinder disc to all of it to give it some neat swirls and then clear coat it to protect from rust. That or just plastidip the tank and be done with it.

[JA-Moo]

Originally Posted by staulkor

I vote you drain the tank and take an air grinder disc to all of it to give it some neat swirls and then clear coat it to protect from rust. That or just plastidip the tank and be done with it.

gas eats plastidip.......