Gas Tank Sealer Recommendations.

GoldenMotor.com

culvercityclassic

Well-Known Member
Sep 27, 2009
3,115
177
63
Culver City, Ca
I am looking for recommendations for a tank sealer

I have in the past used a product from Por-15 but have been disappointed with the results. The last tank I did had a small leak the appeared after I filled the tank with gas. After calling Por-15 to find out what I can clean the tank with and reapply this product I was told that the liner would have to be completely removed from the inside of the tank (impossible) The reason is the Por-15 will not adhere to itself. Now is that the S_it or what.

Can someone help with advice…?

Thanks,

culvercityclassic
 

camlifter

Active Member
May 4, 2009
1,033
16
36
acme labs marion ohio
i've tried the por15, cream, the red stuff, just about all the sealers and found noting beats caswells sealer, you will need to get the por15 out of the tank to recoat it. you can use aircraft paint remover inside the tank to get it out, then wash the tank out with acetone then with soapy water, then put some screws or nuts and bolts in there and shake it around untill its clean. heres a link to caswell
Caswell Inc. - Epoxy Gas Tank Sealer
 

bairdco

a guy who makes cool bikes
Aug 18, 2009
6,537
264
63
living the dream in southern california
i use Kreem. the kit comes with a metal etching tank prep, tank cleaner, and the coating.

one kit has done 4 tanks so far, and there's still enough for at least one more.

i think with any sealer, you'll have to remove the old stuff first.

haven't had any leaks yet.

it's about 30 bucks a kit, and it's available at most motorcycle shops, ebay, etc...
 

2door

Moderator
Staff member
Sep 15, 2008
16,302
175
63
Littleton, Colorado
Question: If the tank is actually rusted through in places that will show when painted; will Kreem effect the paint job? I have a great looking little motorcycle tank but it has rust holes on the side where the tank must have laid with water in it. I'd like to use this tank but I'm concerned about trying to get a good paint job on the area where the sealer will undoubtedly seep through while curing. Is Kreem sandable/paintable?
Tom
 

skjjoe

Member
Mar 9, 2009
393
1
18
Boerne Texas
Tom ive used it before..You could put a little melted lead in there . or braze it up. The Kream is pretty thick so I think you'd be alright. if its just a pin hole or a couple pin holes? It dries pretty hard so im thinking you could sand it then hit it with some spot putty or primer
 
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Dan

Staff
May 25, 2008
12,765
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Moosylvania
I have just used Kreem for the first time. Was very impressed. But that is the extent of my experience with sealers. But worked, worked well and had enough to do 2 more tanks.
 

2door

Moderator
Staff member
Sep 15, 2008
16,302
175
63
Littleton, Colorado
Thanks, Scott. You probably know which tank I'm talking about. When I ran it through the bead blaster there were eight or ten pin holes in the left side. I stuck the blaster nozzle inside the tank and that's when they really opened up. This looks like a winter project. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks again for the tank too. :)
Tom
 

skjjoe

Member
Mar 9, 2009
393
1
18
Boerne Texas
Tom when i did mine it was def. a winter project these old tanks dont wear to great once the gas is gone ,good luck i hope you get it to where you can use it.
 

2door

Moderator
Staff member
Sep 15, 2008
16,302
175
63
Littleton, Colorado
Baird and Scott. Thanks for the advice, guys. This is really a cool little tank so I'd like to save it and use it. Looks just like a smaller version of my Yamaha 80 tank. I'll try your suggestions and let you know what happens. I'm not sure I'd try JB but I have some Devcon Liquid Steel that might work. Its a little hard to work with after it cures but I'm sure it will hold up to the task.
Tom
 
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scotto-

Custom 4-Stroke Bike Builder
Jun 3, 2010
6,505
24
38
Ridin' inSane Diego, CA.
hey tom, i know this may sound strange coming from me, but i've repaired pinholes in gas tanks with JB weld, then used Kreem. fixed a buddy's honda CT90 tank awhile back and it's still holding.
Yeah, same here. I repaired a peanut tank where the welded on stud formed a crack from stress and vibration....it's still holding as well and is paintable.

That was just JB weld and not Kreemed. I've also sealed leaky petcocks with just 5 min. 2-part clear epoxy....still holding strong.
 
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Elixys

New Member
Sep 14, 2010
127
0
0
Midland, TX
hmmmm.... ive had good luck with kreem so far.....from the consistency of it i wouldnt try to patch anything larger than the size of a pencil eraser. else youll have a big mess on your hands/carpet/tile floor. I dont think its really meant for anything more than a couple mm thick tank lining. as it gets a little brittle when dry....
 

civlized

New Member
Apr 28, 2009
689
1
0
Alabama
hey tom, i know this may sound strange coming from me, but i've repaired pinholes in gas tanks with JB weld, then used Kreem. fixed a buddy's honda CT90 tank awhile back and it's still holding.
I knew you would come around. That stuff is too awsome to not use on something.
 

culvercityclassic

Well-Known Member
Sep 27, 2009
3,115
177
63
Culver City, Ca
I wanted to thank everyone for the input on my problem tank.

I just said FI on this due to the product I used having to be removed before i could re-coat the inside.

I ended up just tig welding all the pin-holes and then added a little air-brush work to the tank...

The bottom line is por-15 is out and I will try Kream next time.

culvercityclassic
 
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Dan

Staff
May 25, 2008
12,765
115
48
58
Moosylvania
I wanted to thank everyone for the input on my problem tank.

I just said FI on this due to the product I used having to be removed before i could re-coat the inside.

I ended up just tig welding all the pin-holes and then added a little air-brush work to the tank...

The bottom line is por-15 is out and I will try Kream next time.

culvercityclassic
Thanks for posting about por-15. I was considering trying it but will stick with kreem.

Really is a cool thing that we have a way to discuss things like this. (Thanks again Paul and Mods!)((I am waiting for a chance to use a ModSquad joke))

On another thread I had asked about a welder I was considering getting. Got a ton of good information and answers to questions I didn't know I had yet. (I am a complete novice to them)

Just good to know you guys
 

bigbutterbean

Active Member
Jan 31, 2011
2,417
3
38
Lebanon, PA
2door, not that i am an expert with rusted tanks (only because i seal them when they are new, so never had this problem), but let me say this. you could follow bairdco's suggestion, which is perfectly reasonable, and i am in no way trying to shoot down his advice, or you could solder the holes. if you decide to solder, i would buy the 3 step kreem kit, clean and etch the tank, let it dry, then solder it, then seal it, then paint it. it should be bulletproof after that.