Oh b*gg*r - had fuel in the tank for last 3 weeks and came out to find this (in photo) today. Obviously a pinhole but question is - how do I repair it without damaging the paintwork (too much) and is JB Weld to fill the pinhole (if possible) considered to be a “bodge”?
Paint is a candy cellulose lacquer over a gold base coat, spot repair isn’t going to match the rest (at least not with my knowledge & lack of technique!). If I’ve got to strip, braze & re-paint then so be it but I’d prefer not to if it can be done another way!
Thanks for your thoughts…
Thanks for your thoughts George. They’re much the same as mine have been - it’s moved on a bit now though, removed the tank today and found 4 more small “bubbles” around the headstock area (that’s been repaired previously), cleaned them all off so looks as if I’m going to strip, re-braze & re-paint - ahh, the wonders of old bikes. I did check for leaks before painting but these all look like vapour bubbling as all were completely dry when I took the “bubbles” off!
Bruce
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Another thought
Is it on the same side as the fuel tap?
My Morini had paint bubbling up at the seam last year and I thought the worst, but it all came down to the fuel tap sealing washer not doing its job. Fuel made its way up the thread of the fitting and then under the paint.
Like you, It was of course after I had the nice paintjob done the previous year.
May be worth a check first?
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No, one in photo is opposite…
No, one in photo is opposite side plus 4 more in a completely different area - pity as that would have saved a ton of work! I’m going to have to do a pressure check on it to see if there’s other weak areas - just keeping my fingers crossed it’s not too far gone - at least tanks come up on ebay reasonably often so it’s not too expensive to replace if I need it.
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More repairs
I too had this woe a lot of years ago, being a cheapy I did as follows. The hole was just by the tap feed ie bottom left corner, tank had rotted/rusted with old water/petrol. when I scraped away the silver paint I found a new half penny size hole. Cleaned paint off with a file, dented tank in gently with ball pain hammer, dropped in brass 2BA counter sunk screw, soldered over the lot till smooth, filled smoother, painted with aluminium paint. Petrol tight last 30 years. Have fun.
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As I see it you have 2 choices as I personally wouldn't trust an external glued on patched repair to remain leak free.
So you can either:
1/ rub paint away locally and solder the joint, which will affect a larger area of paint, or
2/ go the tank sealant route, and only the area that has bubbled will need touching in.
Have done both methods, but have only soldered on a tank before painting it. My Morini soldered repair is 12 years old, my Norton's tank liner (Caswell) is just 3 months old so no idea as to long term reliability, but no bunged up carb as yet.
Both types of repair will need the tanks thoroughly cleaned inside to remove any traces of fuel. Soldered repair is fixed in a day (except paint), whereas you should allow a fortnight if you go the liner route. Depends upon how much riding you want to do before 'the season' comes to a close.
Good luck,
George.