I uncovered my Mk3 interstate on Sunday to check her over for an MOT later this week. I've not had the cover off since January/February and I was horrified to see that a large patch of the laquer on the top of the tank has gone badly crazed (no, it'snot insane - it has thousands of tiny cracks in it !) I've no idea what has caused this, there's no holes in the tank, no fuel init (it was emptied and the fumes allowed to disperse before being closed up for the winter) and nothing has been spilled on it. It is a steel Interstate tank with the original Norton factory paint (silver)- Thisdid have a very small patch of light crazing right at the front (barely visible unless you knew where to look..)All I can think is that something has made this spread for some reason ? Anyway, the upshot is that I'm going to have to do something about it, I'd rather not lose the original paint if at all possible and a friend who has classic cars has told me that it may be possible for an expert painter to carefully flat back the affected area of laquer and then re-laquer the whole tank -If anyone could let me know if they have had any experience in this direction or could recommend a paintshop or restorerin the Lincolnshire/East Midlands area that could do it I'd be eternally grateful !..
i have seen similar on a c…
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Previously barry_carson wr…
Previously barry_carson wrote:
i have seen similar on a car that was put into storage and was ok when covered up but it was covered with plastic sheet for a couple of years which was lying on the paint they said it could have been the acid they use to make the plastic sheet that had a go at the paint. also seen similar to what you have when the paint was taken off the tank there were worm like trails of rust under the paint in the metal that had buit up crazing the paint . another one if the lacquer was applied to thick then you would get a similar thing happening not straight away but after a length of time. Baz
Thanks for replying Baz - I can see the plastic sheet being a problem due to it's acidity as you say but the bike was covered with a proper bike cover I bought especially for the task a few years ago (prior to this I covered her over with old cotton bedsheetswith no problems other than the alloy would go a bit dull over the winter..) Underneath the laquer the paint layer itself seems OK so I don't know what has caused it. Actually I've been thinking,it is on the top of the tank close to the cap so could it bethe dreaded Ethanol petrol issue rearing it's ugly head again ?.. As it's 'original equipment' paintwork so to speak (1977)maybe it's not as resistant to Ethanol asmodern paints would be. It was thoroughly cleaned before it was covered over for the winter but I suppose Icould have spilled some when filling up at some point which got into the small patch which was already crazed and then spread under the laquer? who knows.. John.
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i have seen similar on a car that was put into storage and was ok when covered up but it was covered with plastic sheet for a couple of years which was lying on the paint they said it could have been the acid they use to make the plastic sheet that had a go at the paint. also seen similar to what you have when the paint was taken off the tank there were worm like trails of rust under the paint in the metal that had buit up crazing the paint . another one if the lacquer was applied to thick then you would get a similar thing happening not straight away but after a length of time. Baz