Rust inside Bullet tank. What are my options?

[Sudipto-S-Team]

The heading pretty much describes it. I have an old old Bullet and there is serious rust inside the tank. What are my options other than the obvious one, that is, change the tank and get a new one? Actually I don't like the shiny black colour in which the new tanks come. How can I save my old tank?

[mantrig]

Get an Apoxy done, not sure if this is how its spelt but its painted from inside.

See below pictures of my bullet tank from inside where I had a great amount of water in the tank even after the apoxy, finally just changed the fuel cap and am sorted now.

[beejay]

Always make it a point to drain and seal your tank if you do not intend to use the bike for a while.

I have drained my RX100 tank and have smeared oil on the inner walls.

I am sure the rust can be removed from your tank.

[Rehaan]

Stupidito-S,

As mantrig mentioned - Epoxy coating the inside of the tank is one solution.

Typically what a mechanic will do is put a bunch of nuts and bolts into your tank and really give it a good shake-around in order to take off all the excess rust.

After that, the epoxy solution (also used in maritime applications? boat fuel tanks etc?) will be poured into the tank and moved around so that it evenly coats the inside of the tank and then dried to form a rust-proof coating.

Not sure how long this epoxy coat will last, or what the alternatives are.

cya
R

[mantrig]

Originally Posted by Rehaan

Stupidito-S,

As mantrig mentioned - Epoxy coating the inside of the tank is one solution.

Not sure how long this epoxy coat will last, or what the alternatives are.

cya
R

Hey Rehaan, Thank you for helping with the word, "Epoxy".

Further to discussions with my mechanic, Epoxy serves atleast 3 monsoons provided the fuel cap is proper (no seepage) and the solution used for the procedure is of good quality. Good epoxy coating ensures the tank is as good as new internally again. Also, we need to make sure the tank has been sun dried for a decent time to ensure the solution dries off and forms a strong coat, so it does not corrode off when the tank is refulled.

So Sudipto-S, please make sure you get this done on a day when the rain-god has taken a day off to make sure you get the best results.

Regards,
Mantri G.

[deutscheafrikar]

Sudipto-S
To clean the fuel tank before you coat it with epoxy red oxide and epoxy paint you need to clean it with the following first, Find/get about 4 handfuls of fine gravel (also called metal) that is thrown as the final layer on top of freshly tarred road, in addition you will also require equalquantity of white beach sand.
First step you put the fine gravel and some/little water in to the tank cover it with the cap and shake it so that the gravel acts as an abrasive against the rusted portion. The pointy edges of the gravel will remove the larger rust. Then you take this off and clean with water. Maybe do it againdepending on how it looks inside. Then you add water and the beach sand and repeat the process. This will get rid of the finer rust and it will look like you used sandpaper on the sheet metal. If you use some liquid rust remover now then it's good. then you have to dry it in the hot october sun. put the epoxy primer and paint when its hot hot so will dry better. you can mix redoxide/paintwith thinner and pour some in and turn it over and arround till it coats all over.
Best of luck

[james]

I had my old bullet tank powdercoated from the inside about 5yrs ago. The bike is used once in about 6 months and the insides are still rust free. the problem with this is that the paint on the outside gets burnt. You will have to paint the tank.
The same was done on my RD about 2yrs ago and its going strong!
I live bang on the coast!

Option 2: I believe yamaha sells some kind of tank rust treatment kit. It has 3 bottles with different liquids. One gets out all the rust, the other cleans and the third coats. I have heard a lot of positive comments about this from friends. You may want to give it a shot.
Cheers!

[shivshanker]

There has to be a cynical guy in every post correct!, well I want to take the challenge this time.

EPOXY over a period of time is supposed to start clogging the float chamber and play havoc with the carb and the ignition system.

Hence be careful,

Cheers!

Shivshanker

[SS-Traveller]

Why not a sandblasting followed by zinc metalizing spray/coat? Solve your rust problem for ever. Some good places to get it done in Kolkata. True, the surface paint will need to be re-done, but this is a permanent solution.

[Sudipto-S-Team]

Thanks for all the comments friends. I know the ways of cleaning the inside of a tank but the amount of rust that was recently drained out suggests it is beyond cleaning. Shivshanker's concern about epoxy acting up is not unfounded and I have heard something similar too.
@ James - Is it Yamaha India or abroad?

[james]

Originally Posted by Sudipto-S-Team

@ James - Is it Yamaha India or abroad?

It is Yamaha India. Its sold as the rx tank rust treatment or something like that!

[PAVAN KADAM]

Simple.

Keep adding 5 ml of engine oil into your fuel tank every month.

This will avoid rusting for a life time. How else do you think we guys maintain our above 40 yr old classics and vintage cars fuel tank

[james]

Pavan, Sadly that doesnt help much when you stay close to the coast. I used to add 5ml of Motul 2t to every litre of fuel that went into the bullet. It still rusted but at a relatively slower rate. I started off with the tank that didnt have a single spot of rust in it.

[Gansan]

I agree with Pavan Kadam. The tried and tested method is to add 5 ml 2T oil per litre of petrol for Bullets. For two strokes with a separate 2T oil tank (RX 100, Shogun etc), disconnect the oil pump and simply use a petroil mix in the fuel tank. Additionally use a magnet filter in the fuel line.

[H3LIOS]

I too am facing rust problems with my Yezdi Roadking tank. Every month or so it clogs up the fuel filter and chokes the flow. I tried a couple of short-term solutions but am looking for a long-term fix.

One is the RR-10 Fuel Tank Cleaning Kit marketed by Escorts and supposed to be available at any Yamaha dealership. Unfortunately the only Yamaha shop in my town have not even heard of it

Anyway, a fellow biker at the Jawaclub site was kind enough to upload a scan of the instruction leaflet that comes with the RR-10 kit . Attached here for your reference.

Second option is to get it sand-blasted and get the inside powder coated. As has already been said, the exterior paint is ruined when they put he tank inside the oven to cure. So I am holding off on this.

Third & last option is to get a professional tank sealant from the US/UK like KREEM or POR-15. But I am not sure what the import duties would be - if at all import of such substances is allowed.

A epoxy of fiberglass resin coat can be a solution, but it has to be done properly and with high quality materials. Else you would experience peeling within a few months.

Cheers
Teja