Refurbishing plastic gas tank

Moto Mofo
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Moto Mofo
Edited Date/Time 1/26/2012 2:47pm
I'm restoring my first bike, a YZ60. Whats the trick to making the plastic gas tank look new again? Any input from any of the experts out there? Thanks in advance!
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badfish
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badfish 5/5/2011 10:29pm
5/5/2011 10:29pm
I'm no pro but I was researching this a while back. Someone said to use boiled linseed oil for faded plastics. Maybe a light sanding to smooth out the plastic too.
Moto Mofo
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Moto Mofo 5/6/2011 11:04am
5/6/2011 11:04am Edited Date/Time 5/6/2011 11:04am
Hmm... interesting! I found a place that specializes in making old tanks look new again, but I'd like to take a shot at it myself. I figured some sort of wet sanding method would be the norm, but I just don't know how to get that smooth, new finish.

Thanks for the reply!
Bret
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Bret 5/6/2011 11:53am
5/6/2011 11:53am Edited Date/Time 5/6/2011 11:54am
Lots of wet sanding. It is very time consuming but the results are very good. Start with 220 and move to a finer grit in increments until you get to 1000 or 1500. I use a foam block so the paper follows the contours better. After sanding, use a buffer with a wool bonnet and some wax or polish. I use a product called Gel Gloss that can be found at nearly any hardware store. Here are some links. Before and After
Gel Gloss
project racer 5/6/2011 12:19pm
5/6/2011 12:19pm Edited Date/Time 5/6/2011 12:22pm
Some of the best results I have seen come from using jewelers rouge and a buffing wheel.

Problem with many old plastic tanks is once you get that 30 year old tank looking nice, the oils in the petroleum make up of the plastic have been long gone, leaving you with a tank that is very prone to cracking.

I have woken up more than once with gas all over the garage floor from an old plastic tank that has split.

The Shop

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Moto Mofo
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Moto Mofo 5/8/2011 9:38pm
5/8/2011 9:38pm
Good stuff, thank you all for the info! I have never really tackled a restoration project, so this is a huge learning experience for me. Thanks again!
Moto Mofo
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Moto Mofo 5/10/2011 7:51pm
5/10/2011 7:51pm
Ok, so one more question: Everything is coming along nicely, however the bottom of the tank is a nasty brown color from the old gas (sludge) that remained in the tank for a long period of time. Is it at all possible to get rid of this brown color? I'd assume not, but I could've sworn I've heard of this being done in the past... Thanks again!

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