Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Custom Corner My Project

Well after a lot of inspiration from others and mainly from FriarJohn's posts, I took my tank to the shop. I just got it back from the radiator shop that tested it and sealed it. They sandblasted the tank. So my question is the tank has a light surface rust from the bear metal. So do I sand it off with a scotbrite pad or treat it with Muratic Acid to remove the rust before spaying primer on it?

I don't know if a scotchbrite pad is tough enough. Probably hit it with 400 grit, prime it with a couple coats of primer-filler and block sand it with more 400 (wet this time--lots of water). Then prime it again and hit it with 1200-1500 wet. Then it's ready for degreaser (degreaser after every time you touch it with your hands and before the next coat of whatever), tacking, sealer, paint and clear.

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So do I sand it off with a scotbrite pad or treat it with Muratic Acid to remove the rust before spaying primer on it?

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Well, sand for sure but hit it with the muriatic acid first. No way, no how is sanding gonna clear all the rust away from the metal due to pitting (as microscopic as it may be). So paint on some o' that hydrochloric acid (another name for) to be rinsed off later. Watch for the off gassing when the acid combines with the rust... this is nasty stuff on the lungs. And be aware that the freshly treated metal is extremely vulnerable to further oxidation so hit it very soon with a primer to seal it.

You will never get all the rust with sanding alone. If not treated it will re-appear later as bubbles under the paint... not something you want to face after all that work and money.

Mountainman....that was what I seemed to remember...old age make you forget...I will try to post pictures

One thing about most of the newer paints. Any time bare metal is being painted, a primer that contains "etching" ingredients is highly recommended, ie., Etching primer. Although I used basic primer from a rattle can for many years in the past, the times they are a changin. (And paint prep.)

I was looking at the tank tonight...it seems like it has some type of coating and there are area where you can see a light rust...I am going to call the shop tomorrow and ask them what to do next...

Oooh I forgot etching primer... dang.

Here's what I have done so far
http://picasaweb.google.com/Kauai010/BikeProject#
Not sure why the pictures make the tank look brown...it is a gray color with some areas of light rust

What kind of gas cap you putting on that bad boy? Did you make that bracket for the speedometer? It should be pretty cool once you're done. What are you doing for fenders?

I will post more about the gas cap...it is a simiple cap. I made the bracket based on this: http://www.newbonnevilleriders.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=21
I e-mailed him and he didn't think his bracket would fit on the speedmaster. He thought there isn't enought clearance between the speedo and the stock head light. I am running a 5-1/2" light extended out...so I don't have a clearance issue. If you want I could send you a full size to scale pdf of the bracket. I drew it up in Microstation.
No fender in the front and a bobbed fender in the back. I am also lowering the bike by 1"

More info from the radiator shop...there is no coating on the outside of the tank...he said scotchbrite pad to take off the surface rust and prime it....

SDKIMO, you beat me to it. i was just going to tell you, all you need to do was scotchbrite it and prime it....Angelis

Well some progress....tank is all most muded in...the marks are high spots..
http://picasaweb.google.com/Kauai010/BikeProject#

Starting the battery relocation

Finished the painting last week

Is the painted console for a secret bike we don't know about?

I painted my console long time ago..didn't like the sun reflecting off it...but now I have no use for it

I think Keith means off to the right in that last photo. It looks like a console from another bike.
It is looking good by the way.

Cheers,
Brent

Oh I see...that is the piece that is under the front fender...I painted it and may run it as a fork brace

may scrap the fender brace...look who is making a brace

http://www.superbrace.com/products.asp?cat=59

I think I know the answer...I am replacing the hand grips..I saw on the stock grip on the throttle side there were recesses were plastic throttle piece would fit into on the grip and raised parts on the plastic throttle...should I grind off the raised plastic parts?

Thats what I did to make my football grips fit.

That is what I thought I need to do...thanks

what kind of prep work was involved to paint the chrome console?

I sanded the console which one of the red abrasive pad and painted with stain black plastic paint...

Hey Jim. What kind of tail light is that you have on the fender? I have been looking for an improvement over the stock one, and that looks pretty cool.

It is a lucas style...I got it here
http://www.jpcycles.com/product/3400225?...nement_search=1

I like the look of that. I think I'll use that when I bob my fender. Thanks for the link kind sir!
Brett

I had to drill some holes for the light...when I cut the fender the plate, light covers all the existing holds in the fender...so I didn't plug them up

Electrical.....******.....have to go thru the bar wiring and new speedo...no lights, no fire !!!!!

Finally Done !!!!

I like it! More/better pictures, please.

A few more

wow great job .. love the many details.. well done !!

Looks Good! I am still not sure about riding without a front fender but I like the look that it gives the bike!

Bike looks great! I love apes with the internal wiring. I got 12's on mine witn internals. Man what a pain in the ****** it was but such a clean look. What headlight you running? Looks nice.

Definitely, let's have some info and pics on those front brake lines, please.

And what did you do with your headlight wiring? I did you move all those connectors or stuff them into that considerably smaller unit? I've got a billet 5 3/4" light for mine. Haven't tackled the wiring yet.

The head light is a basic Harley head light...ran all the connectors under the tank...will take some pic's of the brake lines

This is the front brake...all lines are Goodrich from J&P cycle

Single brake line from master cylinder



There is a 90 degree ell at the triple tree



From under the triple tree



The tee is a male x male x female tee. The lines to the calipers connect to the male ends. The ell is a male x male and connects the master cylinder to the tee. I used a 1/2 spacer on the head light bold under the triple tree and made a piece of alum. to bolt the tee to and the head light bolt. Slot the hole because you need to move the tee in and out to get clearance for the 90 ell when the handlebars are at full lock both directions.