Anyone have any suggestions for effective removal of an old failing fuel tank liner? It's probably going to be difficult because I have excellent 50-year-old stock paint that I don't want to mess up.
What's in there now looks like it might be Kreem(?) and was there when I bought the bike almost 20 years ago. It's a light tan colored stuff that has become delaminated from parts the tank, and it's now hanging down from the roof of the tank and allowing fuel to get behind it and rust to get washed out into the fuel. I'm guessing that I can just grab the loose pieces and pull/tear some of out, but wondering how to get all the parts that are still stuck to the metal. Once I get the liner out I can deal with cleaning the tank the right way.
On hand I have:
-EvapoRust (3 gal)
-Vinegar (1 or 2 gal)
-Acetone (1 qt)
And I can go out and grab anything else that might do the job.
EDIT:
I found this on the Kreem site:
kreem_remove.png
Assuming that's what I'm dealing with I guess this will be my plan. Does my description above sound like I have Kreem?
https://www.2strokeworld.net/forum/index.php?topic=7019.msg57725#msg57725
Here's my experience. The paint protector really works well.
Quote from: Kawtriplefreak on December 14, 2025, 01:26:15 AMhttps://www.2strokeworld.net/forum/index.php?topic=7019.msg57725#msg57725
Here's my experience. The paint protector really works well.
Thanks, I had already forgotten about that. :thumbs:
To cover the hole where the petcock was, I made a cover out of a piece of wood and attached it with screws. It took 2-3 treatments to get all the old sealer out.
I have used acetone, and it worked out pretty good, had to run several passes of it through a week to get it 100% out.
Any way you go about it. It is going to suck.The kit I ordered worked well but I had to boil the stripper to make the old Caswell break loose. If it is Kreem it may come put easier. If nothing else since you want to save the paint, order the paint protector. Mechanical fingers are your friend for pulling the sheets of sealant out through the fill hole. Patience is the key.
Quote from: 1976RD400C on December 14, 2025, 06:33:16 AMTo cover the hole where the petcock was, I made a cover out of a piece of wood and attached it with screws. It took 2-3 treatments to get all the old sealer out.
For this I already have a custom aluminum block off plate and a rubber gasket made from an old inner tube.
Quote from: Kawtriplefreak on December 14, 2025, 11:19:50 AMAny way you go about it. It is going to suck.The kit I ordered worked well but I had to boil the stripper to make the old Caswell break loose. If it is Kreem it may come put easier. If nothing else since you want to save the paint, order the paint protector. Mechanical fingers are your friend for pulling the sheets of sealant out through the fill hole. Patience is the key.
I figured this was going to be a crappy and tedious job. Not looking forward to it. I'll get some of the protector stuff first. Caswell and Kreem both offer it.
https://caswellplating.com/caswell-seal-masktm-8-fl-oz.html
https://www.kreem.com/tankmask.html
I'm going to have to wait until it warms up a bit to do this because it's been super foggy here, only about 60F and over 90% humidity. One of them says not to apply below 70F and with how damp it is here nothing's going to dry.
Quote from: busa1300 on December 14, 2025, 06:50:40 AMI have used acetone, and it worked out pretty good, had to run several passes of it through a week to get it 100% out.
:thumbs: Going to pick up some more acetone and give it a try
Quote from: SoCal250 on December 14, 2025, 12:13:28 PMQuote from: Kawtriplefreak on December 14, 2025, 11:19:50 AMAny way you go about it. It is going to suck.The kit I ordered worked well but I had to boil the stripper to make the old Caswell break loose. If it is Kreem it may come put easier. If nothing else since you want to save the paint, order the paint protector. Mechanical fingers are your friend for pulling the sheets of sealant out through the fill hole. Patience is the key.
I figured this was going to be a crappy and tedious job. Not looking forward to it. I'll get some of the protector stuff first. Caswell and Kreem both offer it.
https://caswellplating.com/caswell-seal-masktm-8-fl-oz.html
https://www.kreem.com/tankmask.html
I'm going to have to wait until it warms up a bit to do this because it's been super foggy here, only about 60F and over 90% humidity. One of them says not to apply below 70F and with how damp it is here nothing's going to dry.
poor baby. only 60 in min December? How do you deal with it?
lol. We're thrilled to have another week near 50 degrees daytime temps this far into Winter! Still have snow on the ground from 2 weeks ago that slowly melts during the day making muddy slop everywhere before re-freezing again at night. Makes the outside jobs harder than it should be and a lot of waiting for firm ground.