1972 Yamaha R5 350 "A Clockwork Orange" D-U-N Done! Well, at least for now.

Re: 1972 Yamaha R5 350 "A Clockwork Orange"

I had a 30+ year old racing tank on my last cafe that was passed down to me from family. It was made of something similar to fiberglass though I am not sure what. So I was hesitant to use the POR 15. Once you mess it up it costs like 3x as much to fix it. So I took it to my local cycle shop and it was sent out for a pro lining. The material they used was a clear coating about a 1/4 inch thick. Sealed really well and came with a warranty. Cost me a little over $200. A bit steep but it was a one of a kind original tank. I am not sure what the stuff was called but you can call Valley Motor Sports (203-736-0379) in Ansonia CT for some info on it. I am sure they can direct you on where to get it done. I was happy with the results and it included prep.

On a side note; I graduated high school with John Mayer - I hope he doesn't see my post on his messy hair LOL!

-MBS
 
Re: 1972 Yamaha R5 350 "A Clockwork Orange"

lately i have had more and more people call me to powdercoat the inside of their gas tanks... i guess on some discovery chopper show they did it and now everyone thinks that it is possible. i have called 7 different powder manufactures and ALL of them said that the powder will hold up, for about a month, then will break down... so i keep telling people NO, and they treat me like an idiot for trying to do the right thing... in your hunting if you find anything about that please let me know, i hunted for 3 days on info on it, then gave up
 
Re: 1972 Yamaha R5 350 "A Clockwork Orange"

MBS, Thanks for the info. That process sounds a lot like this product from caswel.

Joe, Will do.
 
Re: 1972 Yamaha R5 350 "A Clockwork Orange"

JRK5892 said:
lately i have had more and more people call me to powdercoat the inside of their gas tanks... i guess on some discovery chopper show they did it and now everyone thinks that it is possible. i have called 7 different powder manufactures and ALL of them said that the powder will hold up, for about a month, then will break down... so i keep telling people NO, and they treat me like an idiot for trying to do the right thing... in your hunting if you find anything about that please let me know, i hunted for 3 days on info on it, then gave up

from what i understand it is possible with an epoxy based powder.....
 
Re: 1972 Yamaha R5 350 "A Clockwork Orange"

Even so, HTF do you 1.) blast the inside of the tank to make absolutely sure the powder sticks and 2.) make sure you get the powder over ever everything INSIDE the tank?

--Chris
 
Re: 1972 Yamaha R5 350 "A Clockwork Orange"

that is what i do not understand! there is no way! do not get me wrong i can coat it, but it will not last exp wiht a tank, needs to be blasted clean, and prepped right
 
Re: 1972 Yamaha R5 350 "A Clockwork Orange"

motofiaccone said:
Even so, HTF do you 1.) blast the inside of the tank to make absolutely sure the powder sticks and 2.) make sure you get the powder over ever everything INSIDE the tank?

--Chris

This was my first thought as well.

Yes the caswellplating product has been highly recommended to me.
 
Re: 1972 Yamaha R5 350 "A Clockwork Orange"

motofiaccone said:
Even so, HTF do you 1.) blast the inside of the tank to make absolutely sure the powder sticks and 2.) make sure you get the powder over ever everything INSIDE the tank?

--Chris

lol dont ask me im not a coating expert....im just saying from what i understand the epoxy based powder will hold up to gas
 
Re: 1972 Yamaha R5 350 "A Clockwork Orange"

well... it will hold up to gas, actually most powder will, but constant exposure is the issue, epoxy is the best bet but he adhesion surface has to be perfect, not sure how to prep that on a tank?
 
Re: 1972 Yamaha R5 350 "A Clockwork Orange"

that may work if the tank is super clean... maybe, maybe... i for one would not trust it on my scoot
but in a new tank, that could work just fine with any industrail epoxy chemical bonded powder, but the tech i got off the line with stated that prep is key on that... he then trans me to the head tech from the supplier i get powder from. he also sugested a powder that he says is great for it, if the tank is new. but any tanks still need to be sealed with a chemical phosphate and sealer, then zinc primer, then epoxy top coat... he said "dude no joke, your going to hate life while doing this"
 
Re: 1972 Yamaha R5 350 "A Clockwork Orange"

Little update on the ole R5. After stepping away from this for a little while I decided I really didn't want to line the tank. A buddy turned me on to a welder and the guy hooked me up with a little Tig work for $20 (right on Chris!)

The weld is going to show a bit as I don't wnat to grind it down any further, tank wall is too thin in this spot. We pressure tested the weld and it was good. The good news is it didn't mess up the paint too much more than it was already so that was good.

R5016-1.jpg

R5015-1.jpg


Now after some filler love. Still another coat and some sanding to do;
R5018-1.jpg

The plan is to prime and base the touch up area and then hit that area with two coats of clear. Then I will reclear the entire tank with two coats wet sanding between coats. I'll keep you posted.
 
Re: 1972 Yamaha R5 350 "A Clockwork Orange"

Nice fix man. That should be fine and its on a pretty inconspicuous part of the tank.
 
Re: 1972 Yamaha R5 350 "A Clockwork Orange"

Nice work.

I have two R5s, and two RDs. Love the two strokers. Castor bean oil is magical.

I think you made the right choice on the tank.

I have lined maybe five tanks with POR. Aluminum, and steel. Every one failed on some level. Some times within a year, sometimes later. The stuff always shrinks on me. The bottom seems to stay coated, but the top ( I assume because it is thinner) pulls off. None of it has ever been disasterus, as I was able to pull the loose stuff out in big chunks, and leave the bulk of it on the bottom, which is where it seems to need to be anyway. I will never do it again. Maybe having a pro do it would work better.
 
Re: 1972 Yamaha R5 350 "A Clockwork Orange"

Yeah, I'm glad I opted this way and was able to find someone to do it for a reasonable price. I have to thank Fiaccone for pushing me a bit on this. I was getting frustrated and just wanted it done but getting away from it for a while helped.

on another note, I have a small can of POR-15 available if anyone wants it. ;D
 
Re: 1972 Yamaha R5 350 "A Clockwork Orange"

Glad that's out of the way man, can't wait to see this one on it's tires and fired up!
 
Re: 1972 Yamaha R5 350 "A Clockwork Orange"

Yeah, kind of a hurdle there. I'm ordering new coils this week. Then I just need to touch up all the paint and dial her in!!
 
Re: 1972 Yamaha R5 350 "A Clockwork Orange"

Alright so here I am dragging again. I spent some time with a buddy setting up a shop in a section of warehouse. Those following the smokey 200 build have seen the paint booth etc. so that ate some time.

I ended up having to strip the decals off the tank completely and sanding the whole thing a bit. I didn't have to strip it but it was a little demoralizing nonetheless. I resprayed it and it looks great I will get a pic up soon. The hold up now is that I ordered new decals which came really fast but one was wrong. I had a miscue with the decal maker, I asked for one to be reversed so that the logo was at the end of the word Yamaha. I did this so that the logo would be at the front of the tank on both sides. This is the way I ordered them before and they were perfect, this time they reversed the lettering so it reads AHAMAY! Sounds like some sort of sushi. "Can I have the sashimi Ahamay please? and easy on the wasabi."

I'll post pics once its sorted.
 
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