1100GS Plastic tank bubbling!

[oilcan]

What makes you think you need a sealer?

Everything I've read about the 1100 plastic tank bubbling points to the paint de-laminating from the surface of the tank due to either a dodgy paint process or perhaps just the tank material.

I've not heard that it's due to fuel penetration (which is probably why you can't find a sealer for plastic tanks).

If you want to know one way or another, pop a bubble...

I don't know where this thread went wrong as all I asked was, when painting a plastic tank, are there any special processes that need to be followed to get a good result as if painting into metal. Someone later suggested I needed a sealer!

I don't have any leaks, just a few bubbles around the top of the tank. I can't believe if I burst one fuel would spill through, would it?

 

[MattW]

I don't know where this thread went wrong as all I asked was, when painting a plastic tank, are there any special processes that need to be followed to get a good result as if painting into metal. Someone later suggested I needed a sealer!

I don't have any leaks, just a few bubbles around the top of the tank. I can't believe if I burst one fuel would spill through, would it?

I also don't believe that fuel would leak if you popped a bubble.

I know absolutely squat about painting plastic but others on here probably do (in fact I think there's a guy on here called 'paintman' who could probably help...). Modern paints and processes have come on a long way in the last decade but whether it's a DIY job I'm not sure

 

[Timolgra]

Sometimes the paint bubbles due to fumes finding there way through the plastic even though the tank has been prepared on the outside with a sealer.

So you're right it probably doesn't need an internal sealer but it can help

 

[oilcan]

Replacement tank arriving soon!

Well I managed to win the auction on flea-bay for the 1100 plastic tank to replace the current bubbling tank on my bike.

Before I prep it for painting, are there any worthwhile modifications that I should consider before it gets painted, other than sealing it?

Is the fuel pump for the 1100 the same as the one used on the later 1150? Are the sender units the same too?

For example I found this on Flea Bay, would it fit my tank?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-R1150GS-R...53?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item2c5aa46009

I think I read a thread on here a long time ago that discussed the merits of modifying the tank to ensure all the fuel was accessible without having to lay the bike down to get the last half litre from the tank in an emergency. Has anyone done this mod and if so has it paid off?

 

[MattW]

Well I managed to win the auction on flea-bay for the 1100 plastic tank to replace the current bubbling tank on my bike.

Before I prep it for painting, are there any worthwhile modifications that I should consider before it gets painted, other than sealing it?

Is the fuel pump for the 1100 the same as the one used on the later 1150? Are the sender units the same too?

For example I found this on Flea Bay, would it fit my tank?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-R1150GS-R...53?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item2c5aa46009

I think I read a thread on here a long time ago that discussed the merits of modifying the tank to ensure all the fuel was accessible without having to lay the bike down to get the last half litre from the tank in an emergency. Has anyone done this mod and if so has it paid off?

As far as I know, the 1100 and 1150 tank internals are interchangeable but Steptoe's your man for this.

However the thing about buying second hand parts like fuel pumps from ebay is that you've no idea how long they've got left. Are you sure you need new tank internals? In your position, I'd buy a new fuel filter and a couple of metres of fuel hose (injection grade and thinner stuff for the breathers) together with a bunch of suitable screw type clamps (everything inside the tank is held together with single use crimp clamps). Then you can refurbish all the old bits (I did this with mine as the breather dripped when I brimmed the tank due to the old hoses having gone soft with age). If you need a pump in the future you could either buy a new one or a guaranteed second hand from motorworks etc.

With regards to painting etc, I can't help there but I'm not sure about the sealing - I wouldn't bother, but your call...