Alloy tank

colin davie · Sep 7, 2023

I have a Norvil alloy gas tank that needs a respray, it has a monza quick release cap fitted which i would like to remove , Norvil say the insert is bonded in with araldite , what are my chances of getting this out with a heat gun ??

johnm · Sep 7, 2023

Why do you want to take it off? If you just want to paint the tank then just press the pin out. The one that attached the cap.

Hardest part is replacing the cap after painting without damaging it. The paint that is.

colin davie · Sep 7, 2023

Yes I can remove the pin but the section of the cap that is bonded to the tank i would prefer to remove so the painter can get right in under to prep and paint, just wondering if someone out there had had a go at this or similar ........

Gilesy · Sep 7, 2023

Hi Colin, dremel should get under there OK. I have one with brushes if you want to borrow or come and use it.
Cheers
Giles

Tornado · Sep 7, 2023

I believe Araldite is epoxy. It should soften with enough heat. But recent threads discussing leaks at filler necks on ally tanks presented images with tabs of metal around neck to secure to opening plus an adhesive. So it may be more complicated than just softening the adhesive.

I do not understand need to fully remove neck for painting. If trying to prep area under overhang of neck, a chemical stripper or sandblasting should to it fine.
Be sure to not have the neck sealing surface painted as I recently found paint lifting on the surface, likely from fuel exposure and causing poor sealing. Have now removed it using a razor and a little emery cloth work to give smooth bare metal. No more leaking.

ILLF8ED · Sep 7, 2023

Tornado said:
I believe Araldite is epoxy. It should soften with enough heat. But recent threads discussing leaks at filler necks on ally tanks presented images with tabs of metal around neck to secure to opening plus an adhesive. So it may be more complicated than just softening the adhesive.

I do not understand need to fully remove neck for painting. If trying to prep area under overhang of neck, a chemical stripper or sandblasting should to it fine.
Be sure to not have the neck sealing surface painted as I recently found paint lifting on the surface, likely from fuel exposure and causing poor sealing. Have now removed it using a razor and a little emery cloth work to give smooth bare metal. No more leaking.

I would be concerned about caustic paint removers attacking both the aluminum and the epoxy. Dremel tool with a brush sound safest.
Vapor blast?

Tornado · Sep 7, 2023

ILLF8ED said:
I would be concerned about caustic paint removers attacking both the aluminum and the epoxy. Dremel tool with a brush sound safest.
Vapor blast?

There are strippers that are alloy safe, as they are used on alloy aircraft paints. As for neck adhesive, likely most of that will be inside the neck, less outside and likely to be fair bit thicker than any paint layer. So being prudent with stripper time to work, just until paint comes off, then a good flushing away from neck should be fine.

acotrel · Sep 7, 2023

If the tank is already painted you might do better if you cover the cap with masking tape. If the tank is not already painted, simply polished might be better. Then paint the back of the seat, front guard, and oil tank a colour. If you paint them silver, the tank would be less obvious.

Chris · Sep 8, 2023

Hi Colin
You say the cap is attatched to the neck with epoxy? But how is the neck attatched to the tank? My oil tank neck was also attatched with epoxy so be careful. I would remove the pin & clean up with the dremel.

Fast Eddie · Sep 8, 2023

Colin, IMHO by trying to remove this, you open yourself up to a whole host of other potential issues. I’d leave it be and paint around it. That is, after all, how 99.9% of tanks are painted surely?

colin davie · Sep 8, 2023

Yup, That is what i will do, Thanks all

Alloy tank

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