Fixing a fiberglass tank

If you are intending to seal a sectioned tank, then avoid the silly untested "tank sealing" products and use proper industrial materials, which have been properly tested and are fit for the purpose intended!

Novalac vinyl ester resins properly post cured are certainly able to resist all current E fuels, but limited shelf life means these are hard to find, but if your tank is sectioned than I would suggest looking at specific ceramic/epoxy products manufactured by ITW/Devcon.

Carbonfibre said:

If you are intending to seal a sectioned tank, then avoid the silly untested "tank sealing" products and use proper industrial materials, which have been properly tested and are fit for the purpose intended!

Novalac vinyl ester resins properly post cured are certainly able to resist all current E fuels, but limited shelf life means these are hard to find, but if your tank is sectioned than I would suggest looking at specific ceramic/epoxy products manufactured by ITW/Devcon.

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Industrial products may be nice to look at, but many times, you just can't buy them in small quantity and the price to buy the product to repair one tank is not justified so we have to go with what is available and take our chances. It would be easier to write to your elected officials and complain about the addition of ethanol to gasoline and how it is ruining fuel system components on many vehicules, not only your own, those guys are whores and the more they get complaints the more they will take action if they know your vote will walk if they do nothing.

Jean

It certainly is difficult to find proper industrial products in small quantity's, but its well worth looking pretty hard before ruining a repairable tank by using snake oil! In regard to novalc VE resins, these are used pretty commonly in the marine industry, and by those making GRP mouldings for the military.

If you can find a composite producer thats not far away, who is working in the areas mentioned above, its well worth asking, as they will often sell a couple of kgs of resin, which will be plenty to do several tanks and cost a lot less than a small amount of snake oil.

Might see if these folks can help. Worth a contact on shipping policy too.

Resins etc
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/c ... lester.php

Tank coat
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/a ... sealer.php

Primary reason the snake oils will not work has to do with shelf life. In the case of high cross link resins such as novalac VE, which in modified form is ideal for this purpose, shelf life is around 6 months. Clearly selling something like this isnt feasible if profit is more important than fulfilling the purpose intended!

Bump,

How are these tanks holding up Jean?

willh said:

Bump,

How are these tanks holding up Jean?

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My own tanks have gas in them, even if my bikes are not riddent (long story), they have not shown any signs of fiberglass rot, the paint is still perfect and no leaks. The racer I was told had a leak, I asked for the tank to be returned to me so I can take a look at what was wrong and fix it, but they have not done so yet. I have no idea where the leak is, it could be the cap, the petcocks or the glass itself, it could also have been damaged in a crash. If and when I get it in my hands, I will let everyone know.

Jean

Thanks for the update Jean.

Can I assume that you got the vinyl ester from Aircraft Spruce Canada?

Nope, local supplier here in Montreal

Jean