Has anyone successfully managed to clean up a plastic tank to its original yellow. The tank has gone a darker yellow over the years, usually due to UV from sunlight, and the replacement new plastics are significantly lighter.

Just wondered if there is a tried and proven method for restoring the original colour without making a mess of it. The plastic is baby bum smooth at the moment and I don't want to try any method that will rough it up.

Edited November 14, 200916 yr by Woody

hi dave,i tried everything with no success, in the end i found another tank that was a better colour

Jif will clean the dirt off, might roughen if up over time.

Or one of the lightly abrasive kitchen cream cleaners applied with a nail scrubbing brush. It'll never look new, but might help.

Wayne...

I had the same problem with mine, I tried everything I could think of including finally trying to flat it back, acrylic floor polish made it look a bit better for a while but didn't last, I even tried ordering one of the Acerbis plastic reviving kits but to no avail, looking at the pictures of them though it just looks like you flat it with wet and dry to get the scratches out then apply some polish.

The only other thing I can think of to try is the joining/ deep scratch removing kit that comes with Corion worktops when you fit them, which has some very nice fine almost fabric type sanding discs to finish it off with - but the worktop is semi-matt finish. Will grab the discs and have a play next time I fit one.

Cheers

Giles

Woody,

I'm currently rebuilding a Jumbo which has had all the same problems with the plastic. After several attempts at restoration I finally decided to redo the colour scheme for the entire bike. The tank has now been resprayed and looks good. The whole saga of this machine is being published on my "blog" in 4 parts. The first two are up and entitled "UGLY BETTY" and "BEAUTY & THE BEAST" you might find them amusing and be able to share any tips in the future.

Tony

Thanks for the replies, still haven't decided how to tackle it - may just paint the other plastics to match the tank.....

Hi Tony, had a look at your blog and I'll follow the rebuild with interest.

Your tank looks the same as mine. Painting was an option I considered too. Not sure about the theory of fuel vapours seeping through plastic and causing discolouration and paint to lift. I always thought the discolouration was down to UV in sunlight. As for painting, a mate of mine has a 240 Fantic on which the tank has been painted for many years and it hasn't bubbled or lifted. I have a Sherpa tank that was painted probably a couple of years ago and no sign of bubbling yet. Maybe the problem has always been incorrect paint and preparation. Modern plastic etch primers and flexi additive may be the cure. Time will tell on my Sherpa tank. With the Jumbo tank, I was going to see if I could get another to try it on just in case it goes wrong.... Used Sherpa plastic tanks are not a problem to find so I'd nothing to lose.

I stripped the bike last night - looked as though it was going to be a nightmare but it came apart quite easily. I have to split the motor to replace the kickstart shaft but that's all, nothing actually wrong with it. I'll replace the Betor Bultaco copy forks with Marzocchis as they are much better and fit a tubeless rear rim but that's it. Just repaint the frame, repack exhaust and refurbish other bits and pieces and back together. I like the blue frame so it will stay blue and yellow.

Have you a picture of your painted tank?

I chucked a plastic tank from a 320TL in the industrial dishwasher at work once and it came up really nicely. The respray option I saw on a Jumbo tank wasn't good (it was for sale around 3-4 years in Somerset, not Martin) and the Acerbis tank respray on my Beta has lifted in a couple of places. But as you say, a specialist will do a good job no doubt

If you are redoing the frame, the guys at Redditch Shotblasting got the metallic blue spot, though i still have to get the RAL number they used. As you know, blogged my rebuild in 2006/7, though not up to neighbour Gav's concourse standards :-)

I have a lead on a few New SWM plastic tanks in Italy at the moment, anyone interested drop me a pm.

Cheers

Martin

Martin, PM sent....

Carl