Fuel tank liner degraded?

Leodbroga · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 13 Mar 2012 Karma :

Hey guys, sorry for yet another thread but I ride little more than wrecks.

So I've got the fuel tank off for a repaint and I noticed something a bit unexpected: a shit ton of what looks like 2mm thick brown plastic. It's semi-flexible and there's a fair amount of it in the tank, making me think it's fucked up tank liner.

Is this a particular concern? It's in fairly substantial pieces (I'd have to somehow break it up further to remove). I'm currently trying to rectify fuelling issues so I don't want to ignore it, but equally if the biggest concern is a slightly reduced capacity then fuck it, it can stay.

Thanks as ever.
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Yamaha SR125; Yamaha XJR 400; Suzuki GS500E

UrbanRacer · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 Jul 2005 Karma :

Are you sure the fuel tank is supposed to have a lining and what you are seeing isn't just old dried up fuel/oil?

Leodbroga · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 13 Mar 2012 Karma :

mudcow007 · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Feb 2012 Karma :

my advice.....

get a new tank, my tank was lined with "petseal ultra" it was mixed correctly, cured etc....but as soon as petrol hit it, it would dissolve an leave nasty residue all over the carbs/ fuel lines & tap

horrible stuff

YBR Ric · Spanner Monkey Joined: 16 Jan 2012 Karma :

One of the problems now being discovered with old petrol tank lining products is that the vast majority of products that have been used were totally unsuitable for unleaded fuel containing Ethanol. Unfortunately there are still some cheaper products currently on sale that still aren't.

There is a Petseal specific removal product available (if that's what has been used) for use with some tank materials so if resealing yours is the only option you can at least start
the whole process over again from scratch.

This stuff for instance came up after a quick search https://www.tankcareproducts.co.uk/

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

To get rid of the old tank liner and properly de-rust the tank, the link below should help.

Bear in mind the instructions are aimed at classic bikes with steel tanks and taps. If you have an allow fuel tap or cap, remove it before treatment. Any decent acid will chew through alloy.

https://www.realclassic.co.uk/techfiles/petrol_tank_cleaning_and_rust_removal.html

DJS · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 01 Dec 2012 Karma :

A couple of years ago I needed to remove a failing tank liner and used Nitromors paint/varnish stripper. Poured it in, rolled it around and left it for an hour or so in different positions to ensure that the whole inside was covered. Then rinsed it out with lots of very hot water.
I then used a POR 15 three part kit from Frosts to re-seal the tank and it's been fine ever since.