Repainting a plastic tank....

[pete-blen]

So I have finaly found all the decals for my Montesa 125 H6 enduro.
I havn't wanted to paint it till I had the decals to replace whats
still on it...
The tanks are painted plastic from the factory... but the paint has bubbled
from the fuel... is there any prep that is needed before the primer/undercoat
& top coat... the factory paint lasted 38 years , wonder what Montesa would
have used.

any ideas ?.....




..

[flashg]

My 2011 XTZ Tenere had a painted plastic tank, so it's still being done to this day. Probably even better now. The old saying " technology moves on" spings to mind.

[AllanB]

My 2015 Ducati has a plastic tank.

It's pretty.

[Trade_nancy]

2-pack clear coat would provide adequate fuel spillage protection on future repaints. My only experience was back in 2011 and I repainted a 1975 CB750 tank. RESENE auto paint guys advised 2-pack primer and 2-pack clear. The base colour coat can be just acrylic. The clear coat in 2 -pack will give fuel protection. BUT is lethal to spray without adequate mask and should be in spray booth.

[pete-blen]

2-pack clear coat would provide adequate fuel spillage protection on future repaints. My only experience was back in 2011 and I repainted a 1975 CB750 tank. RESENE auto paint guys advised 2-pack primer and 2-pack clear. The base colour coat can be just acrylic. The clear coat in 2 -pack will give fuel protection. BUT is lethal to spray without adequate mask and should be in spray booth.


Thinking about it I will most lightly take the tank & all plastics in and give it to someone... get it done right...

[Grumph]

Don at Pitlane has been doing a 350 Enduro Montesa and has had some of the plastics repainted. Looks good.
Give him a ring to see who he used.

[caseye]

Sounds a bit sus, but you need to use a paint plasticiser when painting onto plastics, be it a tank or side cover, guard.
Good idea taking it to a pro, thatway if it claps out you get it done again, non gratis.

[flashg]

Thinking about it I will most lightly take the tank & all plastics in and give it to someone... get it done right...
It's not just fuel spillage you should worry about Pete. As you've already worked out, it's the fumes coming through the plastic that's the the big problem, lifting the paint. My 1980 TT250, white plastic tank, lifted its own factory graphics in less than ten years.
Sounds like Don would be well worth talking to.
Take your time Pete and do your homework [emoji41] and good luck

[AllanB]

Thinking about it it can't be that bloody fancy - every car on the road for the past ....twenty years or more has had plastic bumpers . Those buggers get painted day in and out at panel beaters,

It will be the primer that is the critical layer - a plastic specific one.

[flashg]

Thinking about it it can't be that bloody fancy - every car on the road for the past ....twenty years or more has had plastic bumpers . Those buggers get painted day in and out at panel beaters,

It will be the primer that is the critical layer - a plastic specific one.
Every car on the road doesn't have petrol (with fumes coming through)in their bumpers.

[pete-blen]

My 1980 TT250,


That wouldn't be a high light of your motorcycling live....
I bought a new one when they first came out...:facepalm:
sold it 3 months later..:yes:
still rate it as the biggest peice of shit I have owned...:angry:




..

[flashg]

That wouldn't be a high light of your motorcycling live....
I bought a new one when they first came out...:facepalm:
sold it 3 months later..:yes:
still rate it as the biggest peice of shit I have owned...:angry:




..
I had a young family and no spare money, it was half the price of a secondhand XR 250. I must say it was reliable and well balanced for the riding we did. I really enjoyed it while I had it.

[pete-blen]

I had a young family and no spare money, it was half the price of a secondhand XR 250. I must say it was reliable and well balanced for the riding we did. I really enjoyed it while I had it.

I went from a PE175T.
then traded it on a IT465...


.

[robajs]

having seen dons montessa since it was repainted I can say it looks shit hot!:clap:

[Grumph]

having seen dons montessa since it was repainted I can say it looks shit hot!:clap:

Yes it does, but talking to him today he says the outfit which painted the major bits has changed hands and the second lot he had done there was nowhere near as good...