So when my FJ was a couple of years old, it started leaking gas from the left corner like where the knee indent in the tank is. I assume the left side because the kickstand would put that corner down. Other than the leak, back in '91 or so, the tank was pristine. So I acid etched it, and used kreem to line the tank. All was good until...
I went to fly the airplane at lunchtime today and was greeted by a strong smell of fuel in the hangar. Not 100LL aviation fuel, but car/bike gas. So I shut off the petcock before I left, figuring the carbs were guilty again, even though I have installed a fuel shutoff that needs power to turn on.
Went back tonight, the fuel was still leaking. It's that corner. And the tank is lined with kreem. In my other investigations of carb issues I did a good look at that lining and it seemed great still. I know lots are not a fan of that stuff.
But now if I am to save my tank it means getting the old kreem out and then doing something. Not sure how to proceed. Is a used tank the only way to go?
Also it's an '89, the black color. I think that was a one year color. The other color was theft-resistant white like Dean has.
Looking for ideas, moral support, and so on.
MEK. (methyl ethyl ketone) will dissolve Kreem along with anything else it comes in contact with. Wear every form of protective gear, work outside and protect any paint that you care about. Throw out Kreem and never use it again.....
From Jack's lips to God's ear.......beware...you might open up more leaks, but so be it.
He's not kidding about protective gear
(https://en.safetygas.com/media/mf_webp/jpg/media/catalog/product/cache/89edc35cd5e11d7ccaccc4aaad3d918f/c/p/cps_6900-w1.webp)
J/K
I've used caswell tank sealer with great success. I poured the excess out on my gravel driveway and it set-up. The gravel had a gloss covering for a few years, it was kinda cool. When my neighbor remarked about it I told him it was special gravel that I got but it was too expensive to do the whole driveway. :lol:
If I can ever get the rest of my life straightened out.I can get back to fun projects. I am going to try to make a mold from the outside of the tank and make a carbon/Kevlar shell. Then make an interior tank out of aluminum. For the turbo bike first.
Quote from: giantkiller on October 04, 2024, 07:49:09 PMIf I can ever get the rest of my life straightened out.I can get back to fun projects. I am going to try to make a mold from the outside of the tank and make a carbon/Kevlar shell. Then make an interior tank out of aluminum. For the turbo bike first.
Hey Dan, I've been meaning to ask...Is there any room to move the turbo from under the seat to the lower front of the engine, down by the chin fairing?
Quote from: Pat Conlon on October 05, 2024, 12:44:16 AMQuote from: giantkiller on October 04, 2024, 07:49:09 PMIf I can ever get the rest of my life straightened out.I can get back to fun projects. I am going to try to make a mold from the outside of the tank and make a carbon/Kevlar shell. Then make an interior tank out of aluminum. For the turbo bike first. Plus it's going to have 2008 gsxr 1000 front end. Wheel will be a little closer.
Hey Dan, I've been meaning to ask...Is there any room to move the turbo from under the seat to the lower front of the engine, down by the chin fairing?
Nah. I'd have to totally remake it. It's already ceramic coated and I have a turbo blanket for the turbo.
That's why I thought I would start with an aluminum tank for it. Don't need a big tank. Not going to be riding great distances. So would be easier to make a first tank for it. The tank with the bike I got to be the turbo bike the entire bottom was rotted out from it. Even the top has several pin holes.
Plus the waste gate. Is up there. And I have a 2008 gsxr1000 front-end to put on it. Maybe. Wheel will be. Closer.
:good: Hope you take LOT'S of pictures.... now, back to your regularly scheduled program...
There was a metal thing near the leak. I pulled it loose with a welding rod and haven't recovered it yet. Then I'm looking at the petcock from inside and it looks weird. I pull it out and there is this gell thing stuck in the inlet.
It's supposed to be a screen.
(https://fjowners.com/gallery/12/49-071024225637.png)
Thanks Pat - I thought there should be a screen there. I wonder what happened to it?
Some must have forgot to put it back, no biggie, you've got a real fuel filter on your system...
That's something we don't have on our gravity systems.
I think I'll convert my '84 over to a fuel pump just so I can run a real fuel filter.
My carbs will thank me...Like the owner...my 40 year old tank ain't getting any younger.
The "metal thing" that was wedged in by the leak looks suspiciously like the top of the finger screen. I am wondering what happened to turn it to gel. If that is what happened.
I am no stranger to finger screens as a longtime motorcycle owner and I also made one for my airplane. I bought a new petcock from RPM a while back and I either used it, or used the o-ring from it. I can't remember.
I've only been running non-ethanol gas for a couple of years now.
Perhaps someone melted the screen when they etched the tank in prep for the Kreem?
Gas wouldn't do it...it had to be something nasty.
Quote from: Pat Conlon on October 08, 2024, 04:13:21 PMPerhaps someone melted the screen when they etched the tank in prep for the Kreem?
Gas wouldn't do it...it had to be something nasty.
That's the odd thing. I did the etch/Kreem back in '91 or so. I've had the petcock out when I brought the bike back to life a few years ago. So - there has been nothing in that tank but gas. Initially I was using the ethanol contaminated gas, but after having to redo the carbs again I decided never again. I'll pay the extra $2/gallon.
It's a mystery.
Ok, this has been dormant for a long time but here is an update. I really didn't want to MEK out the KREEM as my first go. And I believe that ugly but ridden is better than a garage queen. So first I sanded off the area to expose the hole:
(https://fjowners.com/gallery/12/6694-060525170749-12684484.png)
Next up I formed a tight-ish fitting external patch out of 6061-T6.
(https://fjowners.com/gallery/12/6694-060525170748-126831635.jpeg)
To get that shape I annealed & quenched the part and kept fiddling until I was happy with it.
(https://fjowners.com/gallery/12/6694-060525170748-126702494.jpeg)
Next I bonded it on with a product called pro-seal. Actually it was an equivalent I bought from Aircraft Spruce. It's a 2 part rubber mix used in aviation to seal fabricated gas tanks. We use it on homebuilts and it was also used at Sikorsky where I used to work.
(https://fjowners.com/gallery/12/6694-060525170753-12688306.png)
I masked it off and pulled out the can of black paint I had in the cabinet.
(https://fjowners.com/gallery/12/6694-060525170751-12686149.png)
So I have achieved ugly, now I need to put it on for the leak check. And, hopefully get back riding.
(https://fjowners.com/gallery/12/6694-060525170750-12685807.png)
The poor FJ (and my GN400) has been on the back burner for airplane stuff. I got the GN going and am finally back to the FJ.
I'd ride that!
Creative solution!
When were you at Sikorsky? Were you at the heliport north of Bridgeport/Stratton?
Quote from: fj1289 on May 07, 2025, 08:23:10 AMI'd ride that!
Creative solution!
When were you at Sikorsky? Were you at the heliport north of Bridgeport/Stratton?
I was in Stratford north of the city, right by the Merrit Parkway bridge over the Housatonic. Security guard in '85, coop until full time employment in '89, moved to the Elmira NY area when we bought Schweizer, left when they closed Schweizer in 2012.
Bike is back together and ridden for the first time in a long time - whenever I started this thread. Rode both bikes at lunchtime. Was debating between flying and riding, and I've been flying a lot.