Paint on the 1987 FJ

[terryk]

Hello all and sorry if this is posted in the wrong section.

My gas tank has a dark stripe seperating the red upper portion of the tank from the white lower portion of the tank. When you feel the top or bottom edge of the this dark stripe it appears to be higher than the white or red paint, your finger needs to rise over the edge a bit to get up on the stripe. Is this a normal feature of the paint. Is the dark color strip actually paint or something else like? I need to replace/refurbish this dark stripe and need to understand a bit more about it before giving it a go.

[1tinindian]

If I'm not mistaken, the letters and stripes are vinyl decals that are cleared over.
That's why they are thicker feeling when compared to the surrounding paint.

Leon

[rktmanfj]

If I'm not mistaken, the letters and stripes are vinyl decals that are cleared over.
That's why they are thicker feeling when compared to the surrounding paint.

Leon

What he said.

[terryk]

If I'm not mistaken, the letters and stripes are vinyl decals that are cleared over.
That's why they are thicker feeling when compared to the surrounding paint.

Leon

Thanks to you both. So, my guess is that in order to change the stripes I would need to take down the clear coat and replace the stripes then reclear the tank. Seems that with the clear off it is a good time to repaint the tank as well.

[1tinindian]

If I'm not mistaken, the letters and stripes are vinyl decals that are cleared over.
That's why they are thicker feeling when compared to the surrounding paint.

Leon

Thanks to you both. So, my guess is that in order to change the stripes I would need to take down the clear coat and replace the stripes then reclear the tank. Seems that with the clear off it is a good time to repaint the tank as well.

As a bodyman and automotive painter, I can say that repainting the whole tank is your only real option.
You just don't remove only the clear coat without ruining the rest of the paint.

Leon

[rktmanfj]

IIRC, most, if not all of the tanks stripes are obsolete.

I think Woodcreekpete had some made up in black, once upon a time, maybe he will chime in here...

[terryk]

Thanks again and I will try to reach out to woodcreekpete.
Here is what really is diusturbing. Someone thouight it was a good idea to vandalize my bike for no reason at all. So, good news is that it is only a $100 hit and GEICO picks up the rest. Bad news, what a pain in the arse and I need to find a good paint shop.
Thanks on cclarification on the clear coat and tank repeaint. Now, of to deal with this waste of my time, FCOL.

[pdxfj]

Here are the paint codes you can take to any shop that will mix automotive paint.

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=1565.0

The stripe you speak of is a decal, and generally just using a black decal or paint is close enough.  When I had my chin faring repaired and painted I just opted to go with a black stripe since it wasn't worth the cost of the paint to get that picky.

If you decide to get paint mixed, you only need 1/2 pint for each color.  When it's thinned and reduced by your painter it'll be enough to paint the entire bike a couple of times.

[craigo]

Mr Bean,

Please post a pic of your bike to show just what you mean.  It'll be good!!!

CraigO

[pdxfj]

I will when it gets back into my garage.  Right now I've got a friends VFR that I'm fighting with to get the center stand installed.  I left my FJ in his garage and rode the VFR home.

Have to remove the entire exhaust system to install the stand.. which on a V4 is not a simple task.. Plus a previous owner must have tried to install it at one point and buggered up the threads in the aluminum casting where it mounts to on the frame.