| Author | Message | ||
     Duck |
Guys, My brother had his 99M2 painted and now after about a month he is getting a lot of bubbles showing up on the tank. Any ideas on what the painter did or didn't do to cause this? Thanks in advance | ||
| Bomber |
yeah, we do (sigh) -- dig a little deeper into the KNowledge Vault, you'll find detailed instructions on how to paint these things so they have a chance of holding up -- complex, multiple ingredients (including eye of newt, I believe), and gotta be done by the dark of the moon -- Al from American Sport Bike posted the files, I believe -- my painter rolled his eyes when I brought em all into him . . . . . not impossble, but not easy, either | ||
| Duck |
Thanks..........I've been searching, but haven't found anything yet. | ||
| Lgpch |
If you pull it off getting a custom paint job with no bubbles, more power to you. I am currently in the process of building my own tank because we have failed twice. Don't want bubbles? Pound a tank out of 18ga. cold rolled steel... | ||
| Ceejay |
I did my own, paint and prep, etc. and it turned out fine. No bubbling or any other problems. I off the shelf primer, and it has some filler under it and I don't have any problems with it. Been about three months so far. I'm trying to get a pic up but haven't yet. Used the stuff info that Al had as a guidline, but didn't follow to a tee. Bubbling is usually a humidity problem from what I understand, must paint in a booth or very low humidity environment. I did it in my garage on a 15% day. | ||
| Mikej |
Has anyone taken all the paint off the tanks to see what it looks like? I've got a spare tank or two in the garage (bubbled logo take-offs) that I'm thinking of sanding down. Don't think paint remover would be too friendly with the plastic, nor would sand or bead blasting probably be too friendly either. Just curious how it would polish up. Looking to play with the bodywork on one of the bikes and starting to play with ideas again. And seeing as how a replacement M2 tank is now apparently an $800 item I think it might be worthwhile to clean up the spare tanks.  | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Hey all, I've read back to May of 2003 in the archives and all the threads above that seem pertinent. I still cannot find the "conveniently compiled list" of paint instructions several have referred to, Al and Blake have mentioned them and others have referred to them as well. It seems Al had e-mailed them to some but he must be busy since I have not heard from him. I may have just missed but I've been perusing for weeks now. The painter has the parts and is standing by, he was going to use a catalyzing sealer before painting, he thought is would probably work best to hold the paint down and avoid bubbling. Also I'm gonna use vinyl stickers from a local sign shop since Buell doesn't do the colors I want, have seen the font mentioned before but don't know where to find that info either. I hope they don't bubble up too... Thanks for any help offered. -Mike | ||
| Mikej |
Court had recently asked for someone to compile and probably post a paint FAQ update of some sort. I believe BluzM2 volunteered. So something is in the works. In the mean time you might email Al at American Sport Bike and see if he has the files still available. | ||
| Lgpch |
I gave the instructions to my painter and he said he read them. We have done two tanks, both have bubbled and my painter swears he will never custom paint another Buell again and I don't blame him. I believe you will get the best results if you do not remove any of the primer on the tank, but no guaranties. Currently I have the base plate and top part of my tank fabricated and am working on the front portion to be followed by the sides. As I type before you, I am straight up saying that 18ga. CR steel will not vent fuel vapors!!! | ||
| Mikej |
Lgpch, It would be real interesting to see your work in progress, post pics if you can. Thanks. | ||
| Lake_bueller |
I had the tank on my S1W repainted almost 2 years ago. The guy that did the work knew about the problems with Buell tanks. He put some type of "barrier coat" on the tank first. I'm not sure of the exact material. So far, the only problem has been a small crack in the clear coat. It was most likely caused by the tank "expanding" when the tank vent failed. | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Al, Thanks tons!!!! I REALLY appreciate you getting that to me. I will save it to my hard drive and can e-mail it to others in the future with the same issues. I imagine you are busy so thanks for getting back to me. -Mike | ||
| Bluzm2 |
All, Yup it's me that's working on the paint section. I have the painting info around somewhere on my PC. I've had some hard drive problems, I hope I didn't lose it. I'll check later today if I get a chance. Brad | ||
| Al_lighton |
Brad, Let me know if you need me to resend it to you for posting here. It'd be good to get it up here. I've sent the info to a LOT of people, but sometimes the request in the form of a PM is routed into my SPAM box and I don't see it for days. It'd be best if they could get to it themselves. There is a lot of good info on paint (color names, codes, models, etc) over on Sport Twin as well. It'd be good to get that info posted here to. If you need a link, let me know. Al | ||
| Court |
Send any paint questions you have and they will be promptly answered. Be sure to be specific..year, model, how to contact you and WHAT your question is. Court (Message edited by court on June 17, 2005) | ||
| Bomber |
as a data point, the guy that painted the MaDeuce's tank (which is actually an S1 Fuel Containment Vessel) told me of a novel (to me) method of paint removel the tank was HEAVILY bubbled all over (not factory paint, but an earlier attempt) -- the painter used fairly high-pressure air to blow the paint off -- he said most of it came off easily, and the rest required a bit more patience -- worked like a charm clearly, if your finish ain't heavily bubbled, this moethod will likely not work ask mikej asked, anyone know what the bare tank looks like? internesting to see what an unpainted FCV, finely sanded or mebbe rubbed out might look like -- I got a bubbled spare I could try it on, if the natural color of the material isn't puche or sumpin | ||
| Road_thing |
puche?  | ||
| Littlebuggles |
The former Buell parts guy at SL HD had the race tank that was just an unfinished nylon cell, it looked alright. He eventually had a vinyl fabric cover made for it, it was a perf'ed weave synth leather. Looked pretty tight with his cf tail. IMHO polishing the unfinished material would just make it look like shiny plastic. Might be okay though... | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Buggles, Shoot me your email and I'll get the files to you. I found them! Good stuff to come for the paint section. I'm anxious to get going. Brad | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Thanks Brad, Al emailed me earlier this week, so I've got them. Lake said his painter used a sealer when his was done two years ago. That's what my paint guy was gonna do too. I forwarded the information to him, so if he fails to follow procedure and I have problems I can hold him to it. I think it'll work out, he seems to know what he's about. -Mike | ||
| Ceejay |
I sanded mine M2 tank down to bare plastic, had some deep scratched that needed filled. The tank was just a nylon/black color that could be sanded very smooth. I took it to 400 grit threw some adhesion promoter on it and then primer then color, different color, and finally a clear. I used factory buell colors and clear, but not the primer or prep, turned out good. It has been three months so that may change but for now I am very happy. I'll see if I can find a pic of prepped tank. | ||
| Ceejay |
guess what? After posting earlier today, went out and was looking at my bike, I usually don't look at it too much, just look for possible problems then ride, and noticed she had some sunburn, guess I spoke too soon. Not yet sure if it is due to the primer and filler or dreaded vapor. I should have kept my mouth shut, fingers tied. Back to the drawing board. | ||
| Bomber |
if my latest paint job develops leprosy, I'm gonn aspary the silly thing with pickup bed liner and be done with it ;-} or, maybe, rubberized undercoating -- keep the tank bag from slip-sliding around, eh? | ||
| Mikej |
Bronze it. If they can bronze baby shoes then they can bronze a plastic tank. Or maybe black chrome it, like they chrome plastic model kit pieces. I still want to see what that one guy comes up with who said he's doing one up from scratch in metal. But it might be fun to have a transparent gas tank like some dirt bikes have had in the past, would leave no question to how much gas remains in the tank. What was the topic? I seem to have lost myself in the possibilities. (Whatever happened to the little bluesman horn playing emoticon dude? Oh well.) | ||
| Lgpch |
Making the metal tank is a long business, because buell tanks are so unusual. I am making a tank that likes buell but different... like Buell. A little sharper in some places and rounded in others. I will post pics some time. If you want to see pics of my bikes paint job before it got herpes, check the pics archives. You will see a series of pics with a sentence that sais "If the sailors of the Black Pearl ever rode a Buell...". I have a buddy that got a custom paint job on an old S-1 tank and it has not bubbled. He got it from the same painter that did mine. This leads me to beleive that the 2000 M-2 tanks may be of a different blend of plastic. Either way, my tank does not take to custom paint. | ||
| Tim |
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/board-profile.cgi?action=editpost&postid=65084&page=3842/7118 I think that solution is one of these tank covers. Maybe Al at American Sport Bike could be talked into making some if there was enough interest. You could paint it and not have to worry about any bubbling. or just leave it as it is.  | ||
| Littlebuggles |
By your profile that's not your bike, any info on it? That CF tank (cover?)is beautiful. Seat looks nice too. That would hold paint but could you bear to cover it up? -Mike | ||
| Tim |
I messed up that link. There was a guy named "Cap" who made those. That was his bike. I found the pic by searching the badweb by author. | ||
| Ceejay |
I thought about doing that but figured it was beyond my abilities, and paying someone else to do it was beyond my statute of limitations! That tank is hell yea nice!! | ||
| Tim |
It is a cover. |
