My 1979 KTM MC80 is beggining to look real nice and runs pretty good. However the tank looks like crap. It's solid, no scratches, just used baby diaper brown. I've come to the conclusion that nothing will stick to it, so, maybe I can change the tank with a fiberglass Penton small tank. Will a Penton 250 mc5 tank fit on a 1979 MC80.
G
72 six-day
The older tanks will not fit without frame mods, and even then Im not sure. i would suggest going with a 81 MX tank and use the snap on cover that DC Plastic sells. The 81 tank will bolt right on. It is easy to spot because it was the only one to have screwed on emblems that also had the small loop built into the plastic like your 79 tank for the rear mount. It is hard to tell the differance from an enduro tank on ebay though except for one thing. The enduro tank had four screw holes on the top of the tank.
Good deal. Thanks for the info. Bike looks good except for the tank.
G
72 six-day
Go search the KTM495 site for White Tanks...tons of talk on making brown plastic tanks white, no easy solutions. DC Plastics does make a tank skin for the smaller '81 mx tank, not sure how it fits on a '79.
I went to the following website
http://www.finishing.com/141/73.shtml
and some of their ideas was to use something called stuff called Plastic Renue. This sounded like it might be worth a try.
Then some of their ideas was using copper cleaner, a heat gun, a torch. I don't know about the torch.
1 guy from Italy contated acerbis and this was his reply
I can confirm this having a problem of painting a gas tank myself. I contacted Acerbis a major manufacturer of motorcycle gas tank and they told me that their tanks for off road (dirt) bikes are Reticulated Polyethylene (PE-X). According to them they are not repairable nor paintable. Painting could be performed if the tank is fluorinated (not very practical for me). The ones for street bikes are Polyamide (nylon).
Best regards,
I'll take a look at the 495 site.
G
72 six-day
garrett.
I have this old KTM Tank. Not sure on year, but would clean up with some 800 sandpaper, elbo grease and Mothers Polish.
(//%5BIMG%5Dhttp://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc100/pentonaddict/KTMTank005.jpg)[/img]
(//%5BIMG%5Dhttp://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc100/pentonaddict/KTMTank003.jpg)[/img]
(//%5BIMG%5Dhttp://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc100/pentonaddict/KTMTank004.jpg)[/img]
It's your for postage or if I see you at Glen Helen this weekend.
Victor
I would be glad, just to see you this weekend at Glen Helen. Some of your posts have had me worried. You sneek in little tid bits of info that has had me wondering. Bring it on by and Glad to hear your going.
G
72 six-day
Actually I want the washer its sitting on. Mine went out today. Ha Ha:D
72 six-day
Most of the browning is in the surface layers. It may be sanded off with some(alot)of work on tanks that are not so bad. At least most the brown could be gotten rid of.
None of the solutions tried by any of the group at http://www.ktm495.mxbikes.com have been successful. No matter what has been tried, the mixed fuel still permeates to the outer surface and the deterioration begins all over again.
Sanding may lighten the surface, but it will not return to the bright white.
There is a guy out west who has restored (polished) Kawasaki and Suzuki tanks back to near new condition, but has turned down my request to do a white KTM tank.
Tony
This one has me stumped. I took off my seat today and the part of the tank that is covered by the seat is still white. I'm begining to think the discoleration is a reaction to the sun. I was looking at the 495 site last night. Looks like I'll be doing some sanding.
G
72 six-day
Garrett,
I coated the exterior of a browned '81 plastic tank with 2-part marine epoxy (West Marine) with white tint added. Followed advice by others from the 495 site. Put several coats onto sanded plastic, using a super stiff brush, with sanding between coats to minimize the brush marks.
Came out pretty clean looking in off-white color. I put white rattle-can paint on that, then decals. The sealer has sealed in fumes and no bubbling in the paint yet after 2 years. Cheap paint has rubbed off by my knees, but the underlying off-white doesn't look bad. Quality auto paint with hardner would be better, but most likely would look just fine and hold up longer as a rider if just left with the white-tinted epoxy sealer. More tint the better I think. Knees haven't put a scratch in the epoxy yet.
(http://hrvwtg.blu.livefilestore.com/y1psGYQNyl4vAL_Xi6pW9Wm6W1SAGWP_2t_wzGohJAzl1KjPi3hceXPpEiqcowS5igj27OVFAaiCiP-1Ko_jmdv8LxpYLZDm6XW/Woodland%2010-17-09.jpg)
After this weekends race I'm gonna try that. Got my side panels today from DC plastics and the bike is looking better and better. re-cover the seat, put on the graphics. Do something with the tank and its a keeper. Then get back on the 6-Day tranny adjustment.
G
72 six-day