Fiberglass Tank/Ethanol Gas

[cbarmeier]

I have recently completely rebuilt my 1974 Penton Jackpiner MX only to discover carb and other issues with what appears to be  gas tank disolving ( from what I have read from old message board entries ) caused by the 10% Ethanol in our pump gas here in Missouri. Can anyone tell me if the Casswell Tank Sealer Kit is the best solution to this problem? Much Thanks

[454MRW]

Caswells sealer is A good product, and supposedly works well on fiberglass tanks. I personally prefer POR-15 Clear, as it is designed to be used as a fiberglass resin and bonds directly to a properly prepared fiberglass tank. It is impervious to all chemicals including Alchohol and Laquer thinner, and I will be coating some tanks prior to Mid-Ohio for Mike Gallagher, as long as the POR-15 Clear arrives here in time. If so, these tanks will be delivered to Mid-Ohio, so if you want to see the results first hand, stop by my spaces 193 & 195 across from the Penton Owners Group on top of the hill by the oil reclamation tanks. Mike

Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1980 KTM 175-400'S

[garrettccovington]

cbarmeir,
  Welcome to the group!!! Of all the Motorcycle boards out there, these guys are the BEST!

 Your question was one of my 1st questions too!  I lucked out and was able to pull my tank off drain the gas and clean it out with soap and water with out any damage.  I caught it in time, but it was disolving.  

I know this topic has been covered many times and if you do a search on the message board you will find an bunch of responses.

Also do a search on what type of fuel to use.  I now use VP C-12 in my 6-day.

Also do a search on "how to post a pic"  We like to see befor and afters.

Again Welcome to the group.

g

72 six-day
79 KTM MC80 250

[Dwight Rudder]

Use either ethanol free gasoline. (You can test gas with a jar with screw top. Make a line about 1/5 way up jar from bottom. Fill to line with water. Fill jar rest of way with the Gas. Shake and wait for it to settle. It it has ethanol the water level will now be above the line you marked.)  I suggest 100LL Avgas with about 20% race gas. You don't need more much more than 100 octane.

[Ed Chesnut]

I'm just getting started on the learning curve regarding alternatives to E-10.  100LL AvGas is available to me locally.  Since it is already a bit higer octane than the premium pump gas I normally used prior to E-10, wouldn't it be OK to use as a direct replacement for the "old" premium gas without blending with race gas?

Ed

Keep the rubber side down!

[Dwight Rudder]

No, not really.  Straight AvGas is blended for low compression, High altitude, low RPM engines that run at a constant RPM.  Straight AvGas suffers weak throttle response. A bit of Race gas gives it back enough additives to give it back some snap. You can even use lead free race gas as 100LL has more lead than auto or MoGas ever had. A good point of AvGas is that it lasts much longer than MoGas.

[Britt Boyette]

You can also use marine gas purchased at your local boat dock. It contains no Ethanol and doesn't damage glass tanks. I still store fiberglass tanks dry because it makes me happy!

Britt Boyette
76 400 MC5 (project)
77 250 MC5 (uberproject)
77 Husky WR250
75 Can Am (future flat tracker)
76 RM370
75 Hodaka Road Toad
83 YZ250
Too much of a good thing?

[Ed Chesnut]

Thanks Dwight.  I figured you'd be a good guy to ask, what with one of your feet on a rudder pedal and the other on a foot peg!

Ed

Keep the rubber side down!

[joe novak]

Britt,  Thank you for that great suggestion about using marine pump gas.  That's right; many boat gas tanks have been made of fiberglass in the past.   Boat docks and marinas are numerous out here in Northern Ohio along the Lake Erie coastline.  Joe

[Alan Mason]

For anyone from Pennsylvania, Kwik Fill stations don't have ethanol in their gas as of yet. I don't know if they're in any neighboring states or not.

Alan

[desmond197]

Caswell will break down. I have had it happen with a Bultaco tank. The only solution is race gas or marine gas.

[RRSAC]

Mike Winter,

The Por 15 product you mention, is it their US Standard Fuel Tank Sealer or another one of their products?

Thanks,
Scott

[454MRW]

POR-15 Clear Paint, not tank sealer or 2 part epoxy. Mike

Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1980 KTM 175-400'S

[RRSAC]

Glisten PC or Pelucid

[454MRW]

I do not use Glisten PC or Pelucid, only POR-15 Clear paint. The paint is impervious to all chemicals, I am not sure how the the others would react. Mike

Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1980 KTM 175-400'S