Removing Caswells liner

[Steve Swan]

Whoever prepped the tank on my '67 Interceptor apparently didn't do it good enough for the Caswells to stick. it let go like a brittle but rigid bag inside the tank. Caswells recommends methylene chloride to reove, but a test in a glass jar didn't seem to affect much. so i went with one gallon ZipStrip paint remover which has methylene chloride, methanol and mineral spirits and after a 3 week soaking with sloshing every 4-5 days and you can see what i got out tonight. Horrid, horrid, horrid stuff to remove, but appears all is out now. 10 years ago i used Caswells in a very rusty little YG1-K Yamaha 80 tank; thorough prep is everything if you want lastingresults. the Caswells i put in 10 years ago sticks as good no as it did then. i wouldn't suggest using Caswells for a couple reasons; 2-aprt epoxy that you have to move fast on, viscosity changes with only 5 degrees temp one way or the other and nasty to get out, but on the plus side, dries clear.

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[T. Cotten]

Caswell's failed my P4gas immersion tests, too, Steve!

But it took many weeks to deteriorate.

(POR15 never lasted overnight.)

Its really about the fuels, not the sealers.

....Cotten

[Steve Swan]

Tom, i wonder if mixtures of p4gas varies varies from region to region. i have a tank that had severe rust i lined probably 10 years ago with por-15 and it continues to hold up well.

[T. Cotten]

Tom, i wonder if mixtures of p4gas varies varies from region to region. i have a tank that had severe rust i lined probably 10 years ago with por-15 and it continues to hold up well.

The variety is endless, and changing endlessly over the years, Steve!

There's over a hundred and fifty federally-mandated additives, many of which are "proprietary" to a particular brand.
Combinations in the same tank can have a synergistic effect.
Traveling gives the best chance of grief.

Trust me, the fuels were much more digestive in the 1990s.
It used to eat powder-coating.

....Cotten

[Steve Swan]

yes, i've seen what p4gas gas does to powder coating. the good news is i won't live long enough to see the demise of gasoline so that i would have to convert my old bikes to anti-gravity propulsion.

[T. Cotten]

"Gasoline" itself has been extinct for decades, Steve!

I'd like an electric bike if I needed it.

(Might even get a cell phone someday...)

...Cotten

[TechNoir]

I think Steve is right in that preparation (as with most things) is the key. I too have heard of horror stories with POR15 and yet I have a tank that so far has held up fine with it after 7 years although I do drain the tank when the bike sits over winter.

Re electric bikes, I would love one too. I have been looking at them recently and one would be great for my daily commute. I fancy a Zero SR but in the UK they are getting on for double the cost of the equivalent gas powered bike. If it had a longer range then maybe I might go for it but the best part of £20k on a bike that I would use 3 days a week (I am on site 2 days a week in a company vehicle) to go to the office on and if I used it for other trips I would have range anxiety, is a big ask.

John