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Got the tank and fender fixed...

BigD_83

BigD_83

Forum Sage
Past Site Supporter
I didn't have the time, patience, tools, or skills to do this myself. Painter was able to save the tank decals, and I used Brian Dallner's decals for the front fender. There are a couple of very small things about the restoration that I probably wouldn't leave if I was doing it myself, but I can live with it without incurring a huge extra expense at this point. Some of it has more to do with the tank manufacture actually...not sure if it is noticeable if you didn't know what you were looking for.

Pretty happy with the results, and I can't wait to see what it is going to look like remounted on the bike. I should try to get some images with a simpler background, as there is too much being reflected in the paint. The clearcoat before is what it looked like when I was gifted the motorcycle. The dent in the right crown of the tank happened when I pulled it off the bench while using it as a remote tank during tuning (doh!):















And a couple of teaser shots of the fender.

Before:





 
Looking good. How did the painter deal with the clear coat on the tank and still save the decals?

Jim
 
A very nice save, for sure. He did a great job saving the decals, especially where the dent was. He's to be commended.
 
GSJim said:
Looking good. How did the painter deal with the clear coat on the tank and still save the decals?

Jim
Click to expand...
In my excitement, I forgot to ask HOW he dealt with the old base and clear coat. It was very magical for sure, and way, WAY beyond what I would have been able to do myself.

I've followed up with an email asking about something else, and also asked if if wouldn't mind sharing the details of what he did to get through the clear without killing the decals.

I know the decal around the dent had to be cut back a bit, and he colour matched and filled what he had to take out.
 
Agemax said:
very nice job indeed. have you sorted out the alignment problem on the front yet?
Click to expand...
My painter was a tech rep (?)/advisor with BASF North America for years before he switched over to painting full time. He's got a pretty good eye for colours, etc.

The "alignment" is odd. It is definitely setup the way the service manual says it should be, and there is nothing untoward in the handling/wear of the tire. It just looks off relative to the fork brace, and is very noticeable, but I had no problems getting the discs into the brake calipers.

GSJim, do you notice with your 650GD that the wheel looks a little left-shifted under the fender?
 
GSJim said:
Looking good. How did the painter deal with the clear coat on the tank and still save the decals?

Jim
Click to expand...
I asked...he answered in the expected fashion:

It's a Trade Secret!

Given the job he does, that should have come as no surprise.
 
BigD_83 said:
I asked...he answered in the expected fashion:

It's a Trade Secret!

Given the job he does, that should have come as no surprise.
Click to expand...

It was worth asking. The clear coat on my tank is flaking near the gas cap and would be an smaller fix than your tank. One painter I talked to told me that failing clear coat means a whole new paint job.

Jim
 
I really wish I knew what he did, because there were some other dents and things that he has fixed, that he could not have done without removing some paint. The borrowed tank I have on there right now requires some TLC, as the clear is coming off in little patches, and I would have given it a shot...if Leedam had dished even a little.

I'm afraid Ron is on his own with this one (but I did the majority of the derusting for him.
 
That looks awesome, I've heard good things about Leedam.
Did you get the loaner tank from Ron at the Garage?

Cheers,

David
 
I wonder how wet sanding just until the peeling is gone and then shooting new clear would work?
 
I know how he did it!:D. You gave it away and didn't even know it. The secret is in the BASF. About 6-8 years ago BASF came out with a blending solvent that is truly remarkable. Sprayed straight out of a cup gun, I was able run the clear coat on an 86 Toyota pickup door. ORIGINAL clear. The stuff is truly amazing. I would guess that he used it in combination with his pure skill and patience:cool:
 
MatBirch said:
I know how he did it!:D. You gave it away and didn't even know it. The secret is in the BASF. About 6-8 years ago BASF came out with a blending solvent that is truly remarkable. Sprayed straight out of a cup gun, I was able run the clear coat on an 86 Toyota pickup door. ORIGINAL clear. The stuff is truly amazing. I would guess that he used it in combination with his pure skill and patience:cool:
Click to expand...
Thanks, Matt.

I'll have to do some digging on the mystery solvent to see how it is used.
 
he fixed the dents, and painted new stripes, hum, well the new ones are lil lighter then the old ones, i would love to see someone save that with a dent that close ect...

unless he knows god and can miraculously fix stuff

oh btw the stripes are all the way to the edge of the front of the tank, and higher up , i think its better than the stock stuff
 
Last edited:
platinum2 said:
he fixed the dents, and painted new stripes, hum, well the new ones are lil lighter then the old ones, i would love to see someone save that with a dent that close ect...

unless he knows god and can miraculously fix stuff

oh btw the stripes are all the way to the edge of the front of the tank, and higher up , i think its better than the stock stuff
Click to expand...
Thanks for the feedback, Pt2.

If you go back and reread at the thread, he did not paint the stripes. What you are seeing are the stock decals. The only thing he repainted was a couple of millimeters of the upper stripe. Everything else is in the stock position, except one spot on the fender is a little bit off vertically but not so much so that it warrants a redo. The difference in colour is due mainly to the lighting conditions when I was shooting.

I think it looks better than new as well.
 
Tank looks great and fender just too good for the forks! Darn the luck. Looks like some polishing might be in order ?
 
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