Any gas-resistant rattle-can clear coat?

[bwringer]

I've looked through lots of "paint my bike" posts, and I can't seem to understand -- is there or is there not a clear coat that comes in a spray can that will withstand normal gasoline spills?

Every single time I fill my bike or my wife's bike, one or two drops of gas land on the paint. I'd love to repaint her bike, but if we can't find gas-resistant clear coat, then we'll have to wait until we can drop the high cost of a professional paint job. In other words, the bike stays green forever.

Brand names, sources, and war stories please.

Thanks!

[jonr]

Brian,

I just put VHT Clear Gloss Engine enamel on my clutch cover. The trick is that it does not become chemical resistant until you cure it at 200 degrees for one hour. Probably pretty hard to do on the gas tank unless you take it off and put it in the oven.

I haven't tested it on gas yet, but it held up to break parts cleaner the other day. This stuff is made to put on engines, so it is supposed to resist oil and gasoline.

Don't know if this helps, but who knows...

-jon

[bwringer]

Thanks, Jon -- that 750 is going to blind somebody if you keep polishing stuff! It's much safer to leave the engine with a nice dull and pitted finish like my 850. I'm only thinking of my fellow riders, you know.

For some reason, I'm not picturing a happy ending to any method of raising a gas tank to 200 degrees...

I'll have to do some checking on VHT products, though.

[Planecrazy]

Brian,

Assuming you can get it into an oven, 200 degrees shouldn't cause any problems. Besides, you can fill the tank with water to eliminate any vapor/explosion concerns. Just make sure you don't let it go over 212 or you'll have a mess...

The trick, of course, is finding a big enough oven

Steve 8)

[jonr]

Brian,

Anything to raise visibility! :P :P :P

[Dark Jedi]

Maybe something to add to the tips and tricks section:

An old electric oven is actually a great addition to your garage shop. really.

Take out the racks, cure a gas tank. You can use it to shape plexiglass, cure paint, heat parts for partswashing, etc. I even used heat my parts washer in a pail to soak tough parts in. Now I use an old Fry Daddy and some non-flammable parts cleaner for a soaker.

A temperature regulated chamber, with a timer. Who doesen't need that?

[Anonymous]

So, without curing it with heat, is there nothing that will resist gas? I'm running into the same thing.

[Planecrazy]

Talked to a guy several weeks ago who has pro experience. he told me that any decent polyurethene clear coat (or paint for that matter) will give you decent resistance to gas.

Steve 8)