Plastic Tank problems: Discussion thread, see info thread sticky for updates

[ducatiz]

http://www.accessnorton.com/ethonal-proof-tank-sealer-myth-t13056.html
Some good info and links here.

that's a real test of my non-english-as-a-first-language reading skills....

the issue is application and curing.  if you don't prep the surface right, or don't mix it right, or don't let it cure properly, it will fail.  once it's dried, it's pretty much inert. 

i have a sample piece of nylon coated in caswell that i dunked into 50/50 ethanol/gasoline (effectively making it >50% by volume).

after 3 months of submersion, the gas/ethanol separated, but the coating did not change.  it wasn't soft or anything. 

unfortunately, the process is prone to human error.

[junior varsity]

i like their spelling of ethanol.  ha!

[K3V1N]

Question.

I'm just about to order caswells for a new tank. But I read in a post somewhere about fuel additive and also about a lot of people doing a bad job coating their tanks. If I was to be good about adding fuel additive do you think I could get say 7 or 8 years out of a tank before signs of expansion?

[NorDog]

What's going on with the tanks on new Ducatis?

Are we still dealing with plastic tanks that will swell?

[DucNaked]

What's going on with the tanks on new Ducatis?

Are we still dealing with plastic tanks that will swell?

My M1100 is made frame the same PA6 as the older bikes. 

[HotIce]

What's going on with the tanks on new Ducatis?

Are we still dealing with plastic tanks that will swell?

My 2012 1100 EVO, bought it in Oct 2011, did not show any trace of swell so far.
Keeping finger crossed 

[Narflar]

I got my 1100 Evo last year and let it sit over the winter with a full tank just to see what would happen (yay warranty).  The tank seemed fine.  But the panels and mounts seem designed to allow for the the tank to move.  So maybe it is expanding but it doesn't really matter due them designing around it. 

[ducpainter]

I got my 1100 Evo last year and let it sit over the winter with a full tank just to see what would happen (yay warranty).  The tank seemed fine.  But the panels and mounts seem designed to allow for the the tank to move.  So maybe it is expanding but it doesn't really matter due them designing around it. 

ding ding ding...

[duccarlos]

There's one reason they decided to go with panels.

[HotIce]

That's OK with me. I mean, probably the tank in my car expands too, but as long as it does not cause cosmetic or structural damages, I do not see much of a reason to complain.
I have not yet tried to remove it, so I am not sure if the eventual expansion caused some binding problems with the frame.

[K3V1N]

So I just got the call that my new tank is in. I'm going to caswell it but should I order the original or the red die version?

[77south]

I want to thank everyone who has worked so hard on this issue.  Thanks to your hard work and time and lawyers, my local dealership is replacing the tank on my 2006 monster 620d with no fuss.

[ducatiz]

So I just got the call that my new tank is in. I'm going to caswell it but should I order the original or the red die version?

I have "heard" the red version is just a dyed version.  Just give them a call or email and see what they think.

Plenty of people are using the old version just fine.

Prep is the key.

[ducpainter]

I have "heard" the red version is just a dyed version.  Just give them a call or email and see what they think.

Plenty of people are using the old version just fine.

Prep is the key.

That's what they say on their site.

I just ordered the red version to try on a multi tank I have to coat.

[K3V1N]

Thanks for the quick response, since you guys seem to be very experienced coating tanks can you point me to what you think is one of the better writes. My questions are the normal ones, best way to clean the tank and how thin to make the caswell. Thanks again