Caswell tank coating

timeforpoptarts · February 20, 2012, 06:38:53 AM

I've seen a few people talk about caswell coating in the area, but this was before I got relocated here! Does anyone have a quote on the costs vs dropping the bike off or just the tank?

ducatiz · February 20, 2012, 07:00:36 AM

If you do it yourself, figure about $50-60. You need to buy the kit from Caswell, a cleanser, and some xylene to reduce the coating. Oh, and some masking tape to protect the tank.

I have heard costs quoted around $250 for dropping it off.

I did mine. If you have a used tank, then you're taking a chance dropping it off. I don't know what process they use to cleanse it and it has to be completely free of any gasoline. I drained mine, rinsed it with water and palmolive (don't let the gasoline evaporate, flush it out with a dispersant), then flushed it out again with the Caswell tank cleaner (which is just another water based dispersant like Orange Clean) and let it dry/shrink for a month. I put a small fan pointing into the fuel pump opening to keep the air flowing and dry it.

The result was a squeaky clean virgin surface and no detectable trace of gas smell.

I seriously doubt the shop will do this thorough a job of cleansing the tank.

David Lowenstein · February 20, 2012, 07:36:13 AM

Not so local, but if you want to send it out here are the details for my recommendation http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=25074.msg984794#msg984794.

Dave

timeforpoptarts · February 20, 2012, 11:58:46 AM

Quote from: ducatiz on February 20, 2012, 07:00:36 AM
If you do it yourself, figure about $50-60. You need to buy the kit from Caswell, a cleanser, and some xylene to reduce the coating. Oh, and some masking tape to protect the tank.

I have heard costs quoted around $250 for dropping it off.

I did mine. If you have a used tank, then you're taking a chance dropping it off. I don't know what process they use to cleanse it and it has to be completely free of any gasoline. I drained mine, rinsed it with water and palmolive (don't let the gasoline evaporate, flush it out with a dispersant), then flushed it out again with the Caswell tank cleaner (which is just another water based dispersant like Orange Clean) and let it dry/shrink for a month. I put a small fan pointing into the fuel pump opening to keep the air flowing and dry it.

The result was a squeaky clean virgin surface and no detectable trace of gas smell.

I seriously doubt the shop will do this thorough a job of cleansing the tank.

Thanks a lot. I didn't realize the best way for this to be done on a used tank is this procedure. I definitely should have asked this question earlier this year. But like you said it sounds something that needs to be necessary if I, for whatever reason, need to purchase a new tank. I'm assuming from what I've read its not about the question of if the tank will expand, but basically when?

ducatiz · February 20, 2012, 12:02:47 PM

It's a good question. Ducati claims not all of the tanks expand, but that doesn't make any sense. I think it must be "observable expansion" since the nylon will absorb whatever water it can. So, yes, it will expand. How much and if it is unacceptable expansion is a function of how much moisture ends up in your tank and that affected by a LOT of factors.

Tanks shouldn't expand at all, no matter what IMHO. The coating solves the problem, but it has to be applied right.

timeforpoptarts · February 20, 2012, 01:09:59 PM

Quote from: ducatiz on February 20, 2012, 12:02:47 PM
It's a good question. Ducati claims not all of the tanks expand, but that doesn't make any sense. I think it must be "observable expansion" since the nylon will absorb whatever water it can. So, yes, it will expand. How much and if it is unacceptable expansion is a function of how much moisture ends up in your tank and that affected by a LOT of factors.

Tanks shouldn't expand at all, no matter what IMHO. The coating solves the problem, but it has to be applied right.

Agreed. The tank shouldn't expand, observable or not, despite how Ducati wants to bend the words. I'm not sure that I am comfortable enough with the procedure to do it myself. Are there any video resources online? I'm all for saving money but if there's a high probability I'm going to destroy a tank it may be worth the $250 after letting it sit and dry out for a few weeks.

ducatiz · February 20, 2012, 01:17:04 PM

Quote from: timeforpoptarts on February 20, 2012, 01:09:59 PM
Agreed. The tank shouldn't expand, observable or not, despite how Ducati wants to bend the words. I'm not sure that I am comfortable enough with the procedure to do it myself. Are there any video resources online? I'm all for saving money but if there's a high probability I'm going to destroy a tank it may be worth the $250 after letting it sit and dry out for a few weeks.

No video that I know of.

It's really not that hard to do but it might seem intimidating. Call around to some dealers to see if they do it and maybe you can prep the tank before you take it in.

For mine, I picked up two #9 stoppers and a small sheet of plexiglass 1/4" thick. I cut the plexi to the shape of the fuel pump hole and drilled the 6 screw holes and a hole to fit the second stopper. After prepping it, I put one stopper into the filler from the inside and the plexi over the fuel pump hole. I poured in the coating and put the stopper in and then turned it around around until the coating was everwhere - bottom last so you can see the coverage somewhat.

then i took off the plexi and let it sit to dry with a fan blowing in to the fuel pump hole. after it was fully set, I reached in and removed the stopper. let it sit a few more days to fully cure and it was ready to go.

AMGnDuc · February 21, 2012, 01:16:29 PM

I was even less precise...I just put several duct tape over the holes. I drained the coating from the fuel pump hole. I imagine the hole you pick will depend on the bike...on the Streetfighter it was the best route.

I made sure to add a bit of thinner to the material which made it flow easier and allowed me to put on two coats so far.

I have been taking pictures of the tank each month since I've done it and I haven't seen any evidence of expansion. It was done in early November and it's now February. It's also had fuel just sitting in the tank for about the past month. I'd say the Caswell is doing its job, and doing it well.

Coat your tank, it is really, really easy...just time-consuming.

xsephirot · February 28, 2012, 06:26:45 AM

Quote from: AMGnDuc on February 21, 2012, 01:16:29 PM
I was even less precise...I just put several duct tape over the holes. I drained the coating from the fuel pump hole. I imagine the hole you pick will depend on the bike...on the Streetfighter it was the best route.

I made sure to add a bit of thinner to the material which made it flow easier and allowed me to put on two coats so far.

I have been taking pictures of the tank each month since I've done it and I haven't seen any evidence of expansion. It was done in early November and it's now February. It's also had fuel just sitting in the tank for about the past month. I'd say the Caswell is doing its job, and doing it well.

Coat your tank, it is really, really easy...just time-consuming.

Were you able to coat your tank twice with that one kit+thinner?

AMGnDuc · March 11, 2012, 05:48:48 PM

Quote from: xsephirot on February 28, 2012, 06:26:45 AM
Were you able to coat your tank twice with that one kit+thinner?

Yeah, two coats with the single kit. In the instructions, it actually tells you to thin the mix depending on the shape of your tank. By itself the mix is very thick even if you heat it up.

Going on 4-5 months now and no signs of any expansion. My first tank expanded in 7 months.

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Caswell tank coating