Doms XS650B US import

[jetmechmarty]

Any tips on flushing a fuel tank with Phosphoric acid? I've got a litre of 81% here, I've read varying levels of dilution for very varied lengths of time but thought I might go with around 30%, sloshed around and lay at different angles for an hour at a time.

That's what I use. Fill the tank with water. Leave room for two cups of acid. Top it up with water. Depending upon how much rust and the temperature, it should do the job overnight.

 

[Dom]

That's what I use. Fill the tank with water. Leave room for two cups of acid. Top it up with water. Depending upon how much rust and the temperature, it should do the job overnight.

Would that be concentrate enough? I'm hoping to convert any remaining or flash rust to iron phosphate.

 

[jetmechmarty]

Would that be concentrate enough? I'm hoping to convert any remaining or flash rust to iron phosphate.

With that concentration, I get bare metal. I have a tank on the shelf with iron phosphate showing, but I honestly don't remember how I did that. It may have been the electrolysis method of rust removal, but my memory of that isn't clear.

 

[Dom]

I'm confused, I thought phosphoric acid converted rust and prevented flash rusting. Just had a look and I have a fuel tank full of flash rust.

 

[jetmechmarty]

I'm confused, I thought phosphoric acid converted rust and prevented flash rusting. Just had a look and I have a fuel tank full of flash rust.

I certainly doesn't rust as quickly as it does with other acid, but it will rust. I'm not sure how to get that black coating you're looking for. I followed with an epoxy liner.

 

[Dom]

So I got my fuel tank squeaky clean with a combination of electrolysis and phosphoric acid, I still got flash rusting even though I didn't rinse the acid with water after treatment.

As the fuel taps were off I decided to strip them to free up a stiff tap on the one side, fair to say they were in need of a clean! This type has an internal brass mesh filter on the nipple that feeds the carb, surprisingly still in very good shape too.

 

[Dom]

Next up, send the tank, side covers, headlight bowl and ears off to be resprayed.

 

[Dom]

Completed my new dash centre panel, pretty pleased with how it's turned out!

 

[beano]

Coming along nicely now. Have you decided on a set of decals yet?

 

[Dom]

Coming along nicely now. Have you decided on a set of decals yet?

I've got a set ready to go off with the tank etc to be painted by a bike paint specialist near Bristol.

 

[beano]

I've got a set ready to go off with the tank etc to be painted by a bike paint specialist near Bristol.

Which decals did you go for in the end? I will be getting mine done next year so will be looking for recommendations.

 

[Dom]

@beano I got them from Classic Reproduction Decals on Ebay, just search xs650 decals and they will come up. I'm sure they do nearly all models.

 

[Dom]

Tank, side covers and headlight bowl and ears all packed up with the new decals ready to go off to Ultimate Bike Paint in Bristol. Going to be expensive but I wasn't happy with getting a car bodywork place to apply 650b decals, the response I got from some regarding fitting them wasn't encouraging.

 

[46th Georgia]

Tank, side covers and headlight bowl and ears all packed up with the new decals ready to go off to Ultimate Bike Paint in Bristol. Going to be expensive but I wasn't happy with getting a car bodywork place to apply 650b decals, the response I got from some regarding fitting them wasn't encouraging.

A good decision. Generally, a specialist will take more pride as he is probably a motorcyclist, or at least a fan of motorcycles.

 

[Dom]

Yes I think so, he has done the exact same model before for a chap on a Facebook group I'm on so has some previous experience with the decals too, this alone swung it for me.

 

[AlanW]

Dom, can you post pics showing your tank etc.. colour? Thanks

 

[Dom]

Dom, can you post pics showing your tank etc.. colour? Thanks

Hi Alan, do you want before photos or once it's done?

 

[Dom]

Dom, can you post pics showing your tank etc.. colour? Thanks

It's Star Black and will be done the same afterwards

 

[AlanW]

Hi Alan, do you want before photos or once it's done?

Dom,
I’ve got the same bike so after pics would be great. I’m thinking of a tank respray and the guy I used for previous jobs on other bikes has retired. Be great to get a recommendation from you for your paint shop. Thanks,
Alan

 

[Dom]

Dom,
I’ve got the same bike so after pics would be great. I’m thinking of a tank respray and the guy I used for previous jobs on other bikes has retired. Be great to get a recommendation from you for your paint shop. Thanks,
Alan

Hi Alan! My tank, side covers, headlight and ears are currently with Andy at Ultimate Bike Paint, hopefully be done in the next month to six weeks in hope so I'll get some photos up. I can't wait to collect them but in the meantime I'm ordering a load of rubber parts from Yambits to replace all the perished rubber I can, its not going tombe anything like a concourse restoration as I'm going to touch up the frame, for now at least.

Where are you based? I'm in Kington Herefordshire