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Project XS2
- Thread starter Wingedwheel
- Start date
Appreciate you looking out.
Nice find. They are still out there just gotta keep looking.
One thing I was suspect of when I was looking the parts over before purchase was a stain and small area of rust on the right lower tank seam. I’ve seen this before unfortunately and it usually mean a leak.
This is the valve cover where I’m assuming it was running down the seam and dripping. Maybe that explains the liner kit and perhaps that’s also why the carbs were off and very clean.
. The PO appeared to be on top of general maintenance. And there are several vintage spare parts
This is the valve cover where I’m assuming it was running down the seam and dripping. Maybe that explains the liner kit and perhaps that’s also why the carbs were off and very clean.
. The PO appeared to be on top of general maintenance. And there are several vintage spare parts
Yeah, it sure looks like it was leaking. Unfortunately that’s pretty common with those early tanks.
Since I was going to do it anyway, I poured about a gallon of vinegar in the tank and set it on the bench to see if I could get it to leak, well I did, except it was leaking from the PO’s petcock hole seals. I thought it looked good but who knows how old that rubber is. I’ll just make a new “gasket” out of some inner tube rubber. On the other hand……….in anticipation of my battery showing up I squirted a little oil in the cylinder, rolled things over by hand a few times with the kicker and saw no issues. Battery showed up an hour or so ago and I hooked it up and ran it through some checks. All switches and lights worked pulled the starter lever and she spun with the starter no problems and it sounded great! This is actually the cleanest non-runner I have ever gotten. The paint on the lower case is about as close to showroom as you can get.
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Bob, I know your liner had the catastrophic failure but has anyone else mentioned issues with a liner they installed?
Yes, I have heard bad stories about a number of different liners. With one possible exception, I believe that Caswell liners have a good reputation. Maybe @jetmechmarty could chime in here. He has had good luck with it. It differs from the other brands , it’s not just an epoxy, something about it makes it set up like glass….extremely hard.
Another thing, I’ve mentioned this before, but here in the Phoenix metro area, our gas is what they call CBG ( Clean Burning Gas ) and it is a cocktail of all sorts of highly volatile solvents, designed to burn hotter and cleaner. I’m sure that contributed to my liner failure.
I‘d wait for some verification about that Caswell being the one that is glass like, before ordering it.
Give me a bit and I’ll do some searching.
Thanks, I know Pete used POR, I wonder how that worked.
Actually here it is, it’s all right here in this thread. It would be good reading, lots of people chiming in.
https://www.xs650.com/threads/marbl...er-then-screwed-up-the-warranty-repair.58302/
I just read it Bob so it looks like Caswell. I would just clean it but I’m almost positive it’s leaking so this is the path…..
I have a failed Caswell liner. I reached out to Caswell for their input. They advised that their product needs a rough surface to grab onto. My tank looked like new before the PO installed the liner. The best plausible reason we came up with was that the surface was so smooth that the product lost adhesion and lifted from the side. The only chemical they suggested for removal is MEK. But I don’t think the average consumer can buy this off the shelf anymore. I believe you need a special commercial license to buy it anymore. I could be wrong on that last part, but that was my impression.
Thanks for the info, I would think the etching solution would help with adhesion. Did it dissolve or just de-lam. I think it would make a difference.
Yes, I’m riding around with a Caswell liner. I have two tanks lined with it. It is epoxy. @willis is the only failure I’ve heard of other than someone else I know who had installation failure. My tanks had all of the rust removed mechanically, then etched with phosphoric acid. They were completely clean. The one I’m riding was parked in an Atlanta shed for five years before I ever put gasoline in it. It’s on its first season.
Mine just delaminated. I tried to dissolve the loose pieces in a bench test, but was unsuccessful on all attempts.
You lucky dog! What’s the mileage ? And is purchase price a secret?
Epoxy is terrible when it comes to chemical bonds, once past the green stage, it doesn’t even chemically bond to itself.
Mechanical bonding (while quite good at it) is all that it’s got. So a rough surface is a must.
Can be a bit difficult to do inside a gas tank with a good finish.
I hope a phosphoric acid etch did the job. I’m going to find out, one way or another.
I’ll definitely be finding out but I plan on taking every precaution. Yes Niels I hate to kiss and tell but let’s just say this bike will be on the road for less than a grand. That’s including new tires and consumables.
