Blistered Paint!

Energy One
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[Guys, I have a 08 K-9, Year and half ago I had gas seep out of my gas cap and totally ruin my tank paint. Tank was removed, totally redone body filler and all. All contaminated material was removed! Spent over 3K on a custom paint job, new paint saver ring, gasket, and gas cap was installed. Now I'm having problems with the paint starting to blister at the paint saver ring.

I never fill my tank all the way up, shove the gas nozzle all the way in and when it clicks of that’s it! Gas is at least 3 to 4 inches away from the neck. All I can figure is the gas fumes are attacking the paint. Bike is kept inside a garage, it's cool, so it's not like it's baking in the sun building pressure. Tank is coming back off this weekend and going back down to the painter to get fixed. I don't want this happening again! I'm to the point of having a custom made one piece billet aluminum gas cap with a vent hole drilled though the center, tapped for 1/4 pipe and getting Aeroquip fittings and stainless steel 1/4" braded hose and venting right to the road to get the fumes away from the tank.

Has anyone else had this problem of fumes blistering your paint and if so what was your fix??

Thanks
 
Raywood

Raywood

The Pirate
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Did you use a good layer of JB Weld when you put the paint saver back in? Painter Ed has a few posts on here about sealing that thing in so it doesn't leak.
 
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No Sir I didn't, I was told by the local Big Dog Dealer they never use anything when replacing the paint saver, so it just went in with a new gasket.
 
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Has anyone used anything but JB Weld on the paint saver threads so it's not so hard to remove if needed? Any type of PST pipe thread sealant?
 
Iman

Iman

Well-Known Member
it has happened to me 3 times. i'm finally in the habit of taking my gas cap off when its parked in a garage or trailer after a ride. The bike is so hot and when its parked inside it seems to just collect around the top of the gas cap. i do not take it off if its parked outside, seems to cool off ok. I'm thinking its so hot the gas cap is condensating and collecting at the top of the gas cap making the paint bubble. No problems for 3 years now after i do this
 
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Raywood said:
That looks like some good stuff but I would run it by Ed or another painter just to be safe

:cheers:
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I’m going to call the manufacture tomorrow and explain my situation and see what they recommend. I googled Gasoila and they have many sealants to use with fuel applications. I will post my finds!!

I will also check with my painter as well!
 
S

stryfox

Active Member
Jb weld works good and is a solution. Why start experimenting now?
To Remove the ring you can heat it and twist it out.
Obviously safely purge tank before heating. A heat gun works no need to use a torch.
 
airbrush-ed

airbrush-ed

kustompaintbyed.com
JB Weld works well, although nothing is %100. Your dealership is full of crap. This is how it was done at the factory.
 
BADOG

BADOG

Active Member
I had the blistering problem. but no paint saver, on my '07 chopper.
When Big Dog was open they re-did my tank under warranty.
After it was back my local guy saw that the vent on the back end of the tank was closed creating no circulation in the tank creating a vapor lock at the cap.
He opened up the vent and ran a rubber tube down the frame to bottom.
Don't know that this will help in bubbling of paint, but since then my paint has been fine and have no more issues with vapor lock.
Without proper ventilation there's a lot of pressure up at the cap.
I told Big Dog of this fix, they agreed with it, and they were supposed to make the vent tube standard, but went belly up before the fix.
 
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Member
Called Gasolia Supplier, guy I talked to was a Harley rider, knew just what I was talking about, said the Gasolia E-Seal product will do the trick. Will seal the paint saver and not lock it up.

Product information:

•Designed specifically for ethanol blended gasoline including E10 and E85.
•Non-hardening, non-toxic, opaque, dark green paste
•Provides a positive seal on pipe threads, joints, fittings, hoses, nozzles, pump assemblies, oil burners, hydraulics, bolts, compressors, engines, motors, fuel lines and couplings
•For use on brass, copper, stainless steel, aluminum, black pipe, tin and galvanized pipe
•Excellent resistance to gasoline, ethanol blended gasoline such as E10 and E85,petroleum solvents, kerosene diesel oil, BioDiesel propane, butane, LPG, cutting oils, ammonia, aliphatic solvents, acids, steam and potable water
•NOT for use with Oxygen
•Temperature Range: -100°F to 600°F (-74°C to 318°C)
•Pressure Range: Up to 10,000 psi when sealing liquids and up to 3,000 psi with gases
•UL® Classified

Questioned the use on paint, he said I sould be OK, but I'm going to prep the fuel neck down to clean metal and seal.

Have a small can on order, going to give it a try!
 
Srodden

Srodden

Well-Known Member
My paint saver came out when the threads expanded and everything just unscrewed one day. So I ordered new threads from landmark and new rubber seals from BDM for paint savers installed new seals without any goop just seals and no leaks. I always fill tanks all the way up too. When installing the the new seals I carefully too hammer and punch to tighten paint savors a little extra.
 
jimizee028

jimizee028

TRUE COLORS COLLISION
Another issue that I found throughout life doing my job...(painting) is if any parts are installed on a newly painted surface and for whatevr reason it touches and pinches the newly painted surface ,it seems to seperate the paint from the metal and therefore creating a type of blister or crumpling up of the paint...if that makes sense...that with the fact that all these bikes just are not properly vented from the factory and the pressure could then help blow up the paint...I know my bike came with the wrong gas cap when it was brand new.....
 
Macdwn

Macdwn

Active Member
Gasolia or any ethanol approved sealant with PTFE will work. Working in the gas industry its the only type sealant that works for ethanol blended gas. Eventually the ethanol will break down the JB weld. Although it will take a while. Best bet if your running blended gas is to unscrew the cap when its parked for more than a few hours.
 
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Tank Prep.

Well here we go, I have the tank removed from the bike, has been washed inside and out thoroughly, dried then force feed clean dry air to completely dry and purge tank of all fumes and moisture. It’s heading to the painter next week.
 

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Macdwn said:
Gasolia or any ethanol approved sealant with PTFE will work. Working in the gas industry its the only type sealant that works for ethanol blended gas. Eventually the ethanol will break down the JB weld. Although it will take a while. Best bet if your running blended gas is to unscrew the cap when its parked for more than a few hours.
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Looking forward to getting the E-Seal and tank fixed so we are back on the road!!
 
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jimizee028 said:
Another issue that I found throughout life doing my job...(painting) is if any parts are installed on a newly painted surface and for whatevr reason it touches and pinches the newly painted surface ,it seems to seperate the paint from the metal and therefore creating a type of blister or crumpling up of the paint...if that makes sense...that with the fact that all these bikes just are not properly vented from the factory and the pressure could then help blow up the paint...I know my bike came with the wrong gas cap when it was brand new.....
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Very good point, we did wait about two weeks before installing paint saver ring, not to say it still didn't wrinkel the paint?? Going to wait until I have the tank at the painter before removing paint saver ring so he can Thoroughly Asses the situation. After removal may have more of an idea of what may have gone wrong. :confused:
 
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