Install/Repair Gas Cap Paint Saver; Bubbling Paint

Fat_Bastard

Active Member
I had the misfortune of getting an expensive custom paint job by so called experts that failed miserably within days; from paint bubbles around the gas cap. (This thread started 12-3-2016 for those tracking longevity)

This was caused by gas or gas fumes getting under or between the paint and underlying metal gas tank because the rubber gasket was used improperly, with improper adhesive.

To properly fix it in my case:

1) Remove the stock Landmark gas cap



2) Remove the stock Landmark Paint Saver Ring screwed into the gas tank with the SPECIAL Landmark REMOVAL TOOL (not shown).



2a) Landmark Removal Tool




3) In my case the Landmark paint saver ring was installed incorrectly with the rubber gasket (badly worn and not the same style as provided by Landmark) see photo below.




4) Clean up any loose material and block pieces from falling into tank with tape…
(the "clay-brownish looking stuff" in photo below was JBweld -- which I do not recommend here for this application.)



5) Re-attach loose paint bubbles with crazy glue equivalent; I used XBon super glue; other products may work as well (no luck with clear nail polish as some suggest). Wear rubber gloves in case you smear and get fingers stuck to paint, tank, etc…

6) Contact: “MR. Wright” of this Forum to have him custom make you an oversize paint saver ring to fit your situation out of stainless steel stock. (about $35.) see below lower right in photo.



7) Dry fit all to be sure of the look and fitment, bend, etc, will work…

8) Place masking tape around area to cover where you do not want RTV silicone to go and keep it neat.



9) Assemble with RTV Silicone glue (I used clear) on the gas tank threads and top edge; then put RTV Silicone on underside of large MR. Wright ring. Place on tank wipe excess oozing off inside of tank; masking tape dam will block from falling into tank.

10) RTV silicone up the smaller Landmark threaded paint saver ring and screw in to tank threads through center of the larger MR. Wright paint saver ring. DO NOT USE THE RUBBER GASKET! Or it will leak…



11) Tighten Landmark paint saver ring with tool to very snug fit or in my opinion what would be about 30 ft. lbs. of torque. The RTV Silicone will ooze out everywhere --a good thing, and wipe excess to clean up.



Recommend: WAIT 3 FULL DAYS TO DRY WITH TANK GAS CAP OFF, NO GAS IN TANK ! in well ventilated area.

After that gas up; never fill past inside metal lower neck of tank. (As I knew from my early teens on any bike-- and you probably do too).

What I like:
The new larger Mr. Wright paint saver ring prevents scratches in paint from finger nails and gas nozzle flex boot (in California gas pump nozzles) may scratch paint.

This fix has worked now for nearly 2 years and over 50 tanks of gas. A lot less expensive than new paint and I believe it is a much better set up than stock.

I have seen this done with the Kuryaken gas cap set up as well both look very nice!

PS: side experiment: I took a thumb nail size blob of Permatex RTV silicone after 4 hours dry time and drenched it periodically in gasoline over the 3 day wait; it never decomposed, compromised or damaged it... AMAZING!

I also bought a brand new Landmark Gas Cap (vented as original) with paint saver and removal tool included ($95.) Got it in one day since Landmark is in Oceanside, California 20 miles down the freeway.
http://www.landmarkmfg.com/

Gas Cap dis-assembled below to show vent and inspect...

 
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cdogg556

Guru
I had the misfortune of getting an expensive custom paint job by so called experts that failed miserably within days; from paint bubbles around the gas cap.

This was caused by gas or gas fumes getting under or between the paint and underlying metal gas tank because the rubber gasket was used improperly, with improper adhesive.

To properly fix it in my case:

1) Remove the stock Landmark gas cap



2) Remove the stock Landmark Paint Saver Ring screwed into the gas tank with the SPECIAL Landmark REMOVAL TOOL (not shown).



3) In my case the Landmark paint saver ring was installed incorrectly with the rubber gasket (badly worn and not the same style as provided by Landmark)




4) Clean up any loose material and block pieces from falling into tank with tape…



5) Re-attach loose paint bubbles with crazy glue equivalent; I used XBon super glue; other products may work as well (no luck with clear nail polish as some suggest). Wear rubber gloves in case you smear and get fingers stuck to paint, tank, etc…

6) Contact: “MR. Wright” of this Forum to have him custom make you an oversize paint saver ring to fit your situation out of stainless steel stock. (about $35.) see below lower right in photo.



7) Dry fit all to be sure of the look and fitment, bend, etc, will work…

8) Place masking tape around area to cover where you do not want RTV silicone to go and keep it neat.



9) Assemble with RTV Silicone glue (I used clear) on the gas tank threads and top edge; then put RTV Silicone on underside of large MR. Wright ring. Place on tank wipe excess oozing off inside of tank; masking tape dam will block from falling into tank.

10) RTV silicone up the smaller Landmark threaded paint saver ring and screw in to tank threads through center of the larger MR. Wright paint saver ring. DO NOT USE THE RUBBER GASKET! Or it will leak…



11) Tighten Landmark paint saver ring with tool to very snug fit or in my opinion what would be about 30 ft. lbs. of torque. The RTV Silicone will ooze out everywhere --a good thing, and wipe excess to clean up.



Recommend: WAIT 3 FULL DAYS TO DRY WITH TANK GAS CAP OFF, NO GAS IN TANK ! in well ventilated area.

After that gas up; never fill past inside metal lower neck of tank. (As I knew from my early teens on any bike-- and you probably do too).

What I like:
The new larger Mr. Wright paint saver ring prevents scratches in paint from finger nails and gas nozzle flex boot (in California gas pump nozzles) may scratch paint.

This fix has worked now for 4 months and 10 tanks of gas. A lot less expensive than new paint and I believe it is a much better set up than stock.

I have seen this done with the Kuryaken gas cap set up as well both look very nice!

PS: side experiment: I took a thumb nail size blob of Permatex RTV silicone after 4 hours dry time and drenched it periodically in gasoline over the 3 day wait; it never decomposed, compromised or damaged it... AMAZING!

I also bought a brand new Landmark Gas Cap (vented as original) with paint saver and removal tool included ($95.) Got it in one day since Landmark is in Oceanside, California 20 miles down the freeway.
http://www.landmarkmfg.com/

Gas Cap dis-assembled below to show vent and inspect...

Awesome post! :old2: Very good step by step instructions on "how to" fix the bubbling paint issue! :old2: The only thing you forgot to mention is for quicker removal of the paint saver, as explained by one of our elder members,:oldsmile: a "Hammer and Chisel" :smash::smash::smash: works best!:oldhardlaugh::oldhardlaugh::oldhardlaugh:
 

BWG56

Guru
Awesome post! :old2: Very good step by step instructions on "how to" fix the bubbling paint issue! :old2: The only thing you forgot to mention is for quicker removal of the paint saver, as explained by one of our elder members,:oldsmile: a "Hammer and Chisel" :smash::smash::smash: works best!:oldhardlaugh::oldhardlaugh::oldhardlaugh:
How did I know this would come up
:oldlaugh: Just hope the paint savor isn't epoxied in like mine was, it had to be cut out and that was the 2nd tank for BD when they were still in business
 

BadDawg Bill

Well-Known Member
Good post. As I said before in another thread put K-2 clear around the paint on the lip so it seals it well. K-2 won't come off with gas and if you have bubbling it will seal and hold down the paint. you can get a small jar of it at the auto store and it's a 2 part paint.
 

Fat_Bastard

Active Member
Good post. As I said before in another thread put K-2 clear around the paint on the lip so it seals it well. K-2 won't come off with gas and if you have bubbling it will seal and hold down the paint. you can get a small jar of it at the auto store and it's a 2 part paint.
Thanks "BadDawg" :oldthumbsup:
Saw your other Post as well;
Next time I will give the K-2 a try!
 
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Fat_Bastard

Active Member
How did I know this would come up
:oldlaugh: Just hope the paint savor isn't epoxied in like mine was, it had to be cut out and that was the 2nd tank for BD when they were still in business
Know what ya mean...

I have heard the horror stories... :oldread:
I used the Landmark Removal Tool with my 24" Crescent wrench on it to easily grab the tool with enough leverage and torque to twist it off --probably used about 40 ft. lbs of torque to get it off.

I will post a photo of the tool. I know with enough epoxie holding the stock paint saver in one could easily bust the Removal Tool.

Sometimes guys hammer,chisel and torch... OMG! :oldeek:
-- whatever works with out damage... :chopper:
 

Fat_Bastard

Active Member
Very nice write up. Thanks. I might use that as my instruction sheet, that I enclose with the ring.
Yes! Please do! :patriot:

You have helped me immensely when others had no solution!
-- other than $500. plus+ to repaint the top of the tank. :oldsad:

and the same bubbling would happen again if they make a mistake installing a stock Landmark or other brand small paint saver ring.

Thank you for this unique low cost fix and saving my custom paint job! :old2: :chopper:

-Rob/Fat :cheers:
 

BWG56

Guru
Good post. As I said before in another thread put K-2 clear around the paint on the lip so it seals it well. K-2 won't come off with gas and if you have bubbling it will seal and hold down the paint. you can get a small jar of it at the auto store and it's a 2 part paint.
Shit, I bought the 2 part epoxy that was chemical and gas resistant, and left it air dry for 4 days and after installing the paint savor it only took 3 weeks and it dissolved the epoxy, it was like bubble gum. Gas resistant my ass:oldbang:
 

Fat_Bastard

Active Member
Shit, I bought the 2 part epoxy that was chemical and gas resistant, and left it air dry for 4 days and after installing the paint savor it only took 3 weeks and it dissolved the epoxy, it was like bubble gum. Gas resistant my ass:oldbang:
Hi "BWG56"
which brand epoxy was yours? ________
I have used JBWeld as others have recommended and seen that compromised over time when near gasoline...
(I am not advocating JBWeld for this application)
 

BadDawg Bill

Well-Known Member
Shit, I bought the 2 part epoxy that was chemical and gas resistant, and left it air dry for 4 days and after installing the paint savor it only took 3 weeks and it dissolved the epoxy, it was like bubble gum. Gas resistant my ass:oldbang:
It's not epoxy.... it's K-2 2 part paint. It's formulated for gas tanks and any part that comes in contact with gas. I sprayed my custom Fatboy tank with it and one day filled the tank all the way up and sitting in the sun it overflowed on to the tank for over 4 hrs and just wiped off with no damage to the paint.

http://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-s-2k-aerospray-high-gloss-clear.html?fee=7&fep=26897&SRCCODE=PLA00010&product_id=14148Z&adpos=1o1&creative=99675667380&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CJrC38HT2dACFZVahgodILsNwQ

This is the best you can buy....
 

Spikes05

Member
Hey have any of you guys seen or heard of the McCuff gas tank filler? I don't have a picture of it right now but when I do I will post it. You can look it up at www.mccuff.com it is a yellow round piece of abs plastic that goes into your gas tank filler hole and then you put the pump into it and it pushes the outer gas pump hose up and you get a perfect fill up every time with no spills or problems of any kind. I use them for all my bikes they even have one for sport bikes. I am waiting for my new order right now. You can get two for $18.95 which I think is really cheap.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

CapRayT

Member
Good post. As I said before in another thread put K-2 clear around the paint on the lip so it seals it well. K-2 won't come off with gas and if you have bubbling it will seal and hold down the paint. you can get a small jar of it at the auto store and it's a 2 part paint.

When using the K-2, do you brush it on the edge of the paint or spray it on and blend it? Just currious, never used it before, and want to give it a shot next time I paint a tank.
 

BadDawg Bill

Well-Known Member
When using the K-2, do you brush it on the edge of the paint or spray it on and blend it? Just currious, never used it before, and want to give it a shot next time I paint a tank.
I usually clear the whole tank with it but you can tape 2" around the opening and spray it then use white compound to blend it in. you can do it either way.
 
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