My New Bulldog Bagger

[SKOGDOG]

Well folks, I did it. I followed in Viking's footsteps and bought one of the spanking new 2010 Bulldog Baggers (with 27 miles on it) from that guy in New York(turns out New Jersey)--more about that in another post.
I've not been able to get it out until yesterday and today to ride because of bad weather. It started fine and ran fine, smooth and lots of torque like a good Bagger oughta have. Yesterday, I snuck out and rode it 6-8 miles just for fun. Today we went 40-50 miles, so we stopped for fuel. I looked in the filler cap and was dismayed to see tank liner separated and laying on the little shelf below the gas cap opening. We got back to the shop and I too a pair of long angle needle nose and picked out what I could and it is in the photo.

I was surprised because the tank has never in all probability been filled until today....no doubt ethanol fumes must have done this. I'll have to use a little remote viewer to look deeper into the tank to see if the liner has flaked off down there as well--you really can't see in there past the shelf (splashguard?) under the gas cap. I'll drain it and see tomorrow. Guess I need to remove the tank and wash it out first, eh?
I searched here and on the Internet and think that guy in Ft. Lauderdale (motorcycletankservices.com) might be the best bet. There is another in Hollywood CA--GTL Advantage. A number of members here on the Forum have posted encouraging comments about the kits and products they tried (a kit from Curtis at WSW, Caswell. POR-15, PPG dx579, and KREEM).
But I'm dubious about being able to protect the paint while stripping the liner out of the tank.
I'm hoping one of the Members who has completed with this project and wound up with a perfect paint job staying that way might post with a specifics with regard to paint protection.
I already pm'd Viking because I can't help but wonder if the his brand new bike's fuel pump failure might be related to the same issue

 

[Hirter6Pack]

Congratulations on your new purchase. Hope you get everything worked out.

 

[bigkelk9]

Yes, congrats on the new bike and sorry to hear about this. I'm sure there is a way to strip and redo the inside with no damage to the outside. So that's what was wrong with Viking's bike was a bad fuel pump. Interesting. N e ways keep us posted with the progress.. and where's the pics??

 

[BWG56]

I had a 2nd tank redone by Big Dog because of paint bubbling around the bung and that came outta the tank like a big snake skin when I had the tank fixed after denting it, The fabricator that fixed my tank after removing the bung was how he got it out. Chances are 50/50 on not screwing up the outside by trying to clean it out with chemicals, but if your going to have it repainted like I believe Kim mentioned, that would be the time to do it. I personally have not had mine recoated and I have no plans on doing so, every year I pull the petcock and clean the crap off it.
I have a car that's almost 40 yrs old and the tank is still original without any liner in it.

 

[cdogg556]

I had a 2nd tank redone by Big Dog because of paint bubbling around the bung and that came outta the tank like a big snake skin when I had the tank fixed after denting it, The fabricator that fixed my tank after removing the bung was how he got it out. Chances are 50/50 on not screwing up the outside by trying to clean it out with chemicals, but if your going to have it repainted like I believe Kim mentioned, that would be the time to do it. I personally have not had mine recoated and I have no plans on doing so, every year I pull the petcock and clean the crap off it.
I have a car that's almost 40 yrs old and the tank is still original without any liner in it.
View attachment 38476

I gotta remember to check that one of these days, the amount of crap on that filter is unbelievable!

 

[pknowles]

I had a 2nd tank redone by Big Dog because of paint bubbling around the bung and that came outta the tank like a big snake skin when I had the tank fixed after denting it, The fabricator that fixed my tank after removing the bung was how he got it out. Chances are 50/50 on not screwing up the outside by trying to clean it out with chemicals, but if your going to have it repainted like I believe Kim mentioned, that would be the time to do it. I personally have not had mine recoated and I have no plans on doing so, every year I pull the petcock and clean the crap off it.
I have a car that's almost 40 yrs old and the tank is still original without any liner in it.
View attachment 38476

I still think the only reason they line the tanks is because of the weld quality.

 

[FrankBDPS]

Rick, congrats on you're purchase. Those are really nice bikes and at the price difference between the Big Dog and a new Harley they are a good value even thou you may have to work out some issues.

What I find disappointing is the fact that Big Dog had not improved in their tank linings during the entire history of the company. I wonder what product they used and if they installed it properly. The liner in my 2000 looked exactly like yours does. A piece of mine got stuck on the fuel outlet going down the freeway one day,not good when all you hear is wind noise and no motor at 80 mph.

I opted to reline mine my self. I used a KBS product called gold seal. Preparation is everything. I tried to remove all the old liner by putting a couple of pounds of dry wall screws in the tanks and rotating and shaking them. I ground out about 90 percent of the shit and maybe should have stopped there. Instead I masked off the tanks first with masking tape and then with duct tape. I used Aircraft paint stripper. In less than 5 minutes I managed to destroy a year old paint job. Gold metal flake with house of colors burgundy wine and several coats of clear. The stripper leaked out of the pin holes in the welds that were left by whom ever built the tanks. That's why they were lined in the first place. Again poor quality work on expensive custom bikes. Luckily after a lecture from my painter about ruining his paint job he repainted them for $400.

I had contacted the same people you mentioned in you're post. One of them had a machine that would roll and turn the tank and remove the old liner after putting some kind of abrasive material in the tank. They still would not guarantee that the paint would not be damaged. They are very pricey also.

Good luck with what ever you decide.

 

[pknowles]

Rick, congrats on you're purchase. Those are really nice bikes and at the price difference between the Big Dog and a new Harley they are a good value even thou you may have to work out some issues.

What I find disappointing is the fact that Big Dog had not improved in their tank linings during the entire history of the company. I wonder what product they used and if they installed it properly. The liner in my 2000 looked exactly like yours does. A piece of mine got stuck on the fuel outlet going down the freeway one day,not good when all you hear is wind noise and no motor at 80 mph.

I opted to reline mine my self. I used a KBS product called gold seal. Preparation is everything. I tried to remove all the old liner by putting a couple of pounds of dry wall screws in the tanks and rotating and shaking them. I ground out about 90 percent of the shit and maybe should have stopped there. Instead I masked off the tanks first with masking tape and then with duct tape. I used Aircraft paint stripper. In less than 5 minutes I managed to destroy a year old paint job. Gold metal flake with house of colors burgundy wine and several coats of clear. The stripper leaked out of the pin holes in the welds that were left by whom ever built the tanks. That's why they were lined in the first place. Again poor quality work on expensive custom bikes. Luckily after a lecture from my painter about ruining his paint job he repainted them for $400.

I had contacted the same people you mentioned in you're post. One of them had a machine that would roll and turn the tank and remove the old liner after putting some kind of abrasive material in the tank. They still would not guarantee that the paint would not be damaged. They are very pricey also.

Good luck with what ever you decide.

My 07 Bulldog had the paint bubble problem and was redone at the factory along with the tank liner. Geoff has had the bike out in Montana for about 3 years and hasn't mentioned any more problem with the liner. My 07 bought used from the original owner appears to be holding up good. He never had any issues when I questioned him about it. I guess it was the luck of the draw.

 

[BWG56]

I gotta remember to check that one of these days, the amount of crap on that filter is unbelievable!

When I installed the ESC, the tank sat empty for 2 weeks and I could hear more stuff lose in the tank, so I stuck the air hose in the petcock hole to blow it around and the vacuum in the paint saver to suck it out. I don't have any problems with pin holes, but I do have an extra tank and before I would paint it, I will fill it with water to see if it leaks. Before ya give me comment about rust, I would of course air blow it out after.

 

[Th3InfamousI]

I had posted about this in Vikings thread it was my first suggestion as to his fuel issue. A bike sitting for 6 years on probably a half of tank of fuel and I wouldn't say it's not necessarily completely unexpected. I suspect Viking has the same problem.

Anyways, that guy in FL is he the one that the tank liner in grey and he confirms no damage to paint? I recall someone on the forum had very positive things and another said it took 3-4+ months. I believe the guy with positive comments was a local so take that into account.

What Frank said is probably true only lined due to poor welds. Going back to Ker, prior to the polypoprolene tanks used on Cars now a days they were never lined and generally outlasted the life of the car in most cases. I just realaced my 1980 CJ gas tank this spring and opted for a unlined Steel tank because it was significantly cheaper and figured since thats OEM it should work. I thought about running a liner through it but said the hell with it for $80 I'll buy a new tank. My whole point to this rant is if you can get it out I wouldn't worry about relining it unless it leaks


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[FrankBDPS]

When I installed the ESC, the tank sat empty for 2 weeks and I could hear more stuff lose in the tank, so I stuck the air hose in the petcock hole to blow it around and the vacuum in the paint saver to suck it out. I don't have any problems with pin holes, but I do have an extra tank and before I would paint it, I will fill it with water to see if it leaks. Before ya give me comment about rust, I would of course air blow it out after.

Is there a liner in you're spare tank?

 

[pknowles]

When I installed the ESC, the tank sat empty for 2 weeks and I could hear more stuff lose in the tank, so I stuck the air hose in the petcock hole to blow it around and the vacuum in the paint saver to suck it out. I don't have any problems with pin holes, but I do have an extra tank and before I would paint it, I will fill it with water to see if it leaks. Before ya give me comment about rust, I would of course air blow it out after.

I would hydro it.

 

[BWG56]

Is there a liner in you're spare tank?

No, its just a raw tank

 

[Dawggydawg]

Here's my tanks off my 05 Mastiff after Fuel Tank Services in Ft. Lauderdale did them. Mine was expensive because I have to tanks so it was 1k for lining both tanks, and it is lifetime guaranteed. It should be around a 30 day turn time. I tried cleaning mine out with screws, didn't work. Now, it did take me 8 months to get my tanks back because I opted to have a scratch and several chips repaired even though I was told it would only be another 30 days. I did go round and round for months with George about this. Anyway, your tank should be around $500 and you should have it back in 30 days. I have some Caswell Dragon seal you can have if you want. I'm never going to use it. My tanks were pretty rusted under all that coating that was peeling off everywhere also. Anyway, good luck with whatever you decide.


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[Jwooky]

Wow. Looks great but Pricey$$$

 

[SKOGDOG]

Thanks to Frank, Ker, and Eric for the comments. Frank, I can imagine your sinking feeling when that paint bubbled and you realized you were screwed despite your efforts and plans. Please keep them coming--I'm pretty optimistic about being able to ultimately resolve the issue, just a matter of deciding what direction to take:
1. DIY---spend several days at it with maybe a 50% possibility of having to repaint the tank. The good thing is that it's a solid color. Then choose to re-line the tank or not.
2. Send it to FL or CA and have it professionally redone-- cost of $350-500.
Basically it looks like a wash to me, so I will most probably look at sending it to a professional.
And certainly Frank is absolutely correct to fault the dipshits who were responsible for the poor quality of liners used during the entire life of the company. That contractor must have been married to a Coleman....

 

[BadDawg Bill]

I'd just put in a chemical that would dissolve the coating and if it kills the paint job get the tank repainted. It would be a lot cheaper in the end. Kreem is the product I've always used and it held up for over 210k and 14 years on my custom.

 

[BWG56]

Well I guess someone has to break this bubble and comment about the down tube stickers and reflectors

 

[pknowles]

That thing looks fast setting still...but then it is red.

 

[aspen874]

Well I guess someone has to break this bubble and comment about the down tube stickers and reflectors

Haha, there's always one dick at the party