maggar Posted April 4, 2016 Report Share Posted April 4, 2016 What are the 301 / 241 & 201 tanks made from? I've searched on here for info on painting them and found a post which says that these tanks don't allow petrol "vapour" (?) to breathe through but I've had stickers bubble up on these tanks before. I have a 241 with a very rough tank that needs painting - what's the best way to do this without spending fortunes? I was going to sand down, wet or dry it, maybe use some sort of sealant and then paint with normal spray paint and apply a petrol resistant lacquer. I'm not sure what these tanks are made of and some of the sealant products say not to use with fibreglass. It's all very confusing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggar Posted April 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2016 Update - I started to rub down the tank last night, it had lots of bubbles in the paint and I could actually peel off large sections of the paint rather than sand it. Someone previously has painted the tank and, despite suggestions that these mono tanks don't allow fuel vapour to breathe through, it has bubbled. I will spend some time now getting the tank prepared for painting but I'm not sure how to seal it as I don't know what it's made of. Anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokey125 Posted April 5, 2016 Report Share Posted April 5, 2016 (edited) I believe that the tanks were made by Acerbis (the cap on by 309 is an Acerbis part) I can’t find anything to say what the tank is made off. I can find reference to polyethylene used for the MX tanks and it says that these can’t be painted, coated or have transfers as the tank breaths vapor through the material! I have found references to PA6 polyamide as used on KTM, Ducati etc road bikes. This is painted, but these are the tanks that have had issues with them deforming. Also only seems to be from 2005 onward. I’ve also seen reference to polyurethane, which you should be able to paint. I did contact Acerbis in the UK through their website to see if they knew what size the fuel cap was for the 309, but as of yet have had no response. I don’t know if that’s because they haven’t received it, they don’t know and can’t be bothered to reply or that they are an importer/distributor only and don’t want to deal with the public. If someone on here is Italian or can write Italian it could be worth contacting them directly in Italy you might get a more helpful answer. My 309 tank appears to be painted as supplied new from Fantic and it has transfers on top of the paint all without bubbling or pealing! Sorry I can’t offer anything more positive. It would be good to know for future reference. Edited April 5, 2016 by smokey125 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grib Posted April 9, 2016 Report Share Posted April 9, 2016 The tanks on these bikes were painted when new. I had a 301 about 15 years ago and re sprayed the tank and put on new decals with no issues. I would have thought that if you have problems with bubbling paint then it is probably caused by whatever paint has been put over the original (in the last 30 years). I would rub the tank down to the last layer of original paint and start from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggar Posted April 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2016 Thanks Grib - that's the way I'm going to go with this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastbelly Posted April 15, 2016 Report Share Posted April 15, 2016 I have a 241 with a very nice condition original white paint job with, as mentioned, graphics applied. So yes, they are paintable. If yours has been rubbed down too much in the past maybe it lost whatever barrier coat was applied. So be carefull. Dont assume it will work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggar Posted April 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 There are parts of the tank where you can see the translucent "plastic". Is it possible to add a barrier coat before painting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokey125 Posted April 21, 2016 Report Share Posted April 21, 2016 Acerbis in Itilay got back to me about my fuel cap so I asked about the tank as well. The tanks are made of polypropylene he said you can't paint them because they do breath fuel vapour. I did ask how the original colour and stickers were put on but didn't get an answer to that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grib Posted April 21, 2016 Report Share Posted April 21, 2016 301 tanks aren't made from polypropylene - they were painted when new, nothing sticks to polypropylene. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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