KTM 250GS 1981
The (originally)
white tank is a sad story on most KTM's. One of the most frequent questions
in the discussion boards is how to make them white again. Most of us has agreed
that the
plastic is miscolored all the way through since it appears as if the gas slowly
passes right
through the plastic wall making sanding, buffing and cleaning quite meaningless.
The only way we
know works is to sand it with a rough grit paper or even better, blast it!
That way one can coat the entire tank with epoxy or epoxy based sealing paint.
The
epoxy has a remarkable way of hooking up onto most materials but we need that
rough
surface go make it grip. Epoxy is absolutely tight and doesn't let through any
kind of moist.
This is because it normally doesn't contain any solvents and doesn't shrink
when curing.
Actually, both the volume and weight is unchanged from resin to plastic state.
I decided to sand
the tank. Apply between two and three layers of (expensive) marine grade
epoxy. Spraying putty, sand, spraying putty, sand, spraying putty, sa.............
Nice color ehhh?
Second epoxy layer
applied.
Two layers epoxy
and filled tank bag holes with putty (epoxy and flour).
First layer of
putty drying.
Some 10 coats
later with this endless sanding, doesn't show but very smooth now.
After painting
the tank, these are awaiting their final destination.