Paint is throwing bubbles on the tank - Help!

Discussion in 'General VFR Discussions' started by irishrOy, Nov 29, 2017.

  1. irishrOy

    irishrOy New Member

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    Hey guys!

    I just noticed today, but:

    My new VFR is throwing bubbles/blisters on the right side of the tank.
    One large "air"-bubble and a few smaller ones (~0.5cm², the size of the head of a pin-needle).
    It doesn't look rusted or anything, kust bubbles/blisters.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    This is only on the right side and only in this area, I looked carefully around, but the rest of the tank is as smooth as a baby's behind, as we say in german ;)
    The camera makes the whole thing look very dark, though the light in the garage was on, dunno.

    At first it looked like water, and poof my dumb ass decided it was best to feel it and I broke the paint with my finger, so now I got 1 big broken paint-bubble and a few smaller ones, still intact.

    The previous owner filled the tank to the brim and put in fuel-stabilizer, so maybe it was making gases/pressure, I figured.

    So I opened the tank, but no pressure whatsoever, the gas is slightly greenish due to the stabilizer and looking very clear, no rust, etc.

    I don't know if the temperatures maybe had something to do with it. But while the garage is not heated, it it always well above freezing-temperatures.

    If you guys have nothing against it,
    my plan is to get some clear paint/laque from the motorcycle/hardware-store tomorrow and paint a few layers over the smaller bubbles to prevent them from external damage or accidently popping.

    But I'm still unsure of what to do with the big bubble. Maybe press the paint that is now just shaped like a bubble back to the metal and clear-coat it was well?

    Pick the flakes of paint away, sand it down and repaint it?

    Or, the most expensive version, take it to a car/motorcycle-workshop and have them do the sanding and repainting?
    (Which, of course, I want to avoid due to me being still a student at Uni :D But there is a car-mechanic nearby who also is used to just ordering spare-parts and painting cars, so I figure he could also(re-)-paint a tank, if neded.)

    I've built, modelled and painted quite a few Warhammer40k figures, so the principles of paiting, brushes and washes are clear to me ^^


    Thanks in advance for reading and helping me out, guys!

    much appreciated! :)
     
    Last edited: Nov 29, 2017
  2. OZ VFR

    OZ VFR Member

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    Hmmmm.
    That looks like a 5th gen, and it doesn't look like original colour (unless original silver paint had metal flakes).
    In most cases bubbles are caused by corrosion underneath.
    No easy fix I'm afraid.
     
  3. irishrOy

    irishrOy New Member

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    It's a 6th gen in silver, if that helps anything.

    Yeah, I figure that it's no easy fix, though :/
     
  4. Allyance

    Allyance Insider

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    My previous VFR was an '03 in silver. It looks like your bike has been re-painted, your Honda Decal is not in the same place as mine a lot closer to the front, and it may be the photography, but your metallic paint looks a lot coarser. Best to check and see if there is rust under one of the bubbles. I am not a body guy, so I could not tell you why the paint would bubble like that. Only thing I can think of is pin holes in tank. Best to determine why before spending time and $$ on fixing it.
    011.JPG
     
  5. Diving Pete

    Diving Pete Member

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    Its Rust.

    Firstly put a coating in the tank - PQR - 15 or something like that.

    then you are into the painful / expensive bit...
     
  6. Gator

    Gator Insider

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    I too don't think that is original paint.
     
  7. irishrOy

    irishrOy New Member

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    I don't know if this is the original paint, but I think so, as the original owner didn't really strike me as a bike-guy who would change stuff and he also said he didn't change anything. He's very safety-focused and stuck to the maintenance religiously, too.

    The owner before him didn't own the VFR for long, but I don't know much from him, tho.

    If it helps anything, that's her:
    [​IMG]

    I, too, don't know if the Honda-stickers seem to have been moved, not sure :/

    Thanks for the helpful answers, guys!

    I'll talk with a few trusted mechanics tomorrow and see what they suggest.

    I'd try to avoid prying around with a knife to get the blisters off and I'd like to avoid having to have the tank completely repainted, too, though. Maybe a patch up of the spot concerned will do.

    We'll see :D
     
  8. Gator

    Gator Insider

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    It might be how the flash made the paint look. Good luck.
     
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  9. scottbott

    scottbott Member

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    will it not be easier/cheaper to find a replacement tank there must be some around ?,hope you get it sorted as I would be well pissed off about it
     
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  10. irishrOy

    irishrOy New Member

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    That's a very good idea, man! How come I didn't think of that?! :D

    I will ask around the local painters/mechanics and if the costs turn out to be higher than anticipated, I'll just look into getting a new tank, yes.

    dumb question:
    Will it do any harm using the tank while the paint is throwing a blister or two?
     
  11. scottbott

    scottbott Member

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    I thought it would be ok as long as no petrol actually seeps right out of the 'blisters',better qualified people than me may know better though, best of luck getting it sorted not the expense you need in the run up to Christmas
     
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  12. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    I really suspect that the tank has been repainted. And that there was contamination on the surface at some point. I can't see where rust would come into play on a 6th gen unless it was severely abused by a previous owner. Mine is 11 years old, ridden in all weather and some salt and there is no signs of salt causing damage to under paint.

    Here, I would likely be able to get that stripped and painted for about $400.00. We tend to be expensive here in Canada. If you take it to a reliable auto-body shop, they can compare paint ships of the colour code beneath your seat, with that which is displayed on your bike and will be able to tell you if it is original colour at the least. They would be able to tell you if it has been painted as well.

    If it has been painted, this leaves one to wonder why. Has it been subject to a considerable drop? I would be asking myself.

    Mine was repainted in 2012 just because the paint was showing signs of wear from very high mileage and adverse riding conditions over the 6 years I had had this bike up to then. I am thinking on going this route again.
     
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  13. OZ VFR

    OZ VFR Member

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    If it is corrosion it would be from the inside and caused by sitting for long periods on an empty tank, I've never seen a VFR rust from the outside.
    But not sure on this bike, the bubble does look like a respray gone bad.
    I say pop it and see what is underneath.
    I have to say I've always been partial to the silver bikes.
    I bought my red 01 5G after I missed out on a silver 99 model that I fell in love with.
     
  14. OZ VFR

    OZ VFR Member

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    I say buy a new one Randy, and keep the old one.
    You never know, some random bloke might turn up out of the blue one day, and it would be great to have a spare bike. ;)
     
  15. irishrOy

    irishrOy New Member

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    That's what I'm thinking as well. Normally Honda makes quite good paint-layers on tanks as far as I have seen on my own Honda-motorcycles :D

    I don't think it has been dropped in the last 8 or 9 years because that's how long the previous owner had it and he had no accident nor a single drop.
    If it has been repainted due to a crash/whatever reason it has to be between 2003 and 2007/8.

    Today I asked around one garage/car-painter estimated around 350€ for the big spot or ~500€ for the tank in total to be sure + I have to bring him the paint as he only has car-paints.
    So pretty expensive.
    I will ask another mechanic who's working on old-timers and does this more hobbylike.
    I will definitely keep that offer 350€-500€ in mind, but I think I will just ride the tank as it is.
    Maybe I'll scratch off the paint or press the bubble back against the tank and put a coat of clear laque on it to protect it + put a sticker on it :D
     
  16. irishrOy

    irishrOy New Member

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    Yeah, the previous didn't ride her much and he didn't work on her personally, but he knew basic maintenance things like not having the bike sit on an empty tank due to rust, he kept it topped off and also winterized it properly by making the tank full + putting in a dab of fuel stabilizer.
    I looked inside as well, the fuel is as clear as fuel can be, a little greenish tint from the stabilizer, but all the metal surfaces are shiny and reflective, no rust-spots there.

    I'm sorry I'm not an english native-speaker (the irish in my name is just4fun, actually I'm german), but does partial mean you like 'em or you don't like 'em? :D
    If you do like the silver color, that's awesome! :)
    I like it as well.
    Normalle I don't really tend to "name" my scoots, and I wanted to wait a bit with the Viffer, but that silver color and me being a huge Stephen King-fan..
    In the book "It" Bill has a silver bycicle called "Silver" that the children use to get around and it's very fast, so I'll be naming my VFR "Silver"
    A little unimaginative, I guess, but hey, it's something ;)
     
  17. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    As much as I want a brand new 8th Gen, I have become very attached to this one. No one seems to know how long these things will last so I am kinda wanting to ride this one to death of the engine. Maybe a visitor will have the opportunity to ride it next winter.

    Also, I don't have the space to store a second bike. My shop is packed full of woodworking machinery. I like to make sawdust for the wife's kitchen floor as often as I can. She seems to enjoy being part of my hobbies.

    If I were to get a new one, I wouldn't mind having a go at a total resto on this one but that thought probably makes most here shudder or laugh.
     
  18. anthonygg13

    anthonygg13 New Member

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    Looks like a beautiful bike and in that color. It also looks like a lousy paint job on the tank. Most likely some contamination during the painting process. Still a nice looking ride!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
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  19. Allyance

    Allyance Insider

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    The reason I think it is rust from the inside is I tried to clean the rust out of my original 83 tank and left the acid solution in there too long and it had the same bubbles all over it. f ugly.

    I compared your side shot with my old 2003 and the look the same, it must have been the angle of the other photo that made it look off.
     
    Last edited: Dec 1, 2017
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  20. OZ VFR

    OZ VFR Member

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    Definitely like it.
     
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