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[Chris Tindal]

Recently shelled out for this tank from our host. It's interesting as it a Redditch one in the style of the Indian Delux models. Never seen a Redditch one like this. Anyway, the question is do I restore it or just refurb. The chrome is pretty good for being 60 odd years and it's very solid with no rust inside. I could just spray on some new black paint and tramlines and polish up the chrome, or start from scratch. If I start from scratch it will show up the rest of the (shabby) bike. Does anyone know the market these early chrome tanks were sent to?

[Chris Tindal]

Try again

[Chris Tindal]

Try again

[Beezabryan]

"I could just spray on some new black paint and tramlines and polish up the chrome, "
That is the way I would go

[Chris Tindal]

Same applies to the bike. It's used all year round but is looking pretty scruffy, If I start where do I stop? Is it shabby chique or a rolling wreck?

[nigelphoto]

The problem is that if you try to spray it with rattlecans (acrylic) its not petrol proof and the first fill up will blister it and make it look 'orrible. I had to put a replacement tank on an MZ I've just done up and in the end I had to get off all the original paint as well as the rattlecan stuff I'd sprayed it with. Then my problems really started. Nowadays Nitromors is as useful as smearing KY jelly on it as Health and Bleeding Safety have insisted the acid component (which is the bit that actually removes the paint!) has been banned. It took me 3 days with a Black and Decker wire brush to get it back to metal. I then had it primer-filler sprayed at my local car body shop, I flatted it off, and they sprayed with 2K and oven baked it - all for £40! Worth every penny. Some snaps here if you're interested https://www.flickr.com/photos/nigelphot ... 8525823653

[Adrian]

Bad news about the Nitromors, their yellow tin stuff was what I normally used, it would see off anything short of proper stove enamel. Quite lively with tonic, too!



I think Halfords still sell tins of petrol-proof clear lacquer.



A.

[Tim NZ]

Any decent automotive paint supply shop can mix up for you and sell you any custom colour automotive paint in a spray-can. And not the unsuitable ENAMEL that one finds in the hardware shops.


Not as cheap as the hardware spray-cans, but the end result can be as good as any pro. With the right prep you can do a tank like yours easy with just 1 can.


I notice the bike has a post 72 motor (and other bits); if you dont mind my asking, what is the EI number on frame?

[papasmurf]

Chris Tindal, that is patina, not shabby.

[simon]

I'm with Papasmurf that's patina and nothing a wipe with an oily rag would bring to a wonderful mature lustre. As for the lovely chrome tank, couldn't you get away with a good gloss brushing enamel on the side panels as a touch up. You'd need to take care with the petrol bowser for a while but as long as the cap doesn't leak you'd getaway with it. I'm about to embark on the complete repaint of the Motoguzzi V50 Monza that I acquired last year. It's had a couple of rather poor patch ups paint wise so I'm stripping it all back and painting it with 2k polyurethane in original colours. The biggest pain are the plastic bits! The 80's has a lot to answer for.