How To Polish A Plastic Motorcycle Fuel Tank. 2003 Yamaha YZ450F Motorcycle Restoration Episode 11

[@jamespolucha8790]

Man I’ve never seen anyone do this to plastic, very nice job, I have an old 1981 Maico I’m going to shine up, thanks for the video

[@whatshappeningintheshop]

Lots of videos on youtube about polishing plastic, I dont pretend to know every trick but I'm happy if it helps you to get your tank looking new again. Thanks for watching !

[@guuguuplex]

Amazing bro! Just, amazing 😲

[@whatshappeningintheshop]

Thanks a lot!

[@joelatkinson2080]

Great video!!!

[@EVILUTION9]

Great video! I'm restoring a WR250F so I will be using your method. Too many people use gas torches which just brings the oils in the plastics to the surface and makes it brittle. and not the proper method you have done. Those little bits you did with the torch are on much thicker stronger parts too.

[@whatshappeningintheshop]

Thanks ! Yeah I try not to use the torch much but some areas are hard to get the buffer in . Its a lot of work to do a tank but just have to stick with it. Thanks for watching

[@adamcuttler9665]

Wow good stuff i got a couple bikes to do

[@whatshappeningintheshop]

Thanks for watching !

[@mxr248]

Turtle wax makes a plastic wax shine and it smells the same as SC1. I think it was cheaper to but it works the same.

[@Nord3202]

I have a Montesa Cota 349 with a one piece tank seat that the factory original clearcoat bubbled up just on the tank area but not the seat part. After sanding & polish should I reclear, if so what clear coat. What's your opinion on 2k clear coat.

[@whatshappeningintheshop]

I assume its all plastic ? Plastic is not easy to paint. It probably bubbled on the tank from the gas inside . Its really hard to stop a decal from bubbling on a plastic gas tank once you put gas in it . My advice would be to visit your local autobody supply and get their advice . Sometimes they suggest an adhesion promoter and or a flex agent for plastic painting. If you are going to ride it it could be hard to keep the clear coat on there. Thanks for watching.

[@slagletoby]

If you use a rattle can clear you will need the Spray Max 2k Clear Glamour. It’s a two-part clear with a push button at the bottom of the can that releases the hardener into the paint. This is the only rattle can that I’m aware of that is gasoline resistant. Any other rattle can clear will wash away, and it would never get hard enough in the first place. Good luck!

[@kusemunn]

What would happen if one were to try and do the same on a "clear" ktm enduro tank?

[@whatshappeningintheshop]

I think it would have a shine just the same but white tanks tend to turn yellow from the gas so not sure it would ever quite have the same color as brand new.

[@brandonfoley8070]

What about about polishing the frame and actual plastics on the bike

[@whatshappeningintheshop]

Plastic kits are so cheap there's no reason to spend that many hours to fix them. I've found the fender and side panel plastic much harder to work with. The only way I would invest the time on fenders is if I had really good originals or there were no aftermarket ones available. As to the frame I'll add a link of what I did there and an aluminum framed CR. Thanks for watching. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5-ZY5ymaMusrpY kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZq2doeef7OFebs

[@brandonfoley8070]

Thanks man @@whatshappeningintheshop

[@williamberndt2997]

do you have any suggestions for fixing spun out nut inserts in these tanks?

[@whatshappeningintheshop]

I have seen people drill the hole where the nut was then put the nut back in and use JB weld to secure it. It's not something I can recommend but an option. You cant drill very deep without putting a hole in the tank so be careful. I'd also suggest using a tap to clean up the threads in the nut before you put it back in. Thanks for watching.

[@298CRE8]

Drill reverse pull thread if possible then tap that's what I do done another last week with pics if you need good luck they only need to nip up not hold force 🫡🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@298CRE8]

Great job top marks can skip few stages to make it quicker but all depends on how bad and deep damage is anyhow god bless keep it up 🫡🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@whatshappeningintheshop]

Thanks ! and thanks for watching

[@Thepianobird]

i have all my oem stickers on so I really cant do it.

[@Thepianobird]

are you going to build another bike anytime soon???

[@whatshappeningintheshop]

I need to get the YZ450F running and up for sale first but work has me pinned right now . Hopefully I will get a video out when I get it running and take it for a ride in a month or so. I generally only have time to build a bike in the winter then get busy with work as soon a spring comes.

[@Thepianobird]

@@whatshappeningintheshop right on, I hope you get a chance to do another one.

[@whatshappeningintheshop]

@@Thepianobird Thanks, I'm sure there will be a new project coming along, no idea what make or model but thats half the fun, looking for the right bike to rescue. Thanks for watching.

[@Thepianobird]

@@whatshappeningintheshop i personally would only invent that amount of time and effort in a yamaha or honda....