vinyl wrapping a W/C R plastic tank.....

[saleen_n_around]

Since the new rage in race cars is to do vinyl wraps on them, was wondering if anyone has done a successful vinyl wrap on an R tank instead of paint......I've got some silver vinyl and am gonna try it to match my silver plastics I bought....I know I won't be able to do it in one piece but we'll se how it goes. Keep you posted!

[Blown 331]

Hmmm, not my cup of tea but very interesting. I found a green NOS Ceet tank cover for my brothers 85 Tecate, looks 1000 times better than a faded tank and from across the yard it looks like plastic. It's well made and does not have any wrinkles or anything. I just started doing seat covers myself and as long as you get the correct material (I had the wrong stuff at first), its pretty east to work with. My girlfriend just got a sewing maching. The first day she ever sewed in her life I had her sew up a seat cover for my SL70, it turned out great and that like $2 in material.

[saleen_n_around]

I am talking viynl DECAL material, not upholstery material!

[NewfieBish]

id love to have one, not only would it look good it would protect the actual tank.. after a couple of sands on the tanks you really dont wanna be pickin at it much. Keep us posted man!

[cr480r]

ccdhowell has vinyl on his tecate

[Tecate 50]

The gas fumes don't affect the vinyl?

[Blown 331]

I am talking viynl DECAL material, not upholstery material!

Oh! My bad. When you said cover the tank in vinyl I just assumed it was like the vinyl tank cover on my brothers Tecate.

[SYKO]

wont work, it will bubble up as well, the graphics from verde graphics hold up there made the same way dirtbike graphincs are.

[super90]

Why not just coat the inside of the tank with some sealer?

[Blown 331]

Does clark or anyone make a silver tank? I think I'd just buy one.

[Nick_R_23]

Im pretty sure Clarke will make you any color you want. Not sure if it costs a little more or not but I dont think it does.

-Nick :TrikesOwn

[blue27]

Clark did make a black one for my 350X, but once I ordered it I could not return it. As for vinyl wrapping, that an idea I was thinking about, I was just at a sign makers trade show last month, and the wrapping was awsome. True wrap material does have micro pores to release air but I would still feel that it would not adhere well to the plastic and withstand the fumes. Go to a sign shop that does wraps and ask for a piece of scrap to try out.

[atctim]

I had vinyl decals made for my R tank by people who make them for dirtbikes and know what they are doing. Looked really good - but still bubbled up.

[oldtime3wheeler]

There are certain types of adhesive and vinyl that are resistant to gas and gas vapors. I know 3m use to make one.

[The Goat]

...question, I've seen a riced out civic with a full vinyl graphics kit? Is this the type of material being discussed?

If so, it was resistant to fading from gas spillage...but still failed after a year or so.

[saleen_n_around]

....Go to a sign shop that does wraps and ask for a piece of scrap to try out.

I am going to stop by one tomorrow and talk it over with them...

[saleen_n_around]

What to do on a Friday night when you spend your hooker money on used ATV parts? Take your gas tank to the bath tub with you!

I scraped and wet sanded one side of my R tank and playe with wrapping it with some 8 year old vinyl I had at home. Responded fairly well to the wierd angles with a hair dryer and stiff bristle brush....I used to do vinyl graphics in a sign shop 15 years ago. I an gonna see how the regular sign vinyl sets up over night, and see if I can get by a sign shop that does wraps and see if they have silver or at least some that isn't 8 years old and better adhesive....the good grade vinyls have 7-10 year useage so the hold up better.

I figure each side can be done in one piece and the center 'console' area can be one as a 3rd piece and done in like a Carbon Fiber....

Anyhow enjoy the pics......

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/saleen_n_around/ATVs/DSCN0047-1.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/saleen_n_around/ATVs/DSCN0049.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/saleen_n_around/ATVs/DSCN0055.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/saleen_n_around/ATVs/DSCN0053.jpg

[SYKO]

ok now put some gas in it, and see what happens!

[saleen_n_around]

trailprotrailpro such a skeptic.....what if I sealed the tank with the tank sealer you use? Would that work? Either that or I am just gonna spray it cast coat gray engine paint and if I have to spray it weekly who cares.....

[hinddee29]

I have heard that sealing will stop it. Can't say for sure never tried it.
I can say not going it's going to pop loose. Your not the first to try this.

Thinking about painting it and how cares if I have to paint it with engine paint weekly. Really??
You have any idea how much of an eye sore, and problems your going to have?
If your going to do that why not take the time and paint the thing right.

Engine paint why engine paint?

[SYKO]

Swinehart coated the inside of a tecate tank I beleive and its been holding up well I supose hit him up.

Im not a skeptic its FACT that it wont work, lol

the tanks breath fumes.... they go somewhere right? if something is blocking them paint/sticker... it will bubble up and look like dookie in no time, there are allternatives! contact the mosh's I sent them a NOS answer 250R tank cover to reproduce, so they can make them for members here to have a differnt color or at least a cover for a old beat up worn out tank.

dont go edoging up your ride man! theres nothing better then taking a bit of time to make it look good, your other machines look good why throw this one to the wayside with spraypaint on a gas tank?

If your that hell bent on having a nice tank, send me that one and I will send you my non faded nice 85 tank, since im going to cover it up any way im not worried about what it looks like as long as it holds gas.

[Mosh]

It wont stick for long, and if it did last, the beating it will take from your legs rubbing on it, dirt , mud etc. will destroy that vinyl.
It will fade the color and get all scratched up.
Most of the vented 3M graphics kits dont even stay on dirtbike tanks more than a year without lifting.
I am in the same boat as you. I want a black tank so bad, but dont wont to drop the big money down for a Clarke or OEM black tank, so I just live with what I have. And so far I am not a fan of vinyl tank covers, hence why we have not made one for me yet.

[saleen_n_around]

.....I am in the same boat as you. I want a black tank so bad, but dont wont to drop the big money down for a Clarke or OEM black tank, so I just live with what I have.

What is the part number for a black OEM tank and where is the best place to get one? How much money and why is an OEM tank BLACK? Man I am so new to this 250R stuff...

[Mosh]

What is the part number for a black OEM tank and where is the best place to get one? How much money and why is an OEM tank BLACK? Man I am so new to this 250R stuff...
I dont know the Part number.
But if you order the factory tank from Honda (Service Honda has the part number) It comes only in black.
They still have the mold,and probably only do black now becuase all the new quads use the black tank plastic or maybe Honda quit the colors becuase they knew the faded.
But the Oem tanks is like over 300 bucks.
You can get a Clarke or IMS for about 200 bucks in any color you want.

[saleen_n_around]

Well, I sure wish it would last, because the vinyl color is perfect!!!!

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/saleen_n_around/ATVs/silver-7.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/saleen_n_around/ATVs/silver-4.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/saleen_n_around/ATVs/silver-12.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/saleen_n_around/ATVs/silver-14.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/saleen_n_around/ATVs/silver-15.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/saleen_n_around/ATVs/silver-2.jpg

Seems like I like that color silver doesn't it?