Should I paint acerbis fuel tank

**yazek** · #1 26 May 2003

hi to you all
i have a 94 xt600 for the past 6 months. after i have stabilized it mechanicly, i would like to paint it.... plastics and fuel tank.
my questions are:
1.a friend told me that acerbis tanks (i have a large one installed) should not be painted because their plastic is breathing.. any possibility that he is right?
2. does any one can give me any tips regarding painting the bike?

thanks a lot

Itsik Tevel

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**POB/London** · #2 26 May 2003

Hello!

It says "DO NOT PAINT" on my Acerbis tank in big writing... but I think your friend may be wrong about the plastic breathing, although it certainly absorbs some fuel. The problem may be that the solvents in most paint will attack the tank material.

Why not get a cool sticker kit from an MX shop? I trimmed an XR600 set recently to fit to my Acerbis tank, and the result is fantastic. "One Industries" and "Werx" make kits. Mush less effort than painting, and you can change it every year if you want!

HTH

**GeoffE** · #3 26 May 2003

Hi,
It might be worth having a look at the XTthump group on Yahoo Groups. Jon has painted his, and may be able to give some preparation advice.

Failing this, perhaps email Acerbis themselves? It is a bit worrying that Lewis has 'do not paint' on his tank, and worth checking out.

Ciao, Geoff

**yazek** · #4 30 May 2003

thank you all for your help. i have also went to see a paint specialist, he has told me that i might expect the heat from the engine to buble the paint with in a year or a bit more... if this is the price, i will paint it once in a year...

any how - tommorow is the big day, i'll start it.. once i will have it done.. i will send you a link to watch.

Thanks again

Itsik

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**DAVSATO** · #5 31 May 2003

whats the best way to paint this plastic? i want to paint my side panels but ive heard paint wont stick to ABS very well, same stuff acerbis tanks are made out of.

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dave

**paul futcher** · #6 2 Jun 2003

I too wanted to paint my plastic Acerbis tank but, was told by several bike sprayers it was not possible as the tank "breathes" petrol. If you look at older white plastic tanks they are usually a dirty yellow colour where the fuel has permeated the plastic over time. Also motor cross stickers for plastic tanks have thousands of little holes in them to allow the fuel to escape. If you put a normal sticker on as (as I did!) after a few days the sticker bubbles and peels off. This breathing problem is made worse by the tank sitting on top of a hot engine or having the sun on it. My tank builds up quite a bit of pressure on a hot day especially if nearly empty. Paul.

**Fish** · #7 25 Apr 2004

It's a bit of an old subject I know but this may make interesting reading for someone. http://www.motocross.com/vintage/canam/canam35.htm

Cheers Fish