alter ego t3

[scooterroo]

well i got bored lastnight, had an extra t3 tank sitting around, so i decided to do something with it. i love the look of my green tank, but have always wanted something a bit different. well after hours of prep work and cleaning and everything, i was out in the garage till almost 1:30 this morning, i sprayed it white lastnight. got up this morning and mounted it. now i can switch between tanks, depending on what look i wanna go with. see what boredum does...lol. hey i like it. i have some blue kawasaki decals on the way to put on the sides, and go with the rest off the color scheme.

[digity x]

its funny looking thats for sure scoot, but i like it a white tecate with a green frame would be cool.

[chris200x]

That looks cool but when are you guys gonna learn that painting a plastic tank does not work?! :p All that pretty paint will bubble and peel after a while. :cry: Good luck with it! :beer

[scooterroo]

gonna be lining the tanks with redcote...i have heard some good things about the stuff, and i know some people on the boards here have used it and had good results with it. not worried about bubbling, could always have a nice white leather tank skin made up if need be.

[chris200x]

WORD. I've heard of folks lining the tanks with that stuff but never messed with it hands on. I also remember someone saying that it wont stick to the plastic so IDK... Keep us posted on how it goes.

[digity x]

scoot the tank skin i got is nice you should get one.

[BigGreenMachine]

I was planning on doing this, thanks for doing it first. Looks good to me but needs something to break up the white.

As for lining it....sand it down good, let it sit in the sun to open up the pores in the plastic and clean it down with a good plastic cleaner, then prime and paint.

No lining needed.

Scott, you get the maier custom fenders for your Blaster yet?

[3Wheelers4Life]

looks good when you get the blue sticker on it, it will look nice and break up the white

[cr480r]

i am not a big fan of painted plastic, but the white tank would look killer with some white rear fenders....or no fenders at all...

[cr480r]

Hey scoot, Is that swinger stock length?

[scooterroo]

yeah stock swinger, getting stretched soon enough here, and bgm, no blaster fenders yet. sometime soon i will be though.

[BigGreenMachine]

That looks cool but when are you guys gonna learn that painting a plastic tank does not work?! :p All that pretty paint will bubble and peel after a while. :cry: Good luck with it! :beer


Originally Posted by GreenLightening
I can give some first hand info on painting the dreaded plastic tanks. First of all plastic tanks Do not breathe. Like was said before they have a vent in the top. Plastic is not smooth. Plastic tanks are a different plastic than the fenders, It is ploy-styrene. Is has pores all over it. These small pores do not go all the way through it. LIke was said before those pores will collect mold release agents from when the tank was formed and also fuel, armor all, soap, wax, or dirt. Anything that comes in contact with the tank.

The tank needs to be sanded with at least 320 grit paper on a d.a. and all the edges scuffed with a red sctoch brite. Then, bake that tank in the hot summer sun for a while, placing the tank in front of a heater will work also. It just opens the pores up a little more so its easier for the cleaners to remove all the chemicals that may be hiding in there. there is a lot of good info in previous posts, I am just putting them in the order That I use. Then use a good plastic cleaner and go over the whole tank. I actually use two different kinds of cleaners. I use mainly DuPont products but most good quality products do the job the same. TAKE YOUR TIME, plastic is no job to rush. Get some tech sheets from your paint guy, They explain how to use the products in detail.

I use a dupont adhesion promoter. Probably close to the same general thing as the bulldog. Just a light covering coat, too much product on there and it loses its adhesion quality. The adhesion is a real thin product that you spray right out of the can. what you dont use, dump it back in the can and use it next time.

Next just follow through with your sealer, basecoat, then clear. i always mix a small amount of flex additive in with the sealer and then also in the final clear. If you want any more info, just ask. I have done plenty of these, The key is you need to know what you are doing and take your time. The paint has been on my first tank for over a year now, fuel in the tank. and no problems.


If you have seen greenlightening's T3 you'd know the man knows what he is talking about.

Painting mine white as well Scott, thanks for the preview. :beer

[digity x]

im telling you scott paint the 86 frame green and use white for the plastic tank fenders scoops and use green on other parts it will look hot''throw blue in here or there.

[BigGreenMachine]

Thats my goal for the 85 I have now. Someday down the road it'll get an 86 front end, KX tank and Blaster white rear fender and a white 250R front fender. Pretty sure I'll be able to get white tank shrouds as well.

[digity x]

wow turn it in a real hot t3 thats for sure,i like mixing it up with parts'' mite make mine the same color.

[BigGreenMachine]

I'm definately goin white with my tank as soon as I get the mechanical rebuild sorted. It just looks nice and covered in stickers it wouldn't be as obnoxious as it is just all white.

[hadar]

Ive been out of it for a while. Do you have any pics of blaster fenders mounted?:pics:

[BigGreenMachine]

Leave that to Scootero, he is gettin a newer set for his Blaster someday and is going to get some snaps of mounting them up on his 85.
I don't have any.

[scooterroo]

they will fit perfectly i know. my stockers measure up nicely, so the custom ones will be sweet as well. bgm, probably the mid to late june on the fenders. will definately post up some pics. will have to cut out the airbox, no biggy.

[BigGreenMachine]

Sweetness. Good to know.

[hadar]

they will fit perfectly i know. my stockers measure up nicely, so the custom ones will be sweet as well. bgm, probably the mid to late june on the fenders. will definately post up some pics. will have to cut out the airbox, no biggy.
Can't wait to see 'em. Sounds like a nice mod.

[scooterroo]

well the decals are on. so here is where i stand. i am liking the white. me and digity were sitting around shooting the idea of making the 86 a green frame with white fenders, but i have already started to put that back together. so, now i am looking at getting another 85 here shortly, guys just waiting for me to come get it. soooooooooo, i am thinking of doing this other 85 in the total opposite color scheme as my current 85. green frame , white fenders, and still have the blue in it. should be a looker. something a bit different. now i just have to get to nyc to get the bike!!!

[BigGreenMachine]

That is sweet! Tank needs more stickers. Your becoming a T3 wh0re hey Scott? lol

[scooterroo]

cant help it. " my name is scott, and i am addicted to kawi tecates!!!" lol.

[Levithan]

Hahaha, thats sweet. Im digging the white tank with blue decal. Whats this whole thing about blaster fenders? Im kinda interested, seeing as how im gonna need a new rear fender anyway. How does it work? Do you have any pics of what it looks like?

[BigGreenMachine]

Scott your going to use the white stock fenders off your Blaster huh? Those pictured in the background right? Going to look really good. There was a white Tecate front fender on egay a while ago. You going to use a 250R white fender on front?

Levitan, Scott says the Blaster fenders wouldn't take much work to make fit and Maier makes a nice new set for them that look like Yamaha Raptor rear fenders. Looks great and would be a great item for the ugly stock 84/85 Tecate.

[digity x]

will a 250r front fender work on the 85 t3? huh''i have one to and i would put it on if i knew it would work.or are you talking about the forks to?

[BigGreenMachine]

Just the fender. Not sure if it will work Dig but I've seen 86 Tecate fenders on 85 Tecates and the 86 Tecate will accept the 85 R fender. Worth a try.

[scooterroo]

the fender wouldnt work i dont think, not unless you change the front forks as well. not sure yet as to how i am gonna do it. when i get the rear customs for the blaster, i guess i could use the stockers in place of painting the oem rears that are on it. hmmmmmmm. as far as mounting them, looks like it will be a peice of cake. cut out the airbox, should line up sweet. they measure up nicely. plus they are al set up for the kicker as well. when i do get around to getting them mounted up i will definately post pics. i gotta get my arse down to the city here first though and get the thing, lol.

[scooterroo]

might be heading down sunday to nyc to go get the new project bike!!! oh yeah!!