Restoring A Plastic Gas Tank!

Restoring A Plastic Gas Tank! | RM250 Rebuild 38

Рет қаралды 61,961

Күн бұрын

Polishing plastics is one of the more challenging parts to a bike restoration. Hopefully this video shines some light on what it takes to restore plastics!
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★Supplies Used In Video
Pryme Plastic Polishing Kit www.prymemx.com/products/plas...
Pryme Bench Grinder Extensions www.prymemx.com/collections/b...
Tusk Gas Cap cjn.mx/tuskgascap
Cerakote Ceramic Sealer cerakoteceramics.com/cerakote...
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★Music
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Focal Point - Young Community
Doozy - _91nova
Dominion - BLUE STEEL
★Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:40 Stripping Spray Paint
2:06 Sanding Out Scratches
8:05 Polishing
14:55 Recap
19:16 Testing On Other Plastics
25:12 Mounting Tank On Bike

Пікірлер: 138

@coloradodirtbike5930 Жыл бұрын

Polishing plastic has always been a tough one for me

@CameronNiemela Жыл бұрын

It's tricky for sure!

@leewaken5059 Жыл бұрын

Yep, in the mid to late 70's with the advent of plastic body components, it was both a god send as well as a curse. Rust was now not a factor but restoring these pieces was pretty much not an option. Still true today, deterioration from UV(sun) rays and time, plastics don't have the potential life span that metal offers. Thanks for the tips.👍🏼

@JMKGarage Жыл бұрын

I just finally found the time to watch this full video. Amazing works as always Cameron! 👏

@Sweendawg32 Жыл бұрын

I’m so glad you made a video about this process !!

@jothain 9 ай бұрын

Very nice demonstration. I've used some compounds few times, but I've never thought that it just plain wheel in the end does things so well 👍🏻

@odyshopody9387 Жыл бұрын

Cameron it's really great that you show the things that you tried but didn't work (oven cleaner) - No one wants the "Here's one I've prepared earlier" crap. Great videos as usual.

@MotoResurrect Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the upload! Stoked you have a polishing kit, I’ll be picking one up on my next order. Definitely using some of your techniques when I try restoring my plastics.

@CameronNiemela Жыл бұрын

Happy I could help! Thanks for watching!

@chevyguy-hf1yq Жыл бұрын

Top notch as always. You are amazing Cam, a great man

@butchstewart3713 Жыл бұрын

Your work is always top notch! Hope your are well thanks for sharing all of your skill brother!

@richardkeith1914 Жыл бұрын

This is absolutely awesome. Can’t wait to get the kit and try it. Always fantastic content as usual Cameron. Love your vids and broke to build!! You rock!

@CameronNiemela Жыл бұрын

Thank you for supporting the channel Richard!

@richardkeith1914 Жыл бұрын

@@CameronNiemela always. Couldn’t work on my bikes with Pryme! And your videos help so much too!

@sitgesvillaapartmentneilsc7924 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for this , I have seen quite a few vids on polishing and this by far is the best and does not use a blowtorch or hot airgun, I have an entire quad to do in black !! I'm looking forward to giving it a go now, I'm also quite lucky that I own a large 3 phase bench grinder !!! all the best and thanks for sharing

@DennisonsThe Жыл бұрын

Love the kit! Much better than heating up tank with heat gun to bring out shine. Thanks for the great video and products!!

@janeblogs324 Жыл бұрын

That works for a year, then it cracks like mad and goes brittle

@TroyCollier Жыл бұрын

One of the best videos online because there are no good ones. Coming from a guy who's hand sanded a few tanks and countless hours. I learned a lot of things I didn't know before. I've seen guys charge $600-800 to do this exact thing. I'll be buying your kit for the 88 cr tank I'm restoring

@CameronNiemela Жыл бұрын

Happy to hear it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

@PremixandPedals Жыл бұрын

That is an awesome kit, Cam!!! Thanks!!! I will have to get one of those, but I definitely need those extensions...I could use an extra 4 inches! LOL!

@cashm4705 Жыл бұрын

Ive been wanting to restore my cr125's tank so this video is clutch🤝

@Frostbyte911 Жыл бұрын

Bro, always love the vids, keep them coming!

@lknakoa Жыл бұрын

Very cool dude i've never seen this done before awesome job.👍🏽

@CameronNiemela Жыл бұрын

Thank you, glad you enjoyed!

@dannyhoward1646 Жыл бұрын

Now I feel like I have to do this to mine now just looks so good!

@larrysupersport Жыл бұрын

Excellent Cam! I’ll be picking up a kit for sure

@CameronNiemela Жыл бұрын

Thanks Larry! Keep me posted if you have any questions!

@maxfor194maximefortin5 Жыл бұрын

Incredible job Cam. Will need to place a new order through Pryme Mx 👌🔝🔝

@CameronNiemela Жыл бұрын

Thank you Max! I think you’ll enjoy this kit!

@jesussantibanez6711 9 ай бұрын

Very interesting your video I learned something new thanks for sharing 👍👍👍Greetings from Mexico

@akajk2310 Жыл бұрын

thanks for video cameron i was wondering how are you doing you teach me alot !

@zardportugal Жыл бұрын

Top job as always.

@toddstimson3559 Жыл бұрын

Yes I need to do that to my xr 200 tank thanks for the video

@user-pp8fo6ei9y 7 ай бұрын

Спасибо огромное за видео. Это лучшее видео по полировке пластика которое я нашёл. Прекрасный набор по хорошей цене. К сожалению очень сложно оплатить с России.

@austinwarner1755 Жыл бұрын

Hoping this helps me with my tank. Ive never restored plastic and ive got a white tank which i hear isnt the easiest to fix. Great video

@shreddy313 Жыл бұрын

She’s almost done 🤙 Im currently in the process of rebuilding my 2004 RM 250 just got my engine back from vapor blasting and sand blasting! You have inspired me to work on a suzuki rm 250 i hope mine turns out as good as yours. Also do you know if wiseco crankshafts are good?

@edubo7 Жыл бұрын

Cam you are great!!!!

@keithdunlap2701 Жыл бұрын

Dammit Man !! lolol... looks damn near brand new Cam !! Great job....

@CameronNiemela Жыл бұрын

Thanks Keith!

@zodzod9378 Жыл бұрын

Bloody good show old bean yep just time and energy i guess nice job ! Little john from the UK

@snakepliskin1185 Жыл бұрын

You...are awesome!🤗

@brainstain22 Жыл бұрын

Wished I waited for this kit. My 92 RM125 tank was white 6 months ago. She's lookin' pristine yellow now tho.

@benburton8463 Жыл бұрын

Ive just done a cr125 1987 tank. Used nearly same method. Wet sanded always and used g3 cutting compound and a car polisher not so wet tho to create heat

@finster7582 Жыл бұрын

Pretty kool ! 😃👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

@allancunningham6019 Жыл бұрын

I use to polish bells and when I got to the end of the 🛎 bell I got good at it now I'm great at polishing bell ends 😂

@TherealWinterpillow 3 ай бұрын

A 30 minute advert for your products. Nice.

@Kolbyproduced Жыл бұрын

LETS GOOOOO🎉

@CameronNiemela Жыл бұрын

👊👊

@jakeparry6172 8 ай бұрын

Aircraft remover is where it’s at 😎👍

@jl4093 Жыл бұрын

Looking for black and white decals for an Oversized Acerbis tank that I put on my XR600R. Any recommendations on decals on plastic tanks? I'm thinking I'll have to polish the factory texturing off the tank to get them to stay.

@marksmith402 Жыл бұрын

You have the patience of a Bishop!! 😂

@NyQuildaddy Жыл бұрын

Damn I might have invest in a buffing wheel and one of those kits, I can find the machines at harbor freight don’t see a stand for it might have to mount it on a work bench

@johnsandin8148 Жыл бұрын

Best luck I’ve had removing anything from dirt bike plastics is acetone, doesn’t hurt the plastics but will cut paint and graphic glue etc

@janeblogs324 Жыл бұрын

Cheaper to just use petrol and a paint brush

@rglce25 Жыл бұрын

Buff Daddy Cam!! 😉

@CameronNiemela Жыл бұрын

I love buffin what can I say

@chrisvillarreal2752 5 ай бұрын

The ball tickler is a must have!!

@jerryloughney4757 Жыл бұрын

Great video and information. Will this work on a tank that is discolored from, I believe, fuel sitting in it for a long time?

@jamessharp9790 Жыл бұрын

Not If stained all the way through

@grantottaviano7445 Жыл бұрын

Drinking a IPA while working in the shop helps too. Cheers 🍻

@CameronNiemela Жыл бұрын

That always makes things look a lotta more glossy🤙

@janeblogs324 Жыл бұрын

InbredPoofterAle

@Sh300i Жыл бұрын

Good job Mr John Malkovich 😂

@simonpikes Жыл бұрын

Hello cam, what do you think about polishing plastics with a polishing machine and a wool knob? does it work well?

@4N5W3R5 Жыл бұрын

If there is a decent method for cleaning up discolored white tanks I think it would make a great video too (not sure if its possible had a yz125 tank that was discolored and I messed up and painted it white in the end). Really enjoyed the video! Amazing results!

@CameronNiemela Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed it! Once white tanks go yellow it's tough to bring them back to white. That's something I'll be working on at some point though!

@jamessharp9790 Жыл бұрын

@@CameronNiemela the white tanks get stained all the way through. Well , that’s my own experience from doing this plastic professionally for the past 9 years and over 500 tanks since 2013. I’m still learning

@GQ-wz5it Жыл бұрын

I sanded down my white xr400 tank that was badly discolored with about 15 different grit sandpapers. I then sat it out in the sun with hair bleach coating it while wrapped in plastic and eventually polished it. The results were decent but not sure if it was worth all the time and effort.

@jamessharp9790 Жыл бұрын

@@GQ-wz5it I’ve spent over 120 hours on a white tank before. Ultimately, they Can be sealed and painted. You have to do the process right though

@GQ-wz5it Жыл бұрын

@@jamessharp9790 I’m speechless on that, my xr is definitely not worthy of that kind of detailing.

@scottcates 8 ай бұрын

Charcoal guide coat FTW

@bramvermaat1453 Жыл бұрын

... and gives you an extra 4 inches of shaft, everyone likes that. 😅 Not the first time I've heard one of those nice small jokes. Made me laugh at least. :')

@gregorystroud6119 5 ай бұрын

Cam, I hope you are doing better now. Just saw this vid and have come to the realization that I have a few tanks to make beautiful now. Would you ship to South Africa?

@phillippearce9680 Жыл бұрын

👍

@blindshot709 Жыл бұрын

New to dirtbikes and just picked up a 06 crf250r it's mint , Wondering where to get graphic kits , Im located in Canada and seems ebay is the only option .

@bradrush45 Жыл бұрын

Great video! I have a 1982 RM 250. The graphics on the tank were trashed so I sanded them off. The rest of the tank polished up nicely but the area under the graphics stays a little frosty. I am reluctant to sand any deeper. Is there something about the way the graphics were applied that is causing this? This may be the best an old tank like this can look. It's not too bad and I can live with it. Glad to see you are doing well Cameron.

@CameronNiemela Жыл бұрын

Thanks for checking out the video Brad! The old tanks that previously had decals on the may be tough to get completely matched. The sun fading can cause a color difference. If it’s dull where you sanded, it’s possible that you didn’t fully remove the sanding scratches.

@bradrush45 Жыл бұрын

@@CameronNiemela That is true. I've had that experience with other plastics where I've removed an old decal and it's almost impossible to get an exact match. These old bikes don't have decals. It's almost as if the graphic is printed into the plastic.

@jamessharp9790 Жыл бұрын

@@bradrush45 just work around those areas. Suzuki went to Yakazi plastic in 1981 and unfortunately, the decals raised and dried out the area under decal. I just finished an 82 Rm250 tank and it looks great. Watch the Thin spots especially on the top left. I’m only basing this on having refinished about 500 tanks since 2013- I don’t claim to have the amount of experience that some do

@bradrush45 Жыл бұрын

@@jamessharp9790 Thanks James!

@thequadzillaking 8 ай бұрын

I’ve done numerous tanks myself. I soak my tanks in a tote of Purple Power Solution. Also, boiling water with a few dishwasher tablets works good as a second dip. Then I rinse the inside with some Acetone.?

@Crusty_moto Жыл бұрын

Where did you get the shaft extension from for the bench grinder/polisher?

@CameronNiemela Жыл бұрын

Those will be available on Pryme next week.

@mfmonthefmf Жыл бұрын

Awesome as always Cam! Question for anyone: I have the same tank and one of those brass colored nuts that are permanently embedded (for bolting the shrouds on) has totally stripped out the yellow plastic around it, now just spins in place when I try to bolt on the shroud. Any suggestions for securing that back in?

@eschrader Жыл бұрын

Jb weld? I've used that on the airbox bolt with a similar issue and good results.

@mfmonthefmf Жыл бұрын

@@eschrader Thanks, that sounds like the best approach, I tried epoxy but it didnt hold

@johnbixler5937 Жыл бұрын

I don’t have an answer but I have the same problem!!

@mfmonthefmf Жыл бұрын

@@johnbixler5937 I like the JB weld idea (even though I hate that messy, ugly stuff) but I'm a little leery of getting it on the threads.

@lepez092 4 ай бұрын

Hi.! What material is the disc you use to polish?😊

@treeafodo1 Жыл бұрын

Silly question, but would doing this to a black tank make it too shiny or would it be like when it was new? I have a KX250 I've been picking away at.

@CameronNiemela Жыл бұрын

If you fully sanded it like this video, it would look more smooth and glossy than when new. If you want a more OEM appearance, use cerakote trim coat

@Hyngyynj Жыл бұрын

You should find some super clapped out fourwheeler plastics and try to make them look new

@alelinares4663 8 ай бұрын

Hi Eric, I would like to restore the tank of an old XR100, the question is...does it need any product to seal the pores inside? Big hugs from Argentina.

@CameronNiemela 8 ай бұрын

No, the plastic on the outside can be refinished without needing to do anything to the inside as long as you don’t have any leaks

@artlizarraga677 Жыл бұрын

Hello do you sell the bench grinder extensions ?

@MX109MX Жыл бұрын

I have the stock one off of my 1998 Honda CR125 but it’s white. Would these techniques still work for a white gas tank?

@CameronNiemela Жыл бұрын

Yes, it will work on white. If it's yellowed, it's tough to bring it back to white however.

@randomguy1807 Жыл бұрын

Looks great. White tanks are next to impossible to get perfect

@CameronNiemela Жыл бұрын

They are tough, but any color can be polished. The tricky part with white is getting rid of the discoloration.

@gangsteri8 Жыл бұрын

Do you have an idea what I could to to my gastank cause everytime I paint it, eventually it will bubble up and look like crap

@BrianMcNeill25 Жыл бұрын

If blue plastic has turned dark in places, like the bottom section of the tank below the graphics, will that sand out, or is has that come through from the inside?

@jamessharp9790 Жыл бұрын

Not usually, fortunately some of the blue Yz 96 up and light blue IT tanks are available reproduction.

@ewedemayer Жыл бұрын

After all that, what do you think the durability is? I've heard it makes it brittle.

@CameronNiemela Жыл бұрын

Sanding and polishing won’t make them brittle, that only happens when people use a heat gun to melt plastics

@user-dm3dy1lv7h Жыл бұрын

❤really a great job congratulations Where can I buy the plastic polishing kit? what's his name thank you

@CameronNiemela Жыл бұрын

Thank you! The polishing kit is available here www.prymemx.com/products/plasticpolishkit

@user-dm3dy1lv7h Жыл бұрын

Cameron thanks so Much

@4thdimensiontravels855 8 ай бұрын

You may use a heat gun and sme air pressure in the tank to remove that dent Cam. . As soon as i typed this you said to be sure and practice on a junk piece. That may be a sign that it wont work. Lol. Looks great bro

@arlo12345678910 Жыл бұрын

Cameron, how long does it take to restore a typical tank?

@michaelpresey2273 Жыл бұрын

He said in the video the one side took him about 2 hours but with knowledge and experience it would go a bit faster so about 4 hours for this tank I would assume a smaller tank size would probably be about 3 hours

@owend_8 Жыл бұрын

Could I use an angle grinder with polishing wheels?

@brentgriffiths398 Жыл бұрын

Buying a kit now for my 95 cr tank! Are you selling the extenders for the bench grinders?

@CameronNiemela Жыл бұрын

Thanks Brent! Yes, the extenders will be available within a week!

@jamessharp9790 Жыл бұрын

Your 95 Cr tank is white and almost certainly stained all the way through. Get the kit , but buy a new reproduction tank from Vmx racing and then sand and buff it

@mohamadjerade7660 Жыл бұрын

More videos pleasee

@marcinose1 Жыл бұрын

Hej jak sie nazywa ta szczotka do polerowania plastiku? W Polsce jest to nie do zdobycia

@enzomoura5845 Жыл бұрын

hey, im going to get an 1996 husq wr 250 and the owner just paint all the plastics black. how i can get it off easily???

@Scythe_Voltage Жыл бұрын

Anytime I see spray paint on dirtbike I know it’s been thrashed

@Mat_44 Жыл бұрын

Please Please PLEASE could you make a video on cleaning the KTM/Husky clear tanks?

@bryanglover3217 Жыл бұрын

97 RM 250 had poke a dot decalpatern on sides of tank

@noahramos4002 Жыл бұрын

Can you show to how repair a stripped thread on the gas tank?

@CameronNiemela Жыл бұрын

When I have a tank to repair I’ll be sure to make a video!

@crdirt1 3 ай бұрын

What rpm’s on the bench grinder

@jamessharp9790 Жыл бұрын

If you use that short vent it will clog up and the tank won’t vent .

@rotax636nut5 Жыл бұрын

Bead blasting will take that paint off a plastic tank like you won't believe

@CameronNiemela Жыл бұрын

Yes I’ve used glass bead on plastic, but I wanted to show alternate methods since most people don’t have a blast cabinet

@micmaxtrailshop1453 2 ай бұрын

Can use for ktm enduro tank?

@jamessharp9790 Жыл бұрын

I offered to do that. In reality you have to start with 80 grit and then go 120-180-220-280-320-400-600-800-1200

@kodihull3820 Жыл бұрын

Well when you don’t have all day doing the tank you can order a oem one and get more stuff done with the bike

@dj-ghostcamell Жыл бұрын

Good work🦾

@Cartduckmann Жыл бұрын

Do you think the guys who painted this watched this video? 😂

@AdanLopez1 Жыл бұрын

@brethart8094 Жыл бұрын

Every one likes an extra 4 inches of shaft

@DariusBarazandeh 10 ай бұрын

thanks Cameron! I ordered, got in 3 days and appreciated your kind note! Thank you brother! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iMV2l8962c-phXk.html

@Team3GR 5 ай бұрын

Could I pay you to restore my white tank on my '96 CR250? Seriously.

@CameronNiemela 5 ай бұрын

Sorry I don’t offer this as a service