Congrats Ergo!!! Not much else to be said...just enjoy!

 

When I make it back to TX street, you'll be the first to know.

 

Ya man. Thanks.

So, there's a problem with the tank. Cosmetic only. Everything is still functioning perfect. But the paint on the tank is giving me a problem around the gas filler hole. It has to do with the flush mount filler hole. Because it's flush mount I wanted the paint to blend with the flush mount gas cap which I painted the same color as the tank so it would blend in. The problem is that I had to paint down into the filler hole so that it blended with the cap. And in doing so there was simply no way to prevent gas from eating in under the paint/clear coat and causing it to peel. I shot the clear, which is supposed to be impervious to gas, down into the hole but apparently the gas could still get in under the clear and ate its way up to the surface. The flush mount gas cap is the problem. It has a rubber seal that rubs tightly against the side of the filler hole. Over time it has scrapped away at the clear coat and paint, rubbing it off and allowing the gas to eat up under the paint to the surface of the tank. I've been using the HD texture black paint around the hole to try and stop the pealing but it's problematic at this point. Oh well...

If I had kept the original gas cap or we had replaced it with a traditional type of gas filler hole with a lip that sticks up above the surface of the tank, I would have painted/clear coated right up to that lip and there wouldn't have been a way for gas to get under the paint. But looking at it now, I don't know how to prevent what happened. You have to get the paint over the edge of the hole and down into the filler hole at least an eighth of an inch so the color blends in with the cap. And in doing so you create a situation where gas can get in under the paint and cause it to peal.

Anyway, there's some pealing right around the edge of the filler hole and there's nothing I can do about it right now without taking the tank off and doing some repainting. And I'd rather ride than paint. So I'm gonna ride it. I'll pull the tank when the riding season is done and do something with it to solve the problem.

I rode it today despite lousy weather and got caught in the rain. Nothing to bad but I got a bit or road spray all over it. It's not a show bike, built it to ride, and that's what I'm gonna do.

 

Here are a few more pics, before the rain hit me.

 

Too late at this point, but if you take some epoxy and put a thin coat around the paint line down in the filler hole, that usually precludes and lifting. It's more the vapors than actual gas contact that does this.

 

It is too late at this point, but it's a good idea. The problem is with this flush mount gas cap, it has a thick rubber washer that fits very snuggly against the filler hole. Every time you screw the cap in or out it rubs tightly against the side of the filler hole, rubbing off any paint (or in this case epoxy). Though the epoxy might hold up better than the paint. Thanks Rick. I've got to figure something out and this might work.

 

Might try a different flush cap. Don't the H-D caps have a seperate trim ring from the actual cap? I have a cheap copy and it's trim ring/rubber gasket also slightly abrades the paint, but on top rather than down in the hole.

 

Ya, that is a good idea. We've been talking at the shop trying to figure out a way to use the current flush cap without it pealing the paint around the opening, and I just can't see a way. Might try that Rick. Thanks.

 

Bad *** man I like it Cant wait to see it when its done

 

I was going to ask you what Air Shocks are those and How many Inches??