Page 2 of 5
Re: 1942 RN WNG restoration-Updated 16/07 Petrol Tank
Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2019 8:55 pm
by alan.moore
The inside was only slightly rusty, but having cleaned it out with Oxalic acid a couple of pin holes were found at the rear and there was a previously epoxy filled split on one of the bottom seams.
The area containing the pin holes was repaired by applying a layer of solder over the badly corroded area at the rear of the tank. The inside of the tank in this area was corrosion free so the pinholes had been formed from the outside in. The split was MIG welded.
Re: 1942 RN WNG restoration-Updated 16/07 Petrol Tank
Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2019 8:58 pm
by alan.moore
Re: 1942 RN WNG restoration-Updated Updated 16/07 Petrol Tank
Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2019 9:03 pm
by alan.moore
Re: 1942 RN WNG restoration-Updated 16/07 Petrol Tank
Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2019 9:08 pm
by alan.moore
Any remaining ‘nicks’ were the filled with fine filler, which was rubbed down before a final coat of primer, another guide coat and a final rubbing down with 800 wet and dry used wet.
- Final rubbing down
- Final rubbing down
The tank was then left for 2 weeks to make sure the primer had fully gone off as the top coat (Satin Rustoleum Combi-Color) was not a cellulose paint but a ‘urethane modified alkyd’, a white spirit thinned paint. A quick rub over with a fine scotchbrite pad and a clean with panel wipe and tack rag followed.
It was then given two good ‘double’ coats of top coat. This was mixed from two RAL colours, RAL7008 Khaki Grey (40 units) and RAL 8008 Olive Brown (15 units) plus 1.5 units of matt black.
These final photos show that in different light conditions the actual colour looks different.
Cheers
Alan
Re: 1942 RN WNG restoration-Updated 16/07 Petrol Tank
Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2019 5:13 pm
by Leejm
Bloody hell Alan, that is coming along very well indeed! and is looking excellent!
Re: 1942 RN WNG restoration-Updated 16/07 Petrol Tank
Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2019 5:29 pm
by alan.moore
Leejm wrote:Bloody hell Alan, that is coming along very well indeed! and is looking excellent!
Thanks. As usual with me it has turned into a labour of love...
Re: 1942 RN WNG restoration-Updated 16/07 Petrol Tank
Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2019 5:44 pm
by Leejm
You must of heard I have a new toy now too. But mines a little more work! And missing in action.
Re: 1942 RN WNG restoration-Updated 16/07 Petrol Tank
Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2019 6:56 pm
by Paul Slootheer
Very well done Alan!
Re: 1942 RN WNG restoration-Updated 05/08 Plating Parts
Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2019 9:25 pm
by alan.moore
Thanks Paul, I hope fellow WNG owners are finding the posts interesting
I have been thinking about what to do with the 'plated' parts such as kickstart, gear lever, handlebar levers, pushrod tubes. The period photos of what appear to be 'newish' bikes show these had a 'matt' silver coloured finish i.e they were not painted (although they probably did get painted later on in service).
Here is an example
- Silver coloured handlebar furniture
- navydespatchriderscu1.jpg (55.78 KiB) Viewed 15482 times
I have read that the two possibilities were dull chrome and cadmium. I found remains of the original dull silver 'coating' on a few of the parts, especially the choke lever bracket which had survived almost totally intact and on the pivot end of the kickstart. I tested to see if it could be removed with acid (cadmium, like Zinc plating' is easily stripped with acid) and found it had no effect. So it appears that the original plating would have been 'dull chrome'.
There is no DIY 'dull chrome' plating kit available so I have Zinc plated the parts and then dulled the finish with a very fine and well worn scotchbrite pad which was enough to take the shine off. The Zinc plate will also dull/oxidise in a few days as it has not been passivated yet (a dip that protects the Zinc coating). Once it has dulled a bit more I will then passivate so they don't oxidise any further
Here are examples of what I started with, they had medium surface corrosion/pitting which was removed with a combination of a flap wheel on the angle grinder to remove the worst and then 250 grit emery cloth wrapped around a soft wheel on the bench grinder followed by a fine scotchbrite wheel on the bench grinder. There was no need to polish them up as I was after a dull finish.
- WNG gear lever
- Handlebar levers
- Levers after pitting removed
- After Zinc plating and 'dulling'
In the last photo the choke lever bracket is the 'origional' dull chrome finish so I think the Zinc plating is a pretty good match
Cheers
Alan
Re: 1942 RN WNG restoration-Updated 05/08 Plating Parts
Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2019 1:36 am
by nevhunter
A zinc -nickel alloy is plated on aero parts these days to replace Cadmium which is really a no no for the environment. Might be another alternative. Nev