I'm respraying the GS from red to black, and it's going well, if slowly. There are a couple of issues that I would appreciate advice on:

1. I'm treating the inside with a rust treatment as there is a mild level of rust inside. I have read here that it is a good idea to put bolts inside to knock the rust about. How are you supposed to get them out afterwards?

2. A man I work with insists that I need to cover all metal parts with some sort of zinc layer underneath the paint to prevent rapid rusting. This is the first time I've heard such a thing - is he full of it? I plan to merely prime, paint and cover with petrol-resistant lacquer. Will this not be adequate?

3. It would be nice if I could tidy up the engine as well - there is a lot of weather corrosion. What can I do to clean up the surface and what paint do I use to respray? Also, the suzuki signs on the sides are a little worse for wear. Any suggestions/links?



I know that's a detailed list, but as ever any advice will be gratefully received - I am happy to bumble through in my ignorance, but the results are so much better when people tell me where I'm going wrong....

A magnet works to remove the loose items from the tank, as long as they are ferrus.

Zinc plating (which is the same as galvanizing) before painting is not required. It will make it last much longer though.

Duplicolor makes an engine paint that turns out really nice. There are pictures posted of a motor repainted using it.

Thanks, that's really useful.

How does a magnet remove the rust?

I'm guessing its for the loose flakes of rust

The magnet is to remove the bolts from the tank added to knock the rust loose, not to remove the rust itself.

Ah, yes, that makes sense. Thank you.

Any other tips for getting out the little bits of crap/rust/dust that are knocking around in there? It's really awkward given the location and size of the holes.

You could try the media used in tumbling scuba tanks. It is aluminum oxide, similar to the material used in grinding wheels. I have a bucket of it but have not tried it in a gas tank yet. Makes scuba tanks really pretty on the inside. Sucks that it can only be ordered in 50# quanities.

If a tank has sat or has been flushed of all gas and fumes, I use a small shop vac with a flexable hose attached to it.I also give it a good shaking while vacuuming the inside.