Paint - The blurg defeated

[MrDavo]

My tank has always had a bubble in the paint, about the size of a 2p. Because the paint is original afik I have left it alone. Today i noticed to my horror that, whether because of the recent hot weather, or me poking around at it, a large pea size bubble has appeared in the middle of it.

This is too big to ignore. The good news is that I always wanted a Candy Gold Honda, my mate had a new gold CB250 that I tried to keep up with. I know that there is  a  tank painter on here, and advice about fresh decals, however it can all wait until Winter.

In the meantime, can I pop the bubble with a sharp blade and reseal with my clearcoat touch Up? Or would you leave well alone?

[hairygit]

I would leave it well alone. If you burst the bubble, the paint may have hardened again, and then it could crack and break of leaving an exposed area, which would look awful. Also, if the paint is still soft, you will have surplus paint skin which will not lie flat, and again look awful.

[royhall]

I recently had one of those on my Suzuki GS1000. The painter I use popped it with a sharp needle and did nothing else, the following day it had gone. He said if you try to flatten it out it will crease and look a mess, it's hard to even see the needle hole now.

[hairygit]

I recently had one of those on my Suzuki GS1000. The painter I use popped it with a sharp needle and did nothing else, the following day it had gone. He said if you try to flatten it out it will crease and look a mess, it's hard to even see the needle hole now.

  Quite possibly that could work, but get a professional paint person to do it, that way if it goes tits up, it's their fault!

[Green1]

My 750 developed a bubble under the tank I made the mistake of popping it.
Its gone back now but it has creased good job its out of sight.

[MrDavo]

Mine is in such an obvious place that its put up with the blurg or repaint, but I can't look at that all day.

I'm wondering if I should ask the local paint guy to do it while I'm in Canada during July. Of course now I'm getting into the 50 shades of gold debate, which is all over these forums.

One of my blue side panels was wrong, so I got a pattern panel, and after an abortive start with RS, who's paint was more green than blue, I  got the  paint from Andy Cepok in Germany. Not cheap but it did match.

He does also  kits for the CB750, 3 bottles of paint and the vinyl stickers for the tank:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CB-750-Four-Lacksatz-Lack-Candy-Gold-Tank-Dekor-Paint-Decal-Kit-SOHC-/361766195367

However, my concern is that although being listed for K0 and K1, its the Candy Gold Custom, LX, when it should be the vanilla Candy Gold, CQ.  LX is a K2 colour, that said my late K1 came from the 'new factory', and had K2 stripes with silver from new if I still have the original tank (which matches up with what it says in Hondaman's book).

As far as I can see there are slightly bigger flecks in the LX's silver and a little more orange in the gold. I either use LX or look for another source, Cepok doesnt seem to do CQ. I like the LX colour and the big flakes, its whether I can put up with the 'I think you'll find...' types.

I found this picture on dotnet to compare the two golds, CQ looks a little anemic compared to LX here:

[Trigger]

It is true, I have seen original K1's in candy LX and I have seen original  K2's with black tank badges. Though Honda say that the K2 has white badges on the tank.

[MrDavo]

I have seen original K1's in candy LX

Really? That helps a lot. My old parts book doesn't know about LX K1's, only CQ, but if you say so I shall send the know it alls in your direction when they tell me that my bike's the wrong colour..

I have to decide this week, but we still may get Candy Ruby Red yet - I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure.....

[MrDavo]

Stop press - after much internal debate I've ordered Candy Ruby Red plus gold tank decals from Andy Cepok.

I decided that if I went blue again I've nothing fresh for my £££, just the same thing, but no blister. I then had a great red v gold decision to make. Candy Poo Brown never got a look in, and though Valley Green looks good it isn't easily available.

I always fancied Candy Ruby Red, I just have to not leave it in the sun for long periods, having sworn never to own a red car again due to paint fade. Ebay is full of examples of how Candy Red fades to a washed out orange. I will ask ther local car bodyshop guy, who recently did an invisble repair on my 911, if he is up to doing it.

I'd like to get the oil tank sticker (ordered) under the laquer rather than trying to keep it stuck on the outside, any reasons (such as reaction) why this can't be done?

[Nurse Julie]

In my experience as long as the glue is removed from the back of the sticker before applying to the panel and then it is clear coated over, it is fine. Piki does the oil tank sticker.

[Seabeowner]

I couldn't make up my mind on my 500K1 as I had a brown in 74 that I got resprayed blue in 76. Wanted gold this time, but was worried by the many variations and thought I might not get what I wanted, soooo I've got a candy ruby red 500. Looks lovely.

[MrDavo]

Good choice!

Tank badges - do I just pop them of by getting a knife blade under them? Do I need to get new fasteners to give the painter?

[MCTID]

Great choice - I ummed and arred for a while what colour to go for but eventually plumped for Candy Antares Red for my K4 (a 1976 colour but bollox to concours)......it turned out even better than I hoped for. I bought the Tank Decals (different to yours I grant you) from Sunrise graphics (my neighbour funnily enough) and he threw in a tank sticker with black typeface and also one with white typeface - which is the one I used....the painter sprayed a clearcoat over it and it looks the business against the red paint. Lovely.

[MrDavo]

I decided that having bitten the bullet and ordered the red, that to use the bike for now I had nothing to lose by following the advice above and  taking a fine needle to the big new bubble, and it has largely worked.

The 2p sized blurg is still there, but the large new angry pea size part has gone down. I minded to put just a blob of clear coat from my touch up over the pinhole. It is back to being livable with for now, rather than plain hideous.

Despite having spent £ stupid on the red paint and vinyl, we go away to Canada just after Crich, then a couple of weeks after we come back I'm off to the MGP. What I dont want is to miss being able to take the CB750 to either because I'm either awaiting paint to be done or trying to get the discombobulated wiring back together.

So it may well have to stay blue until the Autumn. My question is, how long will the vinyl tank stripes keep for, I've read how they should be used while they are fresh? Any tips on storage?

[Green1]

Too right use it and enjoy it  You wont want to get it dirty when it has a nice new paint job.
If the vinyl's are kept in a cool dark place they should keep for sometime. I think the problems arise when there years old