Fuel Tank Molding

[jfmerk]

As I continue to tweek little imperfections on my 78 restoration, I discovered that I am missing a part on my fuel tank. It's called the fuel tank molding, p/n 3EB-24189-00-00 replaces old # 2H7-24189-00-00 PLATE, MOLD. I assume it is something like a black plastic strip that slips over the seamed edge at the front of the tank. I have a black rubber molding available at work that is about 3/16" x 5/16" with a slit running the length of it that would allow it to fit nicely over the front edge of the tank. My question is what does this molding look like?

[TopCatGr58]

[psycoreefer]

on all my bikes is an extremely brittle piece of slightly glossy black plastic.

[crazy steve]

TC posted the pic (#57 on the drawing), but it also used little clips to hold it on (#58). The actual cross-section shape is oval...

[cywelchjr]

I hear that small door edge molding works for the tank seams. It comes in several colors as well, and is available unlike the OEM stuff.

[jfmerk]

This is what I had from work.... Look about right??? It's rubber, so it's not glossy, but a small detail I can live with I think.

[crazy steve]

Not quite as rounded as the OEM molding, but Armour-all that puppy until it's shiny and no one will ever know...

Post some pics of the whole bike!

[jfmerk]

Not quite as rounded as the OEM molding, but Armour-all that puppy until it's shiny and no one will ever know...

Post some pics of the whole bike!

Oh OK, here a few pics of the bike....

One thing I've learned during this restoration project is that I don't think I'll ever feel I'm completely done. There will always be one little detail that I believe can be better, one bolt that doesn't quite look new, one little decal that's missing and so on. This is the second time I painted this and it still isn't quite there, but I'm going to enjoy it for a while just as it is. This color is soooo crazy the way different lighting conditions react with the pearl and change the color so drastically. In these pics, the sun was fairly low and defused through some trees.

Couldn't have done it without XS11.com!

[ManagerMike]

I hear that small door edge molding works for the tank seams. It comes in several colors as well, and is available unlike the OEM stuff.

That's exactly what I used on mine, picked it up at napa for I think 6 bucks. It's self adhesive and comes in chrome, black chrome, gold, and so on.
I did the chrome, myself

[bikerphil]

Man, that bike looks like it came out of a time capsule. Real nice job!

[crazy steve]

Oh OK, here a few pics of the bike....

.....This is the second time I painted this and it still isn't quite there, but I'm going to enjoy it for a while just as it is. This color is soooo crazy the way different lighting conditions react with the pearl and change the color so drastically. In these pics, the sun was fairly low and defused through some trees.

Very, very nice, I hope I can get mine looking that good. I remember your problems with the color match, looks like you're pretty close this time. It is a funny color, in some light it looks dark and subdued, but in the right light the color just pops. I still think these were the best looking of all of them......but I'm biased

PS, did you get a 'color code' on the paint?

[jfmerk]

PS, did you get a 'color code' on the paint?[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the nice feedback!

I have my bike's formula in PPG's Omni single stage acrylic urethane. I arrived at it's present color by taking a NOS tail fairing I purchased and worked with the color formula from the first attempt. The local carquest paint mixer did his best to darken the old color which had too much red/violet. We thought we were pretty close when we compared it to the tail fairing, so I went with it. Since then I found a PPG store that offered to take my NOS tail fairing and ship it to a PPG lab in Chicago to see if they could match it up. So I'm going to try that since it's free... just to see how close they can get. The tech at the PPG store said he didn't think they would get anything much closer, but I'd still be interested in how close they come or how much different their formula is from what I have. In the end, I get the sense that the only way to really nail this color it is to duplicate the three step laquer process of base-coat, mid-coat and clear. A single stage system with pearl just may not be capable of producing the same color effects. I'll post what I find from the PPG lab findings.

[jfmerk]

Man, that bike looks like it came out of a time capsule. Real nice job!

Thanks Phil!

[russell]

Looks New

What a great looking beast. How did you get the engine looking so nice

[DAVINCI]

Oh OK, here a few pics of the bike....

One thing I've learned during this restoration project is that I don't think I'll ever feel I'm completely done. There will always be one little detail that I believe can be better, one bolt that doesn't quite look new, one little decal that's missing and so on. This is the second time I painted this and it still isn't quite there, but I'm going to enjoy it for a while just as it is. This color is soooo crazy the way different lighting conditions react with the pearl and change the color so drastically. In these pics, the sun was fairly low and defused through some trees.

Couldn't have done it without XS11.com!

I am humbled. She's beautiful in every detail. Right down to the engine case color. Great job. Now take her out and ride the snot out of her.