Corrosion

[shaggs147]

As some of you may know, I've had a bit of an electrical problem on the bike which is now sorted.
I've been gradually putting the bike back together as free time allows, and found a fair bit of corrosion on the bottom of the fuel tank. This wasn't really surprising as the paint on the bottom looks more like overspray than a good coat, just by the fact its more purple on the bottom even though the bike is blue.
Anyway, I treated the rust, then painted it a dark blue with hammerite .... looks nothing like the bike colour, but its unseen and a good protective coating.
I've just had a thought, that the corrosion wasn't that far from the corroded terminal in the wiring loom. Because there is dirt in that area, I can only assume that its being flung up from the rear wheel. I'm now going to get a hugger (bloody overpriced bit of plastic in my opinion!), to see if it helps to reduce the crap being flung off the wheel and hopefully prevent further problems. I know many on here already have a hugger, but for those that don't it might be worth a look at the underside of your tank and loom.

Cheers,
Mark

[Lonewolf]

Good bit of advice there. 

[virginiajim]

I pulled my tank a few months ago to replace the pump/filter.  It looked fine, but then I've been running a hugger since nearly day one...bought in Aug 2007 (bike, not the hugger).

[Lonewolf]

Jim, and of course it's possibiliy a bit dryer where you live.......

[virginiajim]

Yeah, and I keep it in the garage whilst (Debs) not riding.  It's a pleasure bike so I don't commute with it..actually my commute is down the stairs and I make a right into my office .  Only traffic I see is the grandchildren trying to beat me down the stairs.  I also try to avoid rain if possible unless I'm on a trip and can't avoid it.  So I may not be the best poster child for whether the hugger helps or not but I won't let that stop me from posting though. 

Shaggs, do you have a picture of the corrosion?

[shaggs147]

Hi Jim, sorry no, I forgot to take a pic of it.
It was on the underside of the tank, not far from the seat. You would need to lift the tank out to see it. I think I've found the culprit of all the troubles today - I don't know if the previous owner had something fitted there before, but I found two small holes in the plastic undertray. The tank and loom must've been getting peppered from the water and mud flinging off the rear wheel. On a more positive note, I dropped the tank in the frame today, connected everything up with the original fuel pump installed, and all fired up as normal.