1st Gen V-Max 86 #0774

86#0774 · May 1, 2023

I purchased this January of this year. I'm the 3rd owner, the back story goes that the original owner got sick shortly after he bought the bike and past away in 87 or 88 the bike only had around 2000 miles on it. It stayed in the garage until 2016 when it was sold to the 2nd owner he put new tires on it and only rode it an additional 600 to 700 miles until I got it. It has a corbin seat with back rest after market exhaust muzzy electric fan and a tinted windshield other than that it looks all original. It also came with the original exhaust system and 2 original seats. When I picked it up it hardly ran I was able to ride it for about a block and back, 2nd gear shift was smooth, I let it sit and ideal behind my trailer to warm up and see if it was smoking, no smoke so I loaded it up and brought it home. I'm amazed it runs at all after getting it home the tank has rust and the gas smells like varnish. I'm sure I payed to much but ever since I sold my 88 in 2015 I've been wanting another one, I have my 2nd vmax and a retirement project.

Fire-medic · May 2, 2023

A clean-looking example, it should be worth the effort.

Yeah, I suggest removing the gas tank, and treating it according to whatever method of rust removal you choose. If it comes clean and shiny, you may not need to use some internal tank coating product. Use the search function here to read-up on methods of de-rusting the gas tank, and its removal/replacement.

You can count on getting into the carburetors too, to be able to get it running well, again, the search function is where you can find much info on this. I suggest you buy a replacement T-hose (molded into the shape of a T) for the carburetors, as the bike's T-hose will likely fall-apart when you attempt to separate the carburetors into two pairs to be able to remove the float bowls and to provide access to the jet blocks, where the brass jets are.

http://vmoa.net/VMX12-Service-Manual01.pdf
https://www.vmaxforum.net/threads/new-vmax-owner-faqs-new-members-please-read.21240/
https://www.vmaxforum.net/threads/carb-issue.51730/#post-521348
https://www.vmaxforum.net/threads/2005-vmax-not-wanting-to-idle.51704/#post-521160
https://www.vmaxforum.net/threads/barn-find-v-max-what-to-inspect.52055/#post-524780
Here is an example of being able to get the gas tank clean and shiny once again. Not much info on how, but visual stimulation to do the work. Note he says, "my first attempt at painting!" It can be done, knowledge is your guide, so make use of the search function.

https://www.vmaxforum.net/threads/gas-tank-finished.50773/

https://www.vmaxforum.net/threads/coming-out-of-long-term-storage.51517/#post-519402
https://www.vmaxforum.net/threads/getting-rust-out-of-gas-tank-without-removing.49639/

https://www.vmaxforum.net/threads/m...2-road-ready-after-sitting-for-5-years.51471/

86#0774 · May 2, 2023

Thanks Fire-medic for all of the links to useful information I'm sure I'll be reading them all in time.
An old harley owner told me to rap the tank with pillows and put some ballbearings in the tank and put it in the dryer sounds like it might work.

Fire-medic · May 2, 2023

Yeah, that's 'one way' to do it. I bet that guy is a bachelor. I read where someone used a cement mixer instead of a dryer.

I think the best way is electrolysis. I wouldn't use that and leave the house with it 'cooking.' Youtube has lots of videos on that.

The way which I suggest is cleaning concentration of vinegar. It's cheap, biodegradeable, you can use it over, until it stops working effectively. You can get 6% at your local supermarket, and concentrations up to 30% at a place like Home Depot or similar. I do NOT suggest using 30% undiluted vinegar (strength it comes out of the container). If you add the same amount of water to the 30% solution, now it's 15%. Now add the same amount of water as you have mixed solution, it's 7-1/2%. That should be a good strength to use. I get great results at 6% so a bit stronger isn't going to hurt the tank.

Do not leave the gas sender in the tank! The vinegar will eat the potmetal!

Make a steel block-off plate, smear it w/some silicone, Permatex, or similar, and fasten it in-place of the gas tank fuel sender. Now you can fill the gas tank with the vinegar solution, and leave it for a couple of days (that's the time I used for 6%). Place it in a waterproof plastic container, so that if it eats through a pinhole area, the vinegar is contained. You can empty the gas tank and inspect things after a day, and then refill the solution you poured out of the gas tank. One more day! A badly rusted tank may take longer.

When you are satisfied with the results, dry it out immediately after rinsing with water. It will flash-rust within a half-hour, so use a shop vac, compressed air and a long wand, or whatever to thoroughly dry the insides. Then pour some oil in there and thoroughly agitate the tank to coat it internally/completely.

Some people like the POR 15 gas tank sealer product, CREEM, or whatever. If you use those formulas, follow instructions exactly.

86#0774 · May 3, 2023

He is a bachelor and you have convinced me to go your way with the tank refurbishment.Thanks again!

Fire-medic · May 3, 2023

The chemical treatments and electrolysis both work well, if you do things exactly as directed. However, they have drawbacks if you don't follow the directions. The stripper/liner may not bond, requiring they be removed and re-done. I've worked with POR-15 before and that stuff is a pain to clean-up. The CREEM product also is a pain to remove and to re-do. The electrolysis method, I wouldn't leave the house unattended with it 'cooking.' Doing it outside, under a roof, I think is safer.

The vinegar method is I believe the least labor-intensive, you don't have to observe it/work it, it does the job, it's cheap (try pricing enough Evaporust, 4 gallons, to clean your tank), and is biodegradeable. It can be re-used. Local pricing for four gallons of Evaporust is over $100 from a local lumberyard.

Summit racing's price for 3-1/2 gallons is ~$90, shipped.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...ZhDetjdlqFN0-Isg7P5fiS5S_oS1aXQhoCwrIQAvD_BwE
People have their favorites. I'm always interested to see the results others have via whatever method they choose.