1995 bike - So I’ve just cleaned by carbs out and started on the fuel tank and I’ve had no end of thin plastic feeling shards fall out of it! See picture. I’ve rinsed out all of them now I think, and the tank is sat with some evaporust in it now. The petcock fuel strainer straw is all in one piece as I pulled that out, so presuming it’s a liner that’s disintegrated. Thoughts?

 

Wow, never seen that before, you could indeed be right if the PO had previously lined the tank. Or a very thick layer of crud if the bike has been standing for some time.
Definitely not OEM tho!
I would certainly be looking at putting an in-line filter in, just in case there are small bits left that you have not managed to get out.

 

Also turns out the fuel filter is pretty bad too. Probably explains why the carbs were dirty and the fuel pump isn’t happy.

 

for sure! I think we posted at the same time. I’ve got a new inline filter and I’m replacing the petcock strainer too just for good measure.

 

Urgh, not nice at all

 

I’ve never ever seen any of those tank liners that actually worked as advertised. They ALL end up chipping and flaking off like that. Might be 1-yr or 5-yrs, but it will eventually happen. Best multi-stage kit with cleaner, metal-prep and sealer is POR-15 kit. But it too will eventually flake off. Might be 20-yrs.

 

yeah I’ve seen a lot of bad reviews of liners. I’m not going to bother with one. Just clean the tank out, and fill with fuel and stabiliser over winter to stop it rusting.

 

Over the winter use Esso or possibly Gulf E5 as allegedly they do not put any ethanol in their E5! Keep the tank brimmed and all good. Mine started first time with no drama doing this.

 

yeah I heard that before actually! I normally brim the tank with shell V power and then add some stabiliser. This Liquimoly one worked a charm this winter on my track bike, fired up instantly. My lawnmower with E10 on the other hand needed a full carb clean to even get a splutter!! 😔