To seal, or not to seal...

that is the question

First official post.
85 XJ700N
1,550 original miles
Seller fully disclosed that it’s spent it’s life in a garage with fuel sitting in everything.

Given that, it’s fairly light on tank rust. Definitely some haze going with some small spotting but definitely nothing flaky or heavy.

I bought the full KBS kit with the intention of sealing the tank for good measure. Nothing leads me to believe that I’m dealing with any pinholes or compromised welds. After reading a lot on using sealers, I’m not 100% that I want to deal with it flaking.

Thoughts on just etching and leaving it be?

 

If its only light rust, leave it be.
Best is a good rinse with vinegar to disolve rust (slosh around for a good 15-20 minutes)
Rinse with hot water few times.
Slosh around a few humdred mils, a cup or 2, 50:50 gas and 2-stroke to "seal" the tank
Worked well on my bike.
I also add an ounce of 2-stroke to the tank once in a while, to keep rust at bay, however a few members have stated that simply not letting the bike sit with a low tank for long periods is just as good.

 

I agree. I would only seal as a last resort.

 

+1. Sealing in unnecessary if you just have light rust and some pitting.
+1 on vinegar to clean the rust out.
I prefer finishing up with phosphoric acid, which will turn the remaining rust into iron phosphate which will prevent new surface rust from forming even if the tank goes dry. Ospho is a commonly available brand of premixed phosphoric acid tht's sold at the correct dillution for this sort of work.