Motrax Tank Pad Fitting Advice?

[PoRk ChOp]

I need some help please?

I purchased a Motrax clear tank pad the other day, made sure the tank was clean with a dry cloth and then fitted the tank pad, which to be honest was a pain in the ****.

Got up the next day and all the edges has come away from the tank and it was fairly easy to pull off as the edges would not stay stuck down.

Could this be down to the polish and was having some sort of silicone in them?

If so what should I do before I try and fit the replacement one that I blagged? i.e. should I clean the tank with something specific to get rid of all the polish and wax?

Can anyone give me an idiots guide on how to fit them as I'm a complete ****. I even struggled to make the thing look straight!

Help, help, help the forum muppet :lol: :lol:

[Professor]

I had to throw out the first one because I couldn't stick it on straight. So
when I went to my local Yamaha dealership to buy another one I asked
the guy from the workshop to stick it on for me which he did perfectly.
Paid him a fiver.

So IMHO investing an extra £5 for a professional to stick it on is the
simplest solution.

However, your case may be somewhat different as you say that your
tank protector didn't stick on well. This is really strange as from my
limited experience the problem is that these things normally stick too well.

[K]

It could well be the polish. I'd suggest cleaning your tank with something like an antiseptic wipe or medicinal alcohol wipe; the sort of thing you can buy in Boots or in a decent First Aid kit. It'll clean off any residues and evaporate away - then stick on your pad.

A really decent vodka would also do the trick! :wink:

As for positioning it; do a dry run before taking the backing off. With it in place mark a few points (or even draw all the way round it) with a Chinograph pencil (from WH Smiths or any good art supplies). Or you hold it in place and get someone else to do the drawing.

The simply peel off the backing and start at the top and smooth down - keeping to your guidlines. The marks will then just rub off with your finger.
You can use a kids wax crayon instead, but you'll need to polish that off.

[jonboy]

I had a similar problem but, with the help of a tube of super-glue, got it sorted ;).


.

[PoRk ChOp]

with the help of a tube of super-glue, got it sorted

Thanks for that jonboy, but I may give the superglue idea a miss :wink: ..... for now :lol:

[Viney]

I have a rubber ronnie, and it dont stick either!

[PoRk ChOp]

I have a rubber ronnie, and it dont stick either!

Makes me think that it's Motrax tank pads that might be the problem. Has anyone actually got one to stick down?

[Professor]

I have a rubber ronnie, and it dont stick either!

Makes me think that it's Motrax tank pads that might be the problem. Has anyone actually got one to stick down?

My tank protector is Motrax and it has been on my tank for 15 months
now.

[Jabba]

I have a rubber ronnie, and it dont stick either!

Makes me think that it's Motrax tank pads that might be the problem. Has anyone actually got one to stick down?

My Rubber Ronnie stuck perfectly.

[Mr Toad]

Mine is Motrax, stuck first time, never budged since.
Make sure the tank is perfectly clean first :D

[embee]

I used an Oxford plain silver one.

Used some Autoglym Motorcycle cleaner to thoroughly clean the tank first, it seems a pretty aggressive cleaner and probably de-waxes it! Other similar alcohol type cleaners should do the trick.

The slight mistake I made was to rub the protector down too hard :oops: . It's the sturdy soft vinyl type stuff and the layers seemed to wrinkle, but I left it overnight and it settled out again :lol: .

For aligning, I put some masking tape on the tank up to where the pad would be, and marked centrelines and reference lines for the "ribs" in plain pencil. Fit the pad to the "vertical" centreline first then work outwards.

It needs to be nice and warm too for the flexibility and the glue, not ideal at this time of year. :?

[PoRk ChOp]

I will put it down to me making a complete **** of it then :?

[K]

Good point about the temperature. Unless your garage is heated I'd suggest running a hairdrier over the tank to warm it a bit before applying the pad. Once done run it over a few times again to warm the pad and help it mould/stick.

[Ceri JC]

On a related note, is it alright to wax/silicone spray over a fitted tank protector?

[embee]

On a related note, is it alright to wax/silicone spray over a fitted tank protector?

Sure, though the only thing to remember is that if the edges do lift at all, and you then get polish in there, it'll never stick again. Just one of those things, not the end of the world.
A mate of mine who is very fastidious about his bike has tried a couple of protectors (one Motrax I think), and wasn't happy with either, wouldn't stick properly and looked wrinkly I think. I'm still happy with the 2 Oxford ones I have fitted on bikes.

[K]

I was advised not to use any polish with silicone in it on my Motrax Carbon tank shield... not sure about the flexible pads though. I reckon it would be OK as they have a different topcoat on.