I got a good result cleaning up my kdx tank, no heat involved.
l started with an unloved tank. All the crud has helped protect this tank from UV damage.
![](http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag23/kdxGeoff/IMAG1913_zpsdd6aa477.jpg)
I scrubbed the tank with fine steel wool and hot soapy water to remove the crud.
![](http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag23/kdxGeoff/IMAG1919_zpsfdabb5e5.jpg)
l scraped the tank with a half a pair of scissors. l find them easier to hold and use than a blade.
![](http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag23/kdxGeoff/IMAG1934_zps403c8570.jpg)
The tank on the left is the crud tank scraped showing the UV undamaged surface. The tank on the right has severe UV damage that l wasn't going to be able to fix. As a point of interest the UV damaged tank came from the US and the crud tank came from the UK. l wonder if the location had some impact on the amount of UV these tanks were exposed to...
Plenty of kx kdx 420 450 tanks that l had seen on the net suffered from this sort of damage. l was told that the tank on the right could be made to look new again (2 quotes, around $850 and $600) but l couldn't find any before/after picks of a Kawasaki tank that had come back from this damage.
![](http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag23/kdxGeoff/IMAG1915_zps8f9dc071.jpg)
I wet sanded with an orbital sander 360 than 800. l found that the sander didn't level all the scrape marks so l had to use a rubber rubbing block to get the tank surface flat again. Wet 360 than 800 again. It didn't take long to sand the high points off
![](http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag23/kdxGeoff/IMAG1943_zps37e15a4c.jpg)
The buffing.
Wool buff pad and lots of the polishing compound. l was conscious of burning/ melting the plastic so l kept the pressure light.
Different pad for the polish, lots of polish and low pressure
![](http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag23/kdxGeoff/IMAG1945_zps654b22e0.jpg)
Another clean pad for the final polish. I tried a foam pad but it didn't work as well as the wool pad.
![](http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag23/kdxGeoff/IMAG1950_1_zps67448069.jpg)
![](http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag23/kdxGeoff/IMAG1949_1_zpse0ab6dd4.jpg)
Total time investment for this tank was around 13 hours. Now that l have my technique sorted l don't think the next one would take that long.
There is some fuel staining low on the tank but it is a 33 year old tank.
l have also stuck an offcut of vinyl on the tank which has been there for a couple of months without bubbling. l don't know how long its been since this tank has fuel in it but the fuel vapours passing through the plastic must cease over time.
Cheers
Geoff