Bike is cleaning up very nicely
thought I would not paint original mandarin orange but rather to clear coat 
any advice how to prep surface and what type of clear coat to use that is best for this application very much appreciated. 
thanks
martin

I really like the idea of keeping the original paint and patina. and just clear coating.
I would first clean thoroughly with rubbing alcohol and wipe off with dry cloth quickly. 

Then scuff thoroughly but delicately (minimal presssure) with 3M Scotch Brite Ultra Fine Pad (Color/Clear/Primer Sanding Pad) which is light gray.#37448.
Check over thoroughly to see if you got every spot.

Then clean thoroughly with a product such as NAPA FINL-Finish Prep to clean any wax or lingering grease.  Some folks use 90% rubbing alcohol.

Dry well.

Then use a new professional tack cloth like Gerson makes  just before spraying.   Don't touch the surface with your fingers.

I suggest Spray Max 2K Clear spray can.  You will activate it, then use it in the next 2 hours before it hardens in the can. Its about $22. Well worth the money.
Use the proper mask, and I suggest spraying outside, allowing the breeze to carry away much of the (deadly) overspray.

 


Dude
 

dude - thank you for the very detailed advice, i will follow it verbatim and report back on results!

You can minimize the possibility of bugs getting in the clear coat by setting up fans adjacent (not directed at) to the tank and run them after you have finished.

If a bug gets in when the clear is almost dry, I suggest leaving it, and buffing it out days later.

Hope it goes well.

thanks again!
or maybe I leave the bugs in to give tank that final panache?!

Just curious...would lightly sanding the colored areas of the tank with 1200 wet or dry renew and expose the original color of the tank before you clear coat? Or do you think that would ruin the patina? Too hard to get the same level of "newness" all over the tank?

I'd be cautious of scuffing tank with anything...  I think it was GFrench that cleared a tank and kept the patina...  just cleaned it good if I remember correctly. 

I think it would be SUPER easy to rub right through what's left of the paint and ruin the patina?

You highlight pros and cons 
see below - the paint on top of tank is nearly gone. Oil tank and headlight can and ears 90 degrees to top of tank and lots of paint so I think this bike got a sun burn

i am thinking a very, very light touch on sides with super fine scotch bright and if I see orange on pad I stop and just clean and spray with this two part deadly cool atudd

this bike is going to be a screamer!

You highlight pros and cons 
see below - the paint on top of tank is nearly gone. Oil tank and headlight can and ears 90 degrees to top of tank and lots of paint so I think this bike got a sun burn

i am thinking a very, very light touch on sides with super fine scotch bright and if I see orange on pad I stop and just clean and spray with this two part deadly cool atudd

this bike is going to be a screamer!

  

I imagine there could be some chance of disturbing the patina.
But of course the purpose of the scuffing is to provide "bite" for the clear to stick to, so it doesn't flake off eventually.  I have a 1975 XS650 with a factory paint job, and the clear coat has begun to come off a bit on top of the tank. 
Fortunately, I found a perfect NOS tank from 1975 on EBay last year in its original box. 

 

nice tank dude!
I think i will kiss the surface as lightly as possible with scotchbrite because I run the rist of losing the bit of remaining color

another topic - the ground pigtail attached to the battery box...where does that go?  Where would the negative battery wire be grounded?  Not the battery box I assume since it is floating in rubber grommets?

Also, the black wire coming out of the magneto harness about 1/2 way up...is this a pickup for a tester?  The white wire goes unused, correct?

lastly - two red wires by battery box...one goes to the + side of the rectifier...the other one seems to be a short 8" run to nowhere...the loom taping seemed original so I dont think it was added.  

also the brown with white stripe, brown by the red to nowhere?

thanks a ton, Good Friday, Happy Easter - God please make the world peaceful nice tank dude!
I think i will kiss the surface as lightly as possible with scotchbrite because I run the rist of losing the bit of remaining color

another topic - the ground pigtail attached to the battery box...where does that go?  Where would the negative battery wire be grounded?  Not the battery box I assume since it is floating in rubber grommets?

Also, the black wire coming out of the magneto harness about 1/2 way up...is this a pickup for a tester?  The white wire goes unused, correct?

lastly - two red wires by battery box...one goes to the + side of the rectifier...the other one seems to be a short 8" run to nowhere...the loom taping seemed original so I dont think it was added.  

also the brown with white stripe, brown by the red to nowhere?

thanks a ton, Good Friday, Happy Easter - God please make the world peaceful