how to fix a dent?

[Frost]

it's a 03 blue tank...it's IMPOSSIBLE to find the new tank anywhere...

[Jared]

Well.. They do Turn up...I got a blue 01 tank not too long ago.  I'll Keep my eyes open for one just in case...

[Frost]

is it possible to fill it up with water and then freeze it?

[The Buddha]

I doubt it, I have actually made a fitting that will let you pressurize it with air but I believe it might split the tank at the seams before popping the dent.
Cool.
Srinath.

[ConanLloyd]

Srinath, how much would you charge to pop this dent out, and have the tank powdercoated black or silver?



I am finally fixing the old girl up since I have finished my move and have a garage to work in.

[moochie972]

well, this is my first post on this forum, and i gotta say you are all great. i've learned alot these past few weeks that i've been reading up, and i've made up my mind that a gs is for me, just waiting to relocate and for some money from uncle sam so i can go get me one.

as far as the dent goes, here's something you might try...

find a place that supplies dry ice. get like a pound or so (the place i used to work at had a 5lb. minimum) and GET SOME GLOVES!! break off a chunk and hold it in the center of your dent. the extreme cold should make the metal contract and just pop back into it's original form. these paintless dent removal places use this technique. hope this helps. i just thought it would be less of a hassle than breaking out the bondo, etc.

again, thanks all for the great advice. once i get mine, hopefully i'll be posting more often.

chris  

[Dom]

Here's a blue tank but it's an '01.  

Maybe the colors will match. :dunno:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10534&item=7948941146&rd=1

[The Buddha]

Conanloyd ... that dent ... phew I hardly notice it.
BTW remember if its popped and powdercoated over chances are you still see a ripple or 2 or in you case a few dozen ... powdercoat can only go on metal, and I have to leave the little dents and hammer marks and creases and all that shallow stuff in place. I'll have to do 1 and see how muhc work it is, but figure $40-50 for welding, and $50 or so for powder coating and BTW your silver might be waaay off from my silver ... OK fine not waaay off but noticeably off. And I'd prolly carge you $20-30 for labor ... yes knocking the freaking thing out is going to be lousy ass work. So 125-150. Right about what you can snag a tank off ebay for ... huh anyway...
OK that dry ice might work for a shallow and smooth dent ... this one is how do I say it ... yea foooked up...
Cool.
Srinath.

[dgyver]

I have tried the dry ice method and it was a waste of my time. Do not try to expand it from the inside with compressed air, freezing, or other similar methods. All you will do is blow out the seams. A friend tried this and ended up with a round tank.  :lol:

Cutting and welding will be the best looking way. I have some before and after pics of the RC51 that rear-ended my TLR. His did an endo about 60mph after hitting me. Here is the before repair pic. I will get the after repair pic later. Can't really tell there was any damage after being repaired.

[The Buddha]

You mean cut the top side ... where the dent is and made a plate in that shape and curvature ... I wish ... but how ... ofcourse under side is undented you cut it and weld that same part back in so problem solved ... of course that RC51 will not have come back to new like shape with just inside out dent knocking work ... so did he do it top side and if so I need to meet the man that did it or woman ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[Blueknyt]

ive had some luck working dents out from inside with various home made tools/Dollies. i would be willing to try for you but you would have to be without a tank for a little while and pay for shipping to and from.

my Kawi 440 LTD has some nice dents covered over with bondo(i never knew)  worked them out and regained 1/3 of a gal. from that point i just used alittle putty and smoothed out.  worked well till gas hit the clear coat.

[Frost]

i don't mind shipping it...and it's winter over here so i can't ride anyways...

how much will you charge me

[Blueknyt]

tell you what, get the cost of shipping it to me

13410 sw 7th place
Davie Florida 33325

and figure out a prepaid return shipping, ill work on it, get it back to you (you will need to do final Paint) and you tell me what my work was worth.
If your not happy with it i track you down and Beat you with a large ripe squash

[Frost]

how heavy is the tank?
i estimated the box to be 80 X 80 X 60 cm and 20lb tank

and it cost more than 400 dollars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[scootr9718]

I recently used that Ding King tool to pull out a dent in my tank, with fantastic results. I figured, for 20 bucks at the local auto parts store, its worth a try. I had some pretty amazing results...with a little touch up paint, and this dent puller, you can hardly tell. Here are some before and after pics:

http://users.adelphia.net/~scottconley/New_Folder/before_2.jpg
http://users.adelphia.net/~scottconley/New_Folder/after_2.jpg

http://users.adelphia.net/~scottconley/New_Folder/before_1.jpg
http://users.adelphia.net/~scottconley/New_Folder/after_1.jpg

[The Buddha]

Yup Tacky informercial with that screaming redneck moron (Willie Mays or something) not with standing its a cool product ...
Cool.
Srinath.