I have a rusted fuel tank on my 2001 GS500, and I'm looking to replace it. I've heard that 1997-2000 tanks will fit with some tweaking, and definitely 2001-2002 tanks will fit just fine, but I'm wondering how newer tanks will fit. Will tanks for GS500F fit on easily?
Also, is replacing the tank the best option? I saw a post in the HOWTO section about derusting a tank. I've never taken the fuel tank off my bike, so I'm a bit nervous about that. Also, if I replace it with a different color tank, how much will it cost to repaint?
Thanks so much.
Is it rusted completely through (holes in the tank)? If not, you can use a product like POR15 or Kreem to clean, etch, then coat the inside of the tank. If you're not comfortable doing it yourself I believe most radiator shops offer this service. Either way will definitely be cheaper than buying a new tank + paint.
It's not rusted through. I've been using a filter on the fuel line to catch rust particles. Thanks for the advice.
POR-15 isn't too hard to do.... Kreem is a similar product. I personally like the POR-15 better than kreem.
It's a paint by numbers kind of thing... you take the tank off- drain all the fuel out (or drain it on the bike if it's easier...or just run it out of gas near your house...).
Use the cleaner ...then the prep ...then the sealer... follow the directions ( READ THEM A FEW TIMES BEFORE YOU START.).
Cleaning-prepping and sealing takes an hour or two to do ..then it cures for a few days ...then ready to go.
Do a search for POR-15 and Kreem...many message strings have discussed them at length..
What color is your bike?
My bike is dark blue.