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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: REAP on June 02, 2009, 06:11:33 AM

Title: Tank problem
Post by: REAP on June 02, 2009, 06:11:33 AM
I have an annoying dent in my fuel tank, its not big but its not small either. Its on the right side of the tank, right where the join is (kinda like an upside down V). If that makes any sence to anyone, how do i fix it myself?
Title: Re: Tank problem
Post by: REAP on June 02, 2009, 02:31:41 PM
Bump......
Title: Re: Tank problem
Post by: Chanse on June 02, 2009, 02:49:33 PM
-First you empty the tank.
-Then you fill it with water.
-After you sand the paint down.
-Next use a uni-spot welder to weld some rivits on without burning through the metal.
-Then use a dent puller to pull out the dent as much as possible. working from the edges of the dent to the center of it.
-When your done with that use body filler to smooth out the rest, you want this to be as thin as possible. which is why you pull the dent first.
-Now you empty the water out and use some rubbing alcohol in the tank to displace any water left in the tank, because after it removes the water it evaporates clean.
-Then paint, and so on, and so forth.
-You can add an extra step by treating the tank with a rust inhibitor if you like.
Title: Re: Tank problem
Post by: REAP on June 02, 2009, 10:06:27 PM
I had hoped i dont have to strip the tank down. Cant I get a v shaped pole, insert it into the tank via the fuel cap and push the dent from the inside?
Title: Re: Tank problem
Post by: FViller on June 03, 2009, 12:04:08 AM
Same problem...left side...thought about trying something similar like fender dent pulling :dunno_white:
Title: Re: Tank problem
Post by: Affschnozel on June 03, 2009, 01:06:42 AM
Quote from: REAP on June 02, 2009, 10:06:27 PM
I had hoped i dont have to strip the tank down. Cant I get a v shaped pole, insert it into the tank via the fuel cap and push the dent from the inside?

If you can reach the dent you can push it from inside with some bendable rod/pole ,the hardest thing would be to bend it right so it

would reach past the filler neck and to the dent with enough room for leverage.

I've pushed small dents out on both sides of tank with good result and one big at back where the "crown jewels" had tried to leave an imprint  :D



Title: Re: Tank problem
Post by: Chanse on June 03, 2009, 03:06:48 AM
It is possible that you can push it out from the inside but for 1 its a pain in the arse to get in there right. and 2 sometimes you push it too far out then you have to ding it back down. and 3 most of the time the paint will split or crack when bend back the other way. Especially if the dents been there a while. ( it wont do it all the time but most likely it will crack the paint.)
Title: Re: Tank problem
Post by: REAP on June 03, 2009, 03:15:51 AM
Well i think ill try it that way first off.... if i do crack the paint ill look into a cool design for it  :thumb:
Title: Re: Tank problem
Post by: jdw03n on June 03, 2009, 05:12:53 AM
Quote from: Affschnozel on June 03, 2009, 01:06:42 AM
Quote from: REAP on June 02, 2009, 10:06:27 PM
I had hoped i dont have to strip the tank down. Cant I get a v shaped pole, insert it into the tank via the fuel cap and push the dent from the inside?



I've pushed small dents out on both sides of tank with good result and one big at back where the "crown jewels" had tried to leave an imprint  :D





You dented a tank with your balls? And you LIVED?  /bow
Title: Re: Tank problem
Post by: 08GSSteve on June 03, 2009, 06:03:56 AM
BALLS OF STEEL  :D
Title: Re: Tank problem
Post by: Affschnozel on June 03, 2009, 06:05:30 AM
And it was done in a cool fashion ending with a somersault , thank you  :tongue2:
(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc280/Affschnozel/Aff03.jpg)
Title: Re: Tank problem
Post by: The Buddha on June 03, 2009, 06:31:01 AM
I'd cut a hole on the bottom of the tank, knock it out and weld it back up ... but that's just me.
Cool.
Buddha.
Title: Re: Tank problem
Post by: REAP on June 03, 2009, 09:59:13 PM
I think ill do that Buddha, thanks for the input guys.  :thumb:
Title: Re: Tank problem
Post by: Chanse on June 03, 2009, 10:41:38 PM
Quote from: Affschnozel on June 03, 2009, 06:05:30 AM
And it was done in a cool fashion ending with a somersault , thank you  :tongue2:
(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc280/Affschnozel/Aff03.jpg)

MY BALLS HURT JUST LOOKING AT THAT...... :icon_eek:
Title: Re: Tank problem
Post by: Chanse on June 03, 2009, 10:44:27 PM
Also I'd rather leave the intrgrity of the tank intack whenever possible. When you start putting holes in it, sometimes they just wont weld back up, if the bike is older and there is some rust on the inside when you go to weld you'll just keep burning through. then you have to go and do that whole tank coating crap and aahhhhhhhhhh,
Title: Re: Tank problem
Post by: REAP on June 04, 2009, 03:21:51 AM
Haha, well its an 07 model so its not THAT old   :icon_mrgreen:
Title: Re: Tank problem
Post by: natedawg120 on June 04, 2009, 05:47:54 AM
Just be damn sure that before you cut the tank there is no gas/gas fumes in it, i have seen a cars gas tank explode cause of an unwary student welder in shop class, no permanent injuries but dude couldn't hear right for three days and smelt like burnt hair for a week.
Title: Re: Tank problem
Post by: DoD#i on June 04, 2009, 06:34:47 AM
The simple approach - ignore dent. If it really bothers you, get a replacement tank. Sell the dented tank to someone here with a tank that has rusted out and who won't mind the dent.

A really well-equipped body shop may have a stake they can get inside the tank to help push the dent out, but when all is said and done (and repainted), that almost always costs more than a straight up replacement.

Title: Re: Tank problem
Post by: bassmechanicsz on June 04, 2009, 06:46:40 AM
Get a Pop-a-dent or whatever it was from the informercials that used to be on tv all the time a few years back.  Where they use the power of a suction cup and special gel to remove all dents without destroying your paint.  haha.  Saw a commercial for Pitchmen last night and made me think of that one.
Title: Re: Tank problem
Post by: REAP on June 05, 2009, 07:45:47 PM
haha, well my rego is due soon so ill look into figxing it (or getting a new one) once i have the money