Hey Everyone - new to this forum (and any forum for that matter). I am also a new rider that was given a 1994 GS500e. I am trying to get it back into running condition myself but am having some serious issues with the tank. I have searched in vain for a replacement. I believe the tank style did not change from 1989-1996(?). Can anyone tell me if a tank off another model would work on the gs500?

first and foremost.. why do you need the new tank?
if the tank is repairable, it'll be more cost effective to do so.

if you have no tank at all, but you still have plastics, i would find a tank from the similar model year range.

and if you change the tank to a newer model, you'll need the seat from the newer model as well. Also, the fairings wont line up and will not have a mounting point on the tank to connect to.

The tank had a pinhole and I took it to a radiator shop to patch and seal. They used Red Kote on it but did not get 100% coverage and it came back with another small pinhole. Long story short they will not help me in correcting the problem. I have been trying to get the Red Kote out so I can seal it myself with Kreem. However the process is taking forever. I thought while i was working on the tank I would search for a possible replacement.

i didn't know if the tank off a similar year model gsx or something would work as a replacement.

well.. theoretically anything can work with some fabrication. if you wanna keep it simple bolt-on though, than you need to find a same model tank. i think you were right about the 89-96 bit. good luck.

check out our for sale section. not sure but someone may have one. check old posts too because sometimes they get lost and people dont think to ask twice. you may get lucky and have someone just wanna get rid of parts

I dont know where your located, but there is one for sale locally, I was going to pick it up just to have it around.

http://halifax.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-motorcycles-motorcycle-parts-accessories-GS500-TANK-W0QQAdIdZ223138916

Thanks Moosehead. i just checked it out and think it would work but unfortunately I am in North Carolina. Think they would meet my in Ohio in two weeks (LOL)? I have sent an e-mail inquiring.

hope that works out for ya 

I would just keep an eye on ebay. There are tanks up there all the time. I would try to stick to whatever vintage you have as if you change to a newer one it will affect the seat ect ect. Or you could try to plug up you existing tank. Even if it just gets you through the rest of the season.

89-00 have the same tanks.  01-up have a larger tank.

-Jessie

Jessie is correct about the tank fitting up to an '00. When I was doing research myself on here for getting a new tank for my bike I was told from others that the newer tanks work on your bike and would provide you with an extra gallon of gas and the stock seat would still fit. Fit a little different but still work or you could just get a newer seat as well. I don't know if this is 100% true but thats what I was told when I was looking for a bigger tank

The old seat may fit but I don't know about the side plastics.  If you look at the newer bikes, the seat wraps down the sides of the tank.  The old bikes had an attachment point for the side fairings in the tank.

-Jessie

Where are you in NC? 
I've had that problem.  I know something that can fix it, and I can help you do it.  And I know somebody that could probably get you a new tank if you decide. 

Thanks to everyone for their input and suggestions.

Homer - I am in the triad area of North Carolina - Winston-Salem, Greensboro and High Point.

Strange... I had a thread in the meet-n-greet, fairly begging to meet local riders...
Erased it after 25 people read it and no one responded. 

You wouldn't at all happen to be one of those 25, now would you? 

I wasn't one of the 25. Haven't looked for other riders in the area yet because my bike was so unreliable. Didn't want to have to deny any invites because my bike choked out.

Alright.

Well, since you said it's only pinholes: 
http://www.caswellplating.com/aids/epoxygas.htm
Get it stripped and painted first, if you want it pretty.  Otherwise, drain it, pop off the cap and petcock, and pour this junk inside.  Use a little piece of plate and a piece of rubber bolted down over the petcock orifice. 
It doesn't smell at all, you can do it in your house. 
Roll it around for a while, so it coats all over really well.  It's gooey thick.  Then prop it up so the leftover fills the cavities by your knees instead of taking up fuel volume.  Put a second coat when it's tacky, if you want. 
The more you put in, the less fuel you carry.  For both coats, it's like a quart plus a pint (whatever a pint is). 

Worked for me.  Don't be afraid to turn it completely upside down to get around the fill port. 
Lemme know if/when you order it.  I might help. 

the newer style tank works with the older seat if you trim the triangle off the front of it.  it will also work with the older style fairings, but they will loose the mounting point on the seat, mine were still sturdy though, even without them

Thanks for the info Homer. Once I get the Red Kote out that the radiator place used I will give it a try. Right now my main issue is trying to get all of the other stuff out. It is very time consuming and repetitive and I am running out of patience. 

Tried hydrochloric?