Have got lines hooked up but don't like how loose they are (off to small engine shop to buy some yellow line) but can't get the tank back on properly.  If I take the rubber off the front of the frame everything lines up beautifully.  Put the rubber back on, the whole tank is around 10mm too far back and sitting up at the back.

What the heck am I doing wrong?

push it forward 

I am trying to remember when I had my tank off last so I could be wrong but... where the anchors are attached to the tank, do they pivot? Like to adjust them to line up with the holes on the frame? Maybe I am thinking of something totally different idk don't hate me lol

a rubber mallet can be your friend...

or, if you're heavy handed:

get the front lip of the tank with the cushion lined up and push forward and down

once the tank bolt brackets slip down between the frame rails, gently tap it from the back

(blush)

I mean tap the tank from the back until you can look through the bolt holes in the frame and see daylight. Start the bolts in and move the tank around to finesse the bolts as necessary to get them aligned.

If you have a solid object to brace the bike against at the front, it helps. Tap if you must, but working it back and forth while pushing forward is best (more blush).

Be judicious in the application of force so as to protect your hand and your tank.

This activity, as with all things GS, gets much easier with practice. Pull the bike out front once a week and take the tank off. You'll impress the neighbors... as well as attract several sepia-toned, wistful and probably untrue stories about youthful automotive endeavors.

Put some washing up liquid on the rubber.........it works for tyres 

Quote from: cWj on July 18, 2015, 08:58:16 AM
a rubber mallet can be your friend...

or, if you're heavy handed:

get the front lip of the tank with the cushion lined up and push forward and down

once the tank bolt brackets slip down between the frame rails, gently tap it from the back

(blush)
doubt it, my neighbours try to pinch anything not bolted down.

I mean tap the tank from the back until you can look through the bolt holes in the frame and see daylight. Start the bolts in and move the tank around to finesse the bolts as necessary to get them aligned.

If you have a solid object to brace the bike against at the front, it helps. Tap if you must, but working it back and forth while pushing forward is best (more blush).

Be judicious in the application of force so as to protect your hand and your tank.

This activity, as with all things GS, gets much easier with practice. Pull the bike out front once a week and take the tank off. You'll impress the neighbors... as well as attract several sepia-toned, wistful and probably untrue stories about youthful automotive endeavors.

I lean on the tank to get it to line up.

Also, put some oil on the rubbers to stop squeaking.

Where u removed the 2 tank bolts to lift the tank off place 1 or 2 screwdrivers in the holes & push the tank foreward.

Quote from: cWj on July 18, 2015, 08:58:16 AM
a rubber mallet can be your friend...

or, if you're heavy handed:

get the front lip of the tank with the cushion lined up and push forward and down

once the tank bolt brackets slip down between the frame rails, gently tap it from the back

(blush)

I mean tap the tank from the back until you can look through the bolt holes in the frame and see daylight. Start the bolts in and move the tank around to finesse the bolts as necessary to get them aligned.

If you have a solid object to brace the bike against at the front, it helps. Tap if you must, but working it back and forth while pushing forward is best (more blush).

Be judicious in the application of force so as to protect your hand and your tank.

This activity, as with all things GS, gets much easier with practice. Pull the bike out front once a week and take the tank off. You'll impress the neighbors... as well as attract several sepia-toned, wistful and probably untrue stories about youthful automotive endeavors.

Oh PLEASE... PLEASE... these tanks are delicate enough without resorting to hitting the bastards with mallets !!! All that's going to do is encourage the lower rear seams to crack and separate, and result will be  a leaking, useless tank.
If you can't wangle the tank forward enough with lubricated front rubbers, then there's something else wrong that needs to be fixed.
Just don't start hitting your fuel tank with mallets!!!
(Bloody 'ell, don't encourage more mindless bodgery please!)

used silicone spray and wire brushed the crud off the inside of the inside of the nuts etc.

Quote from: Joolstacho on July 23, 2015, 03:12:26 AM

Quote from: cWj on July 18, 2015, 08:58:16 AM
a rubber mallet can be your friend...

or, if you're heavy handed:

get the front lip of the tank with the cushion lined up and push forward and down

once the tank bolt brackets slip down between the frame rails, gently tap it from the back

(blush)

I mean tap the tank from the back until you can look through the bolt holes in the frame and see daylight. Start the bolts in and move the tank around to finesse the bolts as necessary to get them aligned.

If you have a solid object to brace the bike against at the front, it helps. Tap if you must, but working it back and forth while pushing forward is best (more blush).

Be judicious in the application of force so as to protect your hand and your tank.

This activity, as with all things GS, gets much easier with practice. Pull the bike out front once a week and take the tank off. You'll impress the neighbors... as well as attract several sepia-toned, wistful and probably untrue stories about youthful automotive endeavors.

Oh PLEASE... PLEASE... these tanks are delicate enough without resorting to hitting the bastards with mallets !!! All that's going to do is encourage the lower rear seams to crack and separate, and result will be  a leaking, useless tank.
If you can't wangle the tank forward enough with lubricated front rubbers, then there's something else wrong that needs to be fixed.
Just don't start hitting your fuel tank with mallets!!!
(Bloody 'ell, don't encourage more mindless bodgery please!)

"tap"

not "hit"

"tap".

calm thyself.