Dented Gas Tank

Discussion in 'Mechanics Garage' started by OOTV, Sep 27, 2011.

  1. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    I got a pretty good size dent in the gas tank on Friday. The bike fell over onto the garage door frame, long story. The good part is that it was wood framing so the paint wasn't scratched by metal parts. I was able to clean up the area and remove the paint (not the bikes paint), but the dent is still present.

    I was looking for a cheap/free solution to remove the dent. I saw a few videos on You Tube of people using a hair dryer and compressed air can (sprayed turned upside down) to remove dents.

    Compressed Air Dent Removal - YouTube

    The principle is sound, heated metal expands, cooled metal contracts, but not sure if it will work on the gas tank due to it's thicker gauge metal and also the area the dent is located. I also saw someone try it on a Ducati gas tank but was unsuccessful.

    Testing a trick to see if it can pop out a dent on a tank - YouTube

    Not sure if he did it wrong or if it's due to area and/or the gauge of the metal.

    Has anyone tried this? Success? Failure? Caveats? (Apart from using a heat source/electric motor near a gas tank).
     

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  2. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

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    so $100 is out of your budget? Paintless dent removal guys usually do a good job.

    I have not tried the method you're looking at. good luck
     
  3. crustyrider

    crustyrider New Member

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    you can try the dry ice method.....or just take the tank to a body shop and have them pop it out.
     
  4. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

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    don't have to take the tank off. paintless dent removal uses J hooks through the filler opening to massage the dent out. Used it on my truck with perfect success and seen videos of it done on bike tanks. As long as the metal isn't creased and the paint isn't cracked, you're golden.
     
  5. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    It's not the money per se, I would just rather try do fix it myself if I can. I would prefer to use the money toward gas, leathers, pair of gloves, etc. If this was motor or functionally related, I'd bust the money out. Not sure if I'll try this heat/cool method, but if I do, I'll let everyone know if it works or not. Guess I'll need to extend my rides this week so I can drain the tank if I do.
     
  6. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

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    some things can be played with and figured out. Some things take practice to get it right. If you want your tank to look like new again then pay the money and do it right. Fuck around and you're more likely to just fuck it up. In the end it will just end up costing you more. It would be one thing if you were talking about some 1970's enduro bike and wanted to play around and learn a new technique.

    just my opinion (and personal experience) but it seems things end up costing twice as much in the end when you try to save a buck.

    good luck whatever you decide.
     
  7. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    I hear ya. Sometimes you get in these moods where you think you can do it yourself and then you end up FUBARing it. The dent is in a location that when I'm on the bike I'll never see it, unless I stare at my crotch, that ain't gonna happen. It's only when I'm off the bike that I or anyone one else would ever notice it. I may just wait until I finish buying all my upgrades and then I'll take it to a pro. That being said, I got my Heli-Bars, and my PCV today! That plus the K&N I got last week, I think I'll worry more about getting these installed this weekend. Hopefully I'll get the luggage rack and case this week too!

    Cheers!
     
  8. Nitrousva

    Nitrousva New Member

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    I've tried the compressed air, and a dent removal kit that you hot glue gun a patch on the dent, and then try to pull it with there tool. I didn't have any luck with either, I actually made it worse with the glue gun method.
     
  9. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    I think the gas tank metal might be too thick compared to other body panels that I have seen this work on (via video), that or the location is too near the curvature on the tank. I've decided to just wait until I get all my other mods finished and paid for, then I'll get it professionally done. It's a cosmetic issue and like Tinker said, "it's not a 1970's Enduro". I can live with it for now, I got the "house" paint off so it's not an eye sore anymore. Maybe if I can find some free time I'll pick up a salvaged tank and tinker with it. I have a plenty of compressed air cans as I use them to dust out my computers, it's just finding the time and I don't think an old gas tank would cost too much to make it not worth while. At this point I'm more curious than anything.
     
  10. JSzczesniak

    JSzczesniak New Member

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    I have a small dent in the side of mine from the barrage of tip overs I went through last year. I had a paintless dent removal company look at it and it was a no go in their opinion. Due to the way the tank is, there is a metal hull inside the tank for the gas, and then a gap between the hull and the tank cover. If you drain out half your tank you can kind of see what he was talking about.
    Either way, I don't see any of those methods really working very well on the picture above. BUT, but, I hope you do find a solution cuz I'd love to fix mine!
     
  11. ilovheros

    ilovheros New Member

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    I ordered a glue puller and worked off and on a small dent in my 07 for weeks. It pulled the dent out some but it still was not right. These work better on larger dents with no creases. I got some 3/8" steel bar and made a curve in the bar where it would press on the dent from the inside of the tank using the tank opening with a pad for leverage. I was able to push out the dent "close" to perfection and smooth it with a plastic dowel outside. I was able to get it close and learned a lot but it was not perfect...I ended up buying a new tank because I could not live with it not being perfect.
     
  12. rocketscientist

    rocketscientist New Member

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    Another option would be trying a strong suction cup and just work it from the outside to the centre. 'should' get close enough.

    Most pros have a special tool that tacs itself onto the metal and pulls it up. Still requires use of filler, grinding, etc to get it smooth though.
     
  13. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    Update...I had a paint-less dent removal guy take a look at the dent in my gas tank yesterday. He didn't think he would be able to take out the dent since there was a crease in the dent. i.e. a "V" shape dent vice "bowl" shape. I might take it to another place just for a second opinion but it is probably something I'll have to live with.
     
  14. TOE CUTTER

    TOE CUTTER Mullet Man

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    There is always the Ron Ayers method. 17500-MCW-K80ZA......$493.......A drop in the hat to make a brand new motorcycle whole again. You will always look at that not so good repair with regret and will get over the choking off of the cash in short order and be glad you did. BUY A NEW ONE PLEASE! Toes two cent's.
     
  15. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    I just have one more high dollar item I'm saving up to get, so hopefully for Christmas I'll have that one down, then shortly after that I'll probably bite the bullet. Besides, who can argue advice from the Toe Cutter?
     
  16. ignoreance

    ignoreance New Member

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    I can 500 bucks is 500 closer to having the same hot nasty BJ that TOE gets every time he rides.
     
  17. keet

    keet New Member

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    i was wondering what an "average" price woud be to repair a dented tank..i realize that there are quite a few variables,just wondered....
     
  18. Ghost_Rider

    Ghost_Rider Active Member

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    Now your just trying to brag! Pervert!
     
  19. Nitrousva

    Nitrousva New Member

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    I had two dents, from the right handle bar in my tank. One was, say softball sized, and the other was golfball sized, about 1/2 and 1/4 inch deep,and they charged me 99 dollars to remove both. I must say, it's the best 99 dollars I've ever spent on a bike repair.
     
  20. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    Actually, it would be quite the reverse...The bigger the bike the smaller the...:redface:

    As far as my gas tank goes, two different paint-less dent removal guys took a look at it and both said they wouldn't be able to remove the dent. The last guy to look at it said it wasn't the actual dent itself, but the location. He didn't think he could knock it out from the inside as the angle was too steep to reach from the filler opening. Oh well, it was worth a shot.

    A new tank runs just under $500 and a used one off eBay can go as little as $200 with shipping. Unfortunately, all of the tanks I have seen have been Red, Silver, Yellow, everything but Black. I think by the time I get it stripped an re-painted, the cost will be close to if not more than a new tank. So after I buy a few other high $ items, I'm biting the bullet and getting a new one.
     
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