Chrisbeast Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 Hi all. My petrol tank on my GSXR1100 has developed a leak. Theres a small area of rust on it at the bottom on one side and on closer inspection I realised there is a tiny hole as shown in the first picture! Has anyone here had any experience of getting this sort of thing repaired? I know there are sealants available but im not really convinced that these would be any good in the long run, although after seaching the internet i found this place... http://www.fueltanks.co.uk/pages/bike.html they offer a lifetime guarantee. Any input great, thanks Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraHuman Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 I don't think sealant is the best option,media blast the tank then see how much welding is required.TIG is your friend.Then pressure test it before re spray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisbeast Posted March 3, 2010 Author Share Posted March 3, 2010 Thanks for that, do you know of any where that could do that and cost? Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraHuman Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 Sorry bud but no, I am based in JSY. But internet or yellow pages should sort you out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisbeast Posted March 3, 2010 Author Share Posted March 3, 2010 Yep, I'll see if maybe one of the traders on here could do it, never know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluecoup Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 where abouts in norfolk ? norwich area ? little tinklers still have a workshop i've use milliput epoxy putty on tanks before now, works fine. i'd just get it welded though, if the tank is just gravity feed to carbs you should be ok with no need to pressure test nothing on flebay ? replacement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barneybrendan Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 if you need to use the bike petrol patch is good very effective stuff. http://www.partridges.uk.com/catalog/garage-repairs-granville-petro-patch-petrol-tank-repair-compound-35ml-p-6449.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 Just a word of warning, be very carefull pressure testing it, a guy i know did this to our world endurance race bikes tank and blew the bottom out of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 Don't even attempt to weld it without getting all the fuel out first A friend of mine blew his garage door off welding a fuel tank.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisbeast Posted March 3, 2010 Author Share Posted March 3, 2010 I am just outside Dereham so not too far from Norwich. Im sure the tank is vacuum fed to the carbs, have'nt really looked on egay think i'd rather just get this one repaired. Used to go to Tinklers alot, is the other one called Tinkler still there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 JustGav said: Don't even attempt to weld it without getting all the fuel out first A friend of mine blew his garage door off welding a fuel tank.... You are kidding surely. Although saying that a local idiot went round stealing petrol a while ago but wont be doing it anymore as he used his zippo to see what he was doing when poking a hole in the cars petrol tank !! Emptying it is actually even worse as its the fumes that explode not the fluid. Best route is empty it then fill with water then wash out with petrol before refitting it after welding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraHuman Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 JustGav said: Don't even attempt to weld it without getting all the fuel out first A friend of mine blew his garage door off welding a fuel tank.... LOL, I was not referring to him DIY it but rather have it done professionally.As far as a pressure test goes, pump it up in increments,not full blast.I have done a few in the past with no probs.Gravity fed or fuel injected makes no difference if you have a hole in your tank.A hole is a hole and every one's a goal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 Dnk said: You are kidding surely. Although saying that a local idiot went round stealing petrol a while ago but wont be doing it anymore as he used his zippo to see what he was doing when poking a hole in the cars petrol tank !! Emptying it is actually even worse as its the fumes that explode not the fluid. Best route is empty it then fill with water then wash out with petrol before refitting it after welding. Not with water either! We were building a metro sofa... metro subframe, sofa on the top.. The fuel tank basically consisted of a cylinder with a lid top and bottom welded on. The top section had a threaded nut. He did all the welding, filled it with water and it didn't leak. Filled it with fuel and it leaked out of a pin hole. So drained the fuel, filled it with water, shook it round a bit and emptied the water out. He then proceeded to weld the hole, but when the metal got hot it ignited the vapours and effectively turned the tank into a rocket with a sudden blast out of the threaded hole. So rinsing with water doesn't work probably would have been better off leaving the water in the tank.. Oh well just another episode in our mad antics... oh and it took us ages to get the garage door back on the runners. Note to self, petrol and water don't mix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisbeast Posted March 3, 2010 Author Share Posted March 3, 2010 barneybrendan said: if you need to use the bike petrol patch is good very effective stuff. http://www.partridges.uk.com/catalog/garage-repairs-granville-petro-patch-petrol-tank-repair-compound-35ml-p-6449.html Thanks, used (well tried) one of these on a plastic tank years ago but didnt last too long! Bike has been off the road for about five years, just now looking to get it sorted. Dnk said: Just a word of warning, be very carefull pressure testing it, a guy i know did this to our world endurance race bikes tank and blew the bottom out of it. Hell, bet that went down well! JustGav said: Don't even attempt to weld it without getting all the fuel out first A friend of mine blew his garage door off welding a fuel tank.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 Sorry i didnt make it clear but leave the water in while welding it then wash out with petrol after. It wont be the heat igniting the petrol it has to be a flame or spark, you can squirt petrol onto a red hot exhaust and it wont ignite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 Dnk said: Sorry i didnt make it clear but leave the water in while welding it then wash out with petrol after. It wont be the heat igniting the petrol it has to be a flame or spark, you can squirt petrol onto a red hot exhaust and it wont ignite We know this now....... I'd make a great H&S person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 Chrisbeast said: Hell, bet that went down well! Nope he wasn't very popular, we only had 1 tank and we were off to Paul Ricard for the Bol Dor 24 hr the next week !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barneybrendan Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 Chrisbeast said: Thanks, used (well tried) one of these on a plastic tank years ago but didnt last too long! Bike has been off the road for about five years, just now looking to get it sorted. dont think its really suited for plastic ,ive used it to mend holes in sumps and the stuff has lasted years.i also mended the fuel tank on my boat 7 years later still not leaking.tends to work better if the surface is clean metal a nice small square cut out of the meterial will sort that hole out easily.Another thing is dont rush the stuff by just whacking it on.its a real cheap fix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 JustGav said: We know this now....... I'd make a great H&S person. woosh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluecoup Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 yeap big tinklers is the dealer on northumberland street, little tinklers on alysham road shut the shop, but still has a workshop or there is p+h on harvey lane not sure if they would weld though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrickTT Posted March 4, 2010 Share Posted March 4, 2010 http://www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail.asp?productID=8222&frostProductName=Motorcycle+Fuel+Tank+Repair+Kit&catID=25&subCatID=&FrostCat=Tanks&FrostSubcat= is the stuff you need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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