Fuel tank issue, new monster 796

[scout304]

I took my 2011 monster 796 out for a ride an wed., about 5 miles in my check engine light came on. Bike was running fine so didnt think too much of it. But, when I came to a stop I could smell gas. I stopped and looked and my tank is leaking fuel onto the exhaust header. I was able to get home and called my dealer that is 45 miles away. He instructed me to call roadside assistance to get the bike to him so i did. I called back hours later to make sure roadside had contacted him and was told they would call me the next day to pick bike up. Next day, Thurs. no word so I called at about 300pm he told me he couldnt get it today and would call in the morning. Next day, Fri. 400pm I called he told me wouldnt be able to pick up till Tues. I told him I was unhappy with the service and with the fact I keep getting pushed off and no one had called when they said they would. He seemed truely disinterested and told me they would pick up Tues. Aside from the total lack of professionalism and cust service, has anyone had a problem with the tank on newer monsters. If you look on the right side where the fuel pump assembly bolts to the tank, there is approx a 1mm gap between the fuel pump and plastic tank where it is leaking. It seems to me that the tank is defective. Can anyone else see a gap in that area or do the metal and plastic sit flush? Any known problems? They should pick up tomorrow, I'm just worried about the level of service I will get, and how long I will be down.

[timeforpoptarts]

Well, I don't plan on ever using this road side assistance now.

[Matiasneto]

let's how this ends up.

[Howie]

There have been some reports of leaking at the flange, the cure, a new tank under warranty.  They have to look though.

[booger]

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=52956.0

Similar issue, with a previous gen Monster. It seems the new tanks are made of Nylon PA-6 just like the old ones. Bing! So you new Monster owners are not exempt from the fuel tank issues the previous gens suffered from. Prevailing thought is that if you ride a new Monster you're safe but it's not so. 

Streetfighters, Multis, SCs, Superbikes, all of them have the same issues with the fuel tanks.

This is where CA Cycleworks could come to the rescue. Since the new Monster tanks are dressed with outer panels, Chris could make an inner fuel cell to directly replace the stocker out of PEX which is an ideal tank material. It's a lot of work to develop something like that. I have a feeling they'd sell like fresh crêpes on the Champs-Élysées however. Ducati apparently has no plans to resolve the issue.

Just go get your warranty replacement tank, but then be smart and have it sealed with Caswell's so you never have to deal with it again. I hear the new Monster fuel tanks cost in the neighborhood of ~$700 which is a lot better than the ~$1800 for the previous gens. What happens though, when it warps again, and again? Some owners here are on their third or fourth replacement tank. It's great on Ducati for replacing them on a goodwill basis, however I fear there may come a time when they stop. Then you are on your own. And what of the inconvenience associated with obtaining a new tank?

   

[thought]

the really gay part is that the euro spec new monster tanks are already PEX instead of PA6 :\

[scout304]

They picked bike up today, will see what they say.  I hope this doesnt take too long to get taken care of.  I will definately look into coating the tank.  I just dont believe i'm having this problem already.  I will keep informed of what dealer tells me.

[Trexx]

 Had the tank on my 2011 M696 replaced at 444 miles for the exact same problem, leaking at the fuel pump flange. It took Fast By Ferracci exactly one week to complete the repair, and that included ordering the tank from Italy. I couldn't have been more pleased with the service. Dealing with the roadside assistance was another story all together. Casey, the guy that answers the phone when you call for roadside assistance, was helpful enough, it seemed that the problem was getting a tow company to come out to pick the bike up.  Finally, after about a week of frustration and broken promises from various tow companies, Ferracci came to the rescue and came out and picked the bike up. (Let me stress that Ferracci was in NO way involved in the cluster f#*! that passes for roadside assistance.  They actually saved the day.)  The problem seemed to be that nobody can be bothered to bring a flatbed out just to pick up a motorcycle. Too hard I guess.  I did learn from Casey that if I wanted to rent a truck myself and transport my bike to the shop on my own, they would reimburse me up to $200. Not really my idea of "roadside assistance". Very unimpressed. Can't imagine how they would handle a real roadside breakdown.

[ungeheuer]

the really gay part is that the euro spec new monster tanks are already PEX instead of PA6 :\

Mine's made of XLPE (aka PEX)  .  I think the PA (nylon) tanks are only fitted to US market M696/M796/M1100.

This is where CA Cycleworks could come to the rescue. Since the new Monster tanks are dressed with outer panels, Chris could make an inner fuel cell to directly replace the stocker out of PEX which is an ideal tank material. It's a lot of work to develop something like that. I have a feeling they'd sell like fresh crêpes on the Champs-Élysées however. Ducati apparently has no plans to resolve the issue.

Ducati already makes (yeah, yeah, Acerbis makes it for Ducati) a PEX tank for your M696/M796/M1100 here's the p/n (non-abs model): 586.3.171.1A. 

[Curmudgeon]

Mine's made of XLPE (aka PEX)  .  I think the PA (nylon) tanks are only fitted to US market M696/M796/M1100.
Ducati already makes (yeah, yeah, Acerbis makes it for Ducati) a PEX tank for your M696/M796/M1100 here's the p/n (non-abs model): 586.3.171.1A. 

Do you happen to know the p/n for the ABS version? Should I have an issue, I'd prefer to have a pal in Germany order one for me less VAT plus DHL to the U.S. and not need to "dick" with it again!

Thanks

[scout304]

Actually, my problem with the roadside assistance is related to Fast by Ferracci.  When I called roadside they said they would call Ferracci as the tow company, so I had been dealing with them directly trying to get the bike picked up.  I hope the rest goes smoothly, so far I have not been happy with the service.

[thought]

Do you happen to know the p/n for the ABS version? Should I have an issue, I'd prefer to have a pal in Germany order one for me less VAT plus DHL to the U.S. and not need to "dick" with it again!

Thanks

i really wouldnt go that route... you're basically shelling out, i believe, 600, dollars for a tank that would be replaced under the duc warranty.  and a can of caswell costs $50 if you do it yourself, and $200 if a dealer does.  coating it is pretty simple too, you just have to be patient about swirling it around and because the new monster tank has the panels you can pretty much be ok with getting some of the epoxy on the outside of the tank with no issues.

[ungeheuer]

Do you happen to know the p/n for the ABS version? Should I have an issue, I'd prefer to have a pal in Germany order one for me less VAT plus DHL to the U.S. and not need to "dick" with it again!

Thanks

Sorry. My parts manual is only for the pre-abs models. 

i really wouldnt go that route... you're basically shelling out, i believe, 600, dollars for a tank that would be replaced under the duc warranty.  and a can of caswell costs $50 if you do it yourself, and $200 if a dealer does. 

^^ This seems like pretty good advice.

[scout304]

Well i guess good news is they told me tank will be replaced under warranty, bad news is they dont know when the tank will be in.  Missing out on all the good fall riding!