Aftermarket 4.3 gal Monster fuel tank ready for Carb'd models

[motolocopat]

Chris,
I don't know that these tanks will do it but something to look into and advise customers would be the possible "Yellowing" of the Natural Tanks. Us "DirtBike" guys are all to familiar with this phenom on all aftermarket natural plastic tanks.

They don't maintain the nice new color like the colored ones do. Now the advantage especially in racing duty where you may not have a level gauge is that it is a lot easier to actually see the level of the fuel.

Nice job on them and hope you sell lots of them.

[krista]

Thanks. Yes, but a larger issue is the tank finish and how scratchable the PE is. This is why the price is low and we're introducing it as a track tank -- it should be bought with expectations slightly different from a OEM tank.

Progress on the MTT43 is stalled a little bit. The HM69 Hypermotard tanks got done and I've been 100% focussed on those. I want to try and improve the finish on the MTT43 mold and then we're working out a solution for the fuel flange area. We have a specially designed part to go in there but it is getting warped upon part cooling. I suspect that will be fixed by putting a fixture on it.

I'm trying to block sand the mold the same way auto body guys work car bodies: "sponge" block, 1200 grit, 1500, 2000, then 3000........ I'm kinda  but I'm stubborn about getting the optimal quality out of my products so it will be and before too long.

Chris

[stopintime]

Wondering if it would be possible to have some kind of vinyl heat shrunk around the tank? Or maybe dip the whole thing in a liquid vinyl - if that even exists as an option? Color by choice?

[krista]

Wondering if it would be possible to have some kind of vinyl heat shrunk around the tank? Or maybe dip the whole thing in a liquid vinyl - if that even exists as an option? Color by choice?

Not sure. That's part of the joy of working with plastic: the possibilities are truly limitless. The folks I have regular contact with are well into their normal mode of operation. They're not closed minded: they just don't have need to try weird stuff so they don't. Ultimately, people have a real hard time making things stick to polyethylene. I don't know if cross linking the polyethylene makes it worse.

They've talked about the concept of a "double shot" where one plastic goes for a round and then they run the part again with another plastic. They're willing to try anything for which I can provide industry reference / experience on. Their previous experience with duron, delrin, nylon, and double shot parts went poorly. So I am now pretty careful about mentioning off the wall stuff until I'm told by someone in that industry "yeah, we've done rotomolded polyethylene".   

So my initial thoughts about a vinyl is that it will bubble up, tear and peel off, or simply not work at all. It would need to bind with the polyethylene somehow. As always I want to be proven wrong. One thing I know[/i/ about this plastic stuff is that the more I learn, the more I realize I don't know much at all.

Chris

[Roscoe]

This is the case on dirt bike tanks and graphics. They would bubble up, so the kits I've seen are perforated.

[Mac_48]

if you figure out a way to paint them without problems I think I may need to get one of these............(then I'll need to get a 749 fairing to my on my monster too

[Raux]

would this be the reason the new bikes have a plastic panels over the tanks?

[ducatiz]

would this be the reason the new bikes have a plastic panels over the tanks?

oh man, i think that's the reason... ugh...

[corey]

would this be the reason the new bikes have a plastic panels over the tanks?

one of many. see the "tank issues" threads... 

[krista]

would this be the reason the new bikes have a plastic panels over the tanks?

It probably saves customers $$$ to have rotationally molded PEX tanks underneath covers instead of nylon tanks that are painted.

Various ways tank under covers saves Ducati (and us) money:

• The tanks are much less costly -- in both materials and that they don't get painted
• Less $$$,$$$ tied up in the supply system
• Not having color choices means drastic reduction in inventory: 1 part (black), vs: red, black, dark, silver, etc etc
• Shipping and handling is less costly because PEX tanks can be scratched and it doesn't matter
• Cost savings from opening boxes and not having to return a tank because it is scratched
• Easier for dealers to serve customers through less wait, less cost
• Better for the environment

I like how the Hypermotard is done... 2 painted injection molded side panels and a "dark" injection molded top panel. IMHO, this is the way of the future. Given the problems Ducati is having with the nylon tanks absorbing gasoline and deforming means we will probably see tanks under covers on more models.

Chris

[Triple J]

I like how the Hypermotard is done... 2 painted injection molded side panels and a "dark" injection molded top panel. IMHO, this is the way of the future. Given the problems Ducati is having with the nylon tanks absorbing gasoline and deforming means we will probably see tanks under covers on more models.

Chris

*threadjack*

I saw one of your tanks on a Hyper this weekend. Very nice! 

[krista]

I saw one of your tanks on a Hyper this weekend. Very nice! 

Ah cool, thanks! 

[DucatiTorrey]

They've talked about the concept of a "double shot" where one plastic goes for a round and then they run the part again with another plastic. They're willing to try anything for which I can provide industry reference / experience on. Their previous experience with duron, delrin, nylon, and double shot parts went poorly. So I am now pretty careful about mentioning off the wall stuff until I'm told by someone in that industry "yeah, we've done rotomolded polyethylene".   


Chris

they do double and triple rotomolding in the sea kayak industry. This may work actually. Take a look at Capella kayaks.

[sleepyhead]

hey Chris, status check?  I know you were working on the hyper tank but I'd really like to get a tank for my s4rs   thanks

[krista]

hey Chris, status check?  I know you were working on the hyper tank but I'd really like to get a tank for my s4rs   thanks

I was kind of waiting on the fuel flange plates we were having made ... and they came in today. I am block-sanding the molds to try and improve the finish. Both sides are finish sanded, one of the sides is mostly machine polished. The top mold hasn't had any work done yet at all.

You actually have Intuit and Micro$oft to blame for the current delay, though... we use quickbook$ for accounting and payroll (their payroll is super easy) ... well, they are discontinuing the use of QB06 for payroll this month, forcing us to upgrade. So as to continue shipping items and earn money, I bought a new computer and XP pro SP3 license to do the QB09 stuff to... Our setup didn't work. So I worked on it for over a week. Then fired the AMD and ran out and bought a Lenovo 3GHz Core Duo, which we were able to make work (and using now). The lenovo is a great computer and is surprisingly faster than the old P4 and the Quad Core AMD we were trying to make work. Best of all, it was a return, so was $379. I have got to say I'm really tired of watching windows restart. Holy crap it's bad. Linux is so amazing. I believe I can have a linux web server completely set up faster than it takes to install XP Pro and QB09.

Soooo? I'm back on it and hope it'll be ready sooner than later.

Thanks!
Chris