Plastic Tank problems: Discussion thread, see info thread sticky for updates

[wengr]

>>>There is a process they are following.  The bracket is done first to see if the tank's expansion is below a certain amount.  If the tank expands beyond that, they will replace the tank, with a slightly smaller one>>>

Should this be taken to mean that the replacement tanks are not new? I did not know that. What's the cosmetic condition of these replacements?

[ducatiz]

>>>There is a process they are following.  The bracket is done first to see if the tank's expansion is below a certain amount.  If the tank expands beyond that, they will replace the tank, with a slightly smaller one>>>

Should this be taken to mean that the replacement tanks are not new? I did not know that. What's the cosmetic condition of these replacements?

No it means the new tanks are the same material.

[1stduc]

The newer models have a fuel cell behind the tank covers, what you see is not a tank but a cover. The fuel cell underneath that cover can expnd, distort etc... and it is designed not to affect the cover. That is the engineering and the theory and as far as I know no one with a new monster has reported a problem with this new design. -  Gene

Thanks I was going to ask the same question.

[jsanford]

i'm getting the replacement tank coated before it's even installed on the bike.  The dealer set up a partnership with a local outfit.

I want my Monster to be a running heirloom to leave to my neice some day, and with E15 on the horizon this seems like the only way to go. 

[scduc]

Just had the new hardware installed. Guess they didn't think the tank was too bad. So now we have 2 months left and we are on our own.

[krista]

Just had the new hardware installed. Guess they didn't think the tank was too bad. So now we have 2 months left and we are on our own.

It's a pretty reasonable approach... if giving you another tank just like yours doesn't work, new hardware and (if necessary) a shorter seat.

~shrug~

[scduc]

The only grip I have with that, is the tank does have some distortion, not terible but some. now, with the time limit for replacements, I really doubt I will be able to get a new tank. which means I either will have to buy a new one from Ducati or hopefully IZ will have his on the market when I no longer am able to deal with the imperfections. Or the other option is to trade it in for the 848SF.

[krista]

Well, there is the option of the tank we make. But it looks different... and can't be painted. If enough folks wanted, we could do a blow molded Monster-shaped tank, but the mold isn't cheap. And I'd need a successful crowd-funding project to be motivated to make a product that competes with one I already have.

  Chris

[LowThudd]

How is it going with the MTS tank? I am looking at possibly getting a MTS 1000DS and the tank is an obvious concern.

[krista]

It's going well but the crowd funding part is a worry. Given how many people have been asking us for a Multi tank for years, I thought the easy part would be the crowd funding. If they get it, I'll make the blowmolding happen. If my Ticona rep sells his plastic to the plant I visited in Ohio, the tanks will be EPA/CARB legal and are paintable. This is how I would like all of our future tanks to be.

My rep at Ticona is also working with my rotational molding company to try and get it working in rotomolding. If that works, I'll be super happy, as rotomold tooling is like 1/3 the price of blowmolds.

[SpikeC]

I would buy a track style tank for an M1100!

[jsanford]

i'm getting the replacement tank coated before it's even installed on the bike.  The dealer set up a partnership with a local outfit.

I want my Monster to be a running heirloom to leave to my neice some day, and with E15 on the horizon this seems like the only way to go. 

Picked up the bike today, and it has the wrong badging on the tank.  Original was white, the new one has silver lettering.  Called the shop and apparently this is what Ducati is sending for all shiny black replacement tanks, and the solution is to have the clearcoating removed and white letter decals applied by a local painter.

I'm going to ponder it for a day or two.  The truth is, if I were to go to that bother I'd probably have the traditional serif'ed Ducati with the '90s-era "Monster."  Particularly as it sounds like it would be on my dime. 

[Wedge]

What happens when our replacement tanks deform???  I love my S2R-1000 but this is crazy.  Will Star Tron or any other ethanol treatment prevent tank damage?

[The Bearded Duc]

What happens when our replacement tanks deform???  I love my S2R-1000 but this is crazy.  Will Star Tron or any other ethanol treatment prevent tank damage?

The best route to take is to have the new tank coated with caswell, or something like that, before you mount it. However, if the replacement take has already had fuel in it I don't believe coating will work (someone else can check me on that).

Otherwise, I believe the result of the class action is that, after the specified time period, you're on your own. You can buy direct from DNA via your dealer or there are a couple of after-market options.

[duccarlos]

You can coat it even after fueling it. It's just a matter of letting it dry out.