Damaged Tank Repair(JB Weld?)

ducpainter · October 13, 2009, 03:05:38 PM

Quote from: Langanobob on October 13, 2009, 09:31:55 AM
Thanks, the stud welder is a good solution. I've used one on an old truck in an area that was only accessible from one side with great results. Guess I just forgot about it. I didn't like the slide hammer collet thing that was supposed to grip the studs so I modified the slide hammer to hold a pair of vise grip pliers. That worked good and had a much more positive grip on the stud.

Those have gotten much better, and smaller, since they were first introduced.

Quote from: LowThudd on October 13, 2009, 12:08:44 PM
This is the bike. The circled area is where the split is. There is a lip from the upper part of the tank overlaping the lower edge of the split.

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/LowThudd/untitled.jpg[/img]]

That looks like a stress crack as opposed to a 'cut'.

Langanobob · October 14, 2009, 12:47:08 AM

QuoteThat looks like a stress crack as opposed to a 'cut'.

I think it was me, not Lowthudd, that suggested it might be a slice or cut from a sharp object, before we got the picture. Surprising that the steel cracked like that by being folded, it must be an alloy or higher carbon content and is more brittle than a basic mild steel.

eesnas · October 14, 2009, 08:33:41 AM

Quote from: LowThudd on October 13, 2009, 12:08:44 PM
This is the bike. The circled area is where the split is. There is a lip from the upper part of the tank overlaping the lower edge of the split.

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/LowThudd/untitled.jpg[/img]]

Aside from the damage that tank is great

LOVE the black and gold, shame to see it like that... Ducpainter's work is amazing, he did my tank and I am very happy with it, I'd send it off to him.

LowThudd · October 14, 2009, 09:26:17 AM

Quote from: eesnas on October 14, 2009, 08:33:41 AM
Aside from the damage that tank is great

LOVE the black and gold, shame to see it like that... Ducpainter's work is amazing, he did my tank and I am very happy with it, I'd send it off to him.

I'd love to...and most likely will eventually. But I just can't afford it right now. My goal is to get it rideable for a few months until I can afford to properly fix it.

He Man · October 14, 2009, 09:45:53 AM

you can just buy a spare tank... i have one if it fits. it has a dent in it.

LowThudd · October 14, 2009, 10:15:13 AM

Quote from: He Man on October 14, 2009, 09:45:53 AM
you can just buy a spare tank... i have one if it fits. it has a dent in it.

WHat year is it? Needs to be a 02+ I believe to fit. Please correct me if I am wrong. I am interested if it will fit.

scott_araujo · October 14, 2009, 11:19:03 AM

From the pics that looks like a good crack/split. That could be big enough to move and crack open again if you just plug it with JB weld or similar. I find JB weld or other epoxy tank repair putties to be best for small areas that either rusted through or punctured but are otherwise sound.

If you really need to get it up and running take it to a tank shop and see how much they would charge to just weld or braze it up without knocking out the dent. Then rattle can paint for now. If you do try to JB weld it, drill a small hole at each end of the crack. That allows any stress from the end of crack to distribute over the circumference of the hole instead of concentrating at the end of the crack where it would tend to let it spread.

Ducpainter, am I overanalyzing here?

Scott

LowThudd · October 14, 2009, 11:41:47 AM

Quote from: scott_araujo on October 14, 2009, 11:19:03 AM
From the pics that looks like a good crack/split. That could be big enough to move and crack open again if you just plug it with JB weld or similar. I find JB weld or other epoxy tank repair putties to be best for small areas that either rusted through or punctured but are otherwise sound.

If you really need to get it up and running take it to a tank shop and see how much they would charge to just weld or braze it up without knocking out the dent. Then rattle can paint for now. If you do try to JB weld it, drill a small hole at each end of the crack. That allows any stress from the end of crack to distribute over the circumference of the hole instead of concentrating at the end of the crack where it would tend to let it spread.

Ducpainter, am I overanalyzing here?

Scott

From an up close(but amatuer) inspection, it apears as though the metal at that crese folded over its self, and the scraped to make a small leak. The leak is extremely slight, hardly noticable. I don't think it is a stress crack. The is a sharp edge on the lip of the crease from grinding against the ground(?). I don't think it will spread, but I'll look at it more closely once I have ownership of the bike. Thanks for the input.

scott_araujo · October 14, 2009, 11:47:07 AM

Ok, looks worse than it sounds. Still, a braze touch up will last indefinitely, JB weld may not. Good luck!

Scott

He Man · October 14, 2009, 12:01:12 PM

Quote from: LowThudd on October 14, 2009, 10:15:13 AM
WHat year is it? Needs to be a 02+ I believe to fit. Please correct me if I am wrong. I am interested if it will fit.

its an 02+ steel. According to the Tank thread ( see Acc and Mod or Tech stickys) it will fit all 02-05 bikes, and some 06/07 bikes (plastic tanks) I had the intention of borrowing a stud welder and pulling the dent, then blasting the surface paint away. Give it a slight polish and clearcoat. But Ive fallen out of love for my monster to care to much about looks. PM me if your interested.

ducpainter · October 14, 2009, 04:59:51 PM

Quote from: scott_araujo on October 14, 2009, 11:19:03 AM
From the pics that looks like a good crack/split. That could be big enough to move and crack open again if you just plug it with JB weld or similar. I find JB weld or other epoxy tank repair putties to be best for small areas that either rusted through or punctured but are otherwise sound.

If you really need to get it up and running take it to a tank shop and see how much they would charge to just weld or braze it up without knocking out the dent. Then rattle can paint for now. If you do try to JB weld it, drill a small hole at each end of the crack. That allows any stress from the end of crack to distribute over the circumference of the hole instead of concentrating at the end of the crack where it would tend to let it spread.

Ducpainter, am I overanalyzing here?

Scott

Scott,

You're not over analyzing...

but you are forgetting that heat applied to the tank in its' present condition will make the repair more difficult and the possibility of cracks due to heat induced brittleness more likely when the dent is pulled/straightened.

Plus...

a stud welder can't be used over brass.

To the OP...

I'd try the JB weld repair. It costs little and has a chance of working.

If it doesn't...

winter is almost here...

LowThudd · October 14, 2009, 06:02:29 PM

Quote from: ducpainter on October 14, 2009, 04:59:51 PM
Scott,

You're not over analyzing...

but you are forgetting that heat applied to the tank in its' present condition will make the repair more difficult and the possibility of cracks due to heat induced brittleness more likely when the dent is pulled/straightened.

Plus...

a stud welder can't be used over brass.

To the OP...

I'd try the JB weld repair. It costs little and has a chance of working.

If it doesn't...

winter is almost here...

Thanks, will do. And I'll PM you when I am ready for a repair/paint.

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Damaged Tank Repair(JB Weld?)