'07 S4RS first issue with tank expansion. What to do?

[KG4KGL]

Edit: I guess this could be an option unless Ducati resolves the issue once for all
http://www.ca-cycleworks.com/shop/catalog/ducati/fuel.html

Theses tanks from CA cycle works, what prevents the same fate from happening to them?

[dbran1949]

Theses tanks from CA cycle works, what prevents the same fate from happening to them?

It's my understanding that OEM tanks are nylon which is softened by the ethanol we are all unfortunately forced to put in our tanks. Couple the softened tank with pressure build up because EPA rules do not allow the tank to vent to the atmosphere; the tank literally blows up like a balloon. The cycle-works tanks are made of the same material as the new monster and hyper-motard tanks. It is plastic (think plastic kayak). The down-side is the tank can't be painted, or more accurately it can be painted but paint doesn't adhere too well. All new monsters and the hypers have the black plastic tank with skins to get around the paint issue

If the tank is hidden by skins it doesn't have to be too smooth, but for a monster the tank is the color of the plastic it was made from. Which so far looks like white, black, red, and natural which is translucent so you can see the fuel. Since there is no hiding the monster tank every little imperfection in the mold is visible in the tank. I was talking to Chris from CA cycle one afternoon while he was destroying his third high-speed grinder trying to polish the inside of a huge aluminum mold, that was sand-cast

[KG4KGL]

So if one were to vent the tank, would the tank return to normal? Assuming of course that the the tank was drained, and allowed to dry...

[dbran1949]

So if one were to vent the tank, would the tank return to normal? Assuming of course that the the tank was drained, and allowed to dry...

Tried it - appears that Ducati has invented a one-way balloon. Understand this is a very slow process. The bike is three years old now. The last time I had the bike serviced it came back without the tank latched in front. I didn't think anything of it until now. I noticed the rear hinge was as far back as it would go. So someone expected some tank stretch  (can't tell if it was shipped like this or happened during a service)

[Speeddog]

Some steel carbie tanks *may* fit some of the air-cooled FI bikes, but.....click on this and read up on it here before buying anything:
All about fuel tanks!

Converting from an OEM plastic to a OEM FI steel is a fairly expensive proposition.
AFAIK, none of the fuel pump/filter/regulator parts from the plastic tank will fit the steel tanks.
Rear hinge plate is different.
So, if you're buying all of that stuff new, it's more than $500 worth of parts.
The rubber pads and front latch will fit, though. 

The rear hinge plate can be slotted a little, but not enough to make the front latch totally clear on most of the plastic tanks I've seen.

The tanks are vented though the charcoal canister, so it's not a pressure buildup.

[dbran1949]

Well
The dealership says it will replace the tank under warrantee. we'll see I will post again if it actually happens

[krista]

Theses tanks from CA cycle works, what prevents the same fate from happening to them?

Great question. Cross linked polyethylene (PEX) is more dimensionally stable than nylon. I initially said that PEX simply was dimensionally stable, but it does experience some change with exposure to gasoline (though nothing as extreme as nylon).

It would be easy enough to buy a used EFI metal monster tank and adapt it to work on a plastic tank'd Monster. The issues to sort out are how to connect the fuel hoses and ensuring the wiring connector is the right one with correct pinout.

S4Rs fuel pump works in EFI tanks. All the newer Ducati pumps will work on all the Monsters with metal tanks. In that setup, you'll need to buy a strainer bag to attach to the bottom of the pump, hose, hose clamps, and an inline filter. Kinda like all the parts and gizmos in this pic of our home-made fuel flange:

[dbran1949]

I have heard that you can gain a little room by just elongating the hinge mounting holes. But I didn't look too closely. I just wanted to get the tank back on, so I removed the hinge pin, then after latching the front, forced the pin back in (a real PITA)