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07-02-2020, 05:17 PM | #1 |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Telford
Bike: S4r
Posts: 175
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Tank leaking at hinge
Traced the source of my leak to the hinge on my tank. Been emailing a few fuel tank repair specialists and mentioned that the solution on all the forums was to get the hinge brazed. The quotes I’m getting are in the region of £180 which I don’t know if that’s excessive?
I was thinking of getting this https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F283726218589 Anyone know if it will fit a 2006 S4R? |
07-02-2020, 05:45 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: East London
Bike: Multiple Monsters
Posts: 9,733
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If yours is leaking at the hinge, it’s steel. The one you posted a link to is plastic (S4RS)’ which poses two potential problems:
Your fuel pump/filter assembly is different and won’t fit the new tank, you’ll need a new flange/pump assembly. Also, since it’s a plastic tank it may have suffered from swelling due to ethanol in fuel (I’m suspicious of a ‘rare’ part being dold at less than half the new price. Plus once you’ve added potential import duty/tax, brazing looks like quite a good option. |
07-02-2020, 08:57 PM | #3 | |
Pleasantly surprised!
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Stoke on Trent
Bike: M900ie
Posts: 780
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Quote:
https://www.frost.co.uk/por-15-por-p...kaAnibEALw_wcB PS. I have used it a few times on bikes including a Suzuki dirtbike I currently own. Never had a problem, no repairs have ever failed.
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Monsters don't hide under the bed, they sleep inside the shed |
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07-02-2020, 09:16 PM | #4 | |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Telford
Bike: S4r
Posts: 175
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Quote:
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07-02-2020, 09:22 PM | #5 |
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: East London
Bike: Multiple Monsters
Posts: 9,733
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You won’t ever remove POR15 once it’s set in the tank, however if the hinge is still flexing under load, there’s a chance it may crack and become ineffective around the damaged area. I’ve used it quite effectively on one of my tanks but have subsequently dented the tank and can’t push the dent out, it needs filling and a full respray. I’d recommend the sealer as a last resort given this experience.
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07-02-2020, 09:37 PM | #6 | |
Pleasantly surprised!
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Stoke on Trent
Bike: M900ie
Posts: 780
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Quote:
If trying it out is £22, and getting it brazed (which might fail) is a good deal more and will damage your paintwork, since it is winter and you probably have some spare time... This stuff is not like any other epoxy. Be sparing if you use it. Rubbing it down is very hardwork because it is so hard.
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Monsters don't hide under the bed, they sleep inside the shed |
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07-02-2020, 09:43 PM | #7 |
aka Phil
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: derry
Bike: M900
Posts: 376
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Maybe you could shop around for a braze at a reasonable price? £180 seems excessive to me.
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08-02-2020, 07:24 PM | #8 |
Too much time on my hands member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Shipbourne
Bike: M900
Posts: 1,422
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Agree at £180 the vendor gave you a "discouraging" price - he did not want the job but would take it for a comfortable price.
This should be a lot less than 2 hours work plus a bit of gas £100 absolute tops. I got my cracked alternator case aluminium welded for £80. |
08-02-2020, 08:07 PM | #9 |
Lord of the Rings
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Norwich
Bike: M900sie
Posts: 5,963
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A fellow brazed and tested mine for forty quid, six years ago. Its been no trouble, stronger than before probably.
POO15 guaranteed for two years... Good luck with that! I have another tank from Jez900ie, which is Silver soldered and is equally successful. Jez reports using it for some time and no leaks... Yes common problem with the hinge cracking I'm afraid. Caused by lifting the tank with too much fuel in it. The weight twists the bracket and snaps the spot weld. Brazing and Silver soldering both use a flux, which causes the molten metal to seek into tiny cracks and gaps. POO15 can only ever sit on the outside masking the leak, it cannot add any strength... Leave it in the shop.
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26-02-2020, 06:26 PM | #10 |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Telford
Bike: S4r
Posts: 175
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Spoken to a welder today he reckon he can get away with tig welding it?
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27-02-2020, 09:00 AM | #11 |
Junior ah to be young
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: London
Bike: Multiple Monsters
Posts: 2,058
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Get it brazed. It fixes it no issues each time. As its not visible good welder will make sure you will not need to repaint top of tank but do use something to secure bottom as paint will burn off.
Also do not do minimal brazing again its not visible so tell them to go crazy and rule 1 is you do not want leaking.
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27-02-2020, 08:21 PM | #12 | ||
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Chatham
Bike: Multiple Monsters
Posts: 714
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Quote:
Quote:
I don't doubt it could probably be TIG welded successfully but brazing can have the advantage of lower heat input into the job so less damage to the local paint and it runs a lower risk of finding a thin or corroded spot and burning though since you don't melt the base metals when brazing. The first tank I repaired was old and rusty so I brazed it and I've stuck with that method of repair since. £180 may not be as expensive as it seems, depending on what the welder is required to do to complete the job. A lot of welders will turn down used fuel tank work straight away as it's risky if your not careful and an insurance nightmare I imagine. The tank needs making safe removing all residual fuel and vapours. (I'd re-do this even if the owner assured me it was done.) The paint needs removing in the area of the repair, even the little bits trapped under the edges of the spot-welded hinge or they will outgas when welded over and result in a porous weld or braze. This part can feel like it takes half an eternity. The actual repair. Leak testing. The quickest part of the job is the actual repair. It can be tricky to work between the hinge and the back seam of the tank where the bottom is resistance welded to the top, but the rest is easily accessible. If the tank arrived paint removed spotlessly in the area of the repair, cleaned, degreased and the owner said he didn't want the repair leak tested before return then £180 is expensive. If it arrived unprepared with fuel residue still inside and the owner wants it repaired and the repair tested not to leak then you could be at it for a full working day plus consumables and £180 sounds too little for someone trying to make a living and feed their family.
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Sideways is the new forward! Last edited by BigOz; 27-02-2020 at 09:05 PM.. |
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27-02-2020, 09:02 PM | #13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Chatham
Bike: Multiple Monsters
Posts: 714
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Tank plugged up and with 2.5 psi of air in it confirming the leak before starting. The easy part brazed and before changing my torch setup to work around the vertical hinge parts.
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Sideways is the new forward! |
15-03-2020, 10:10 PM | #14 |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Telford
Bike: S4r
Posts: 175
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Since I have had to cancel my trip to New York because of the Coronavirus , I now have a bit of money to spend. I’m thinking of sending my tank to specialist to be refurbished and rust proofed. Has anyone else done this? And can recommend anyone and give me a rough estimate of price?
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23-03-2020, 09:26 AM | #15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Powys
Bike: M900
Posts: 334
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hi,
I recently had a few issues with a leaky tank, documented in the thread in 'Mods and How To... |
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