Tank repair - any ideas please?

[Goofle]

Right. The tank is now stripped and I haven’t learned a deal more as I can’t see inside. What I have learned however is that people seem reluctant to apply a welding torch to a metal can containing a potential petrol vapour...
I’ve taken it to my local trusted independent Ducati specialist. He’s going to have a look inside with his camera, then, subject to the inside not resembling a rusty mess braze up the hole and make it tight again. He agrees that the rest of the tank seems (from a visual external inspection at least) ok so I’m thinking / hoping it’ll be ok. From there it’s going straight to a spray company he recommends and getting resprayed. There’s a few imperfections as well as the leak site so it’s all being done. If he agrees that’s it’s viable I’m going to drop off the mudguard (bought second hand to replace one that decided to make its own way down the A69) and the seat cowl to be done at the same time.
My only concern is I’ll end up with decent (hopefully!) painted parts but a shabby frame, engine and it’ll look odd at best, ridiculous at worst!

[BigOz]

Originally Posted by Goofle

What I have learned however is that people seem reluctant to apply a welding torch to a metal can containing a potential petrol vapour...

More than a few have been killed welding or cutting vessels that contained flammable vapour. As I've mentioned I have the owner let the tank sit dry and vent for a week or so then I add a few more days to that once I get it. After that, if it has any significant smell of petrol it gets longer to sit and vent or completely filled with a detergent/water solution then drained and allowed to dry. Once I'm happy to start I leave a compressed air line in it on a flow of a few litres a minute using a low-pressure regulator and finally I swap to purging it internally with a good flow of argon for at least 10 minutes before I spark up, even after all that it still doesn't feel like a good thing to be doing.

Originally Posted by Goofle

I’ve taken it to my local trusted independent Ducati specialist. He’s going to have a look inside with his camera, then, subject to the inside not resembling a rusty mess braze up the hole and make it tight again.

Braze is a good repair, it allows the problem area to be closed up and reinforced without melting the base metal which if it is thin just wants to melt back and leave a huge area to repair.

Should the repair be more than they want to attempt and if the tank is essentially scrap at that point let me know and if we can get it down hear to Kent I can take a look. I'm not a professional and would do my best but I don't want to damage an otherwise repairable tank if I run out of skill.

Originally Posted by BigOz

More than a few have been killed welding or cutting vessels that contained flammable vapour. As I've mentioned I have the owner let the tank sit dry and vent for a week or so then I add a few more days to that once I get it. After that, if it has any significant smell of petrol it gets longer to sit and vent or completely filled with a detergent/water solution then drained and allowed to dry. Once I'm happy to start I leave a compressed air line in it on a flow of a few litres a minute using a low-pressure regulator and finally I swap to purging it internally with a good flow of argon for at least 10 minutes before I spark up, even after all that it still doesn't feel like a good thing to be doing.



Braze is a good repair, it allows the problem area to be closed up and reinforced without melting the base metal which if it is thin just wants to melt back and leave a huge area to repair.

Should the repair be more than they want to attempt and if the tank is essentially scrap at that point let me know and if we can get it down hear to Kent I can take a look. I'm not a professional and would do my best but I don't want to damage an otherwise repairable tank if I run out of skill.

I like your honest view of this.

[Goofle]

Another quick update / thread revival.
I’ve just called in and see. My tank. It’s had a patch welded in the back. It looks as if it was originally badly welded there when manufactured then (badly) ground back to shape. However apparently the rest of the tank is solid however.
Tomorrow’s task is dig out the mudguard and then hopefully find the seat cowl (that’s a hope not an firm belief!) and take them along to be sent to the spray shop too. Things are slowly moving....

[Jez900ie]

Originally Posted by Goofle

Another quick update / thread revival.
I’ve just called in and see. My tank. It’s had a patch welded in the back. It looks as if it was originally badly welded there when manufactured then (badly) ground back to shape. However apparently the rest of the tank is solid however.
Tomorrow’s task is dig out the mudguard and then hopefully find the seat cowl (that’s a hope not an firm belief!) and take them along to be sent to the spray shop too. Things are slowly moving....

Christmas might yet still come to your house (garage or shed). You are having it done seasonal RED?

[Goofle]

Yet again, another quick update / thread revival.

Originally Posted by Goofle

....the rest of the tank is solid however.....

Errr, no. I’ve seen pictures of my tank today. It’s been stripped back to bare metal and there are large dents in which had been well disguised by filler. It looks as if it’s going to be even more of a monster (ahem) job than I thought! Still, I’m too far down this path to return now. Anybody want to buy a kidney? I’m going to have sell one to pay for this I fear!
I’d post pictures but for some reason I can’t...

[Jez900ie]

Originally Posted by Goofle

Yet again, another quick update / thread revival.



Errr, no. I’ve seen pictures of my tank today. It’s been stripped back to bare metal and there are large dents in which had been well disguised by filler. It looks as if it’s going to be even more of a monster (ahem) job than I thought! Still, I’m too far down this path to return now. Anybody want to buy a kidney? I’m going to have sell one to pay for this I fear!
I’d post pictures but for some reason I can’t...

Ah well you're almost there now...

Re pics, postimage.com is your friend!

[Luddite]

Originally Posted by Jez900ie

Ah well you're almost there now...

Re pics, postimage.com is your friend!

Almost, Jez, but not quite! www.postimage.org/signup

Once you've uploaded your picture, Goofle, you should be presented with these options...



Click on the blue 'copy' icon next to the 'hotlink for forums' address and paste it into your post.

If you preview the post before submitting it, the picture will appear in the preview if you've done it correctly.