cracked gas tank mounts
Thread Starter
|
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,504
Likes: 150
From: ct
cracked gas tank mounts
Left side,both top and bottom mounts are cracked and traveling. Gonna need a small plate or something welded to the back side on each. Hope it can be done without ruining the paint !!
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 7
Likes: 1
From: Southwest Ontario, Canada
If you can, run the exhaust from a running car into the tank while you weld it to take car of any fumes. Rinsing an empty tank 3 or 4 times with water isn't enough and your tank might look more like a beach ball when you are done. I found that out the hard way.
Advanced
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 92
Likes: 19
From: Wisconsin
Im not a welder, But I didn't sleep at a holiday inn either.
I have a guy that welds all my tank repairs for me ( mostly shovelhead tanks), and has been a welder with his own shop for the best part of 40 years
what he has me do, is put it in a sink, run hot soapy water in it initially till almost full, then shake it around then empty..after wards, back in the sink, and let water run in the tank for about 15 minutes, dump shake again with some water in it and repeat.
after that he has no issue with Brazing... Now if it has a liner in it?? he wont touch it, he feels that gas and gas vapors get trapped* between the liner and the tank..
I have a guy that welds all my tank repairs for me ( mostly shovelhead tanks), and has been a welder with his own shop for the best part of 40 years
what he has me do, is put it in a sink, run hot soapy water in it initially till almost full, then shake it around then empty..after wards, back in the sink, and let water run in the tank for about 15 minutes, dump shake again with some water in it and repeat.
after that he has no issue with Brazing... Now if it has a liner in it?? he wont touch it, he feels that gas and gas vapors get trapped* between the liner and the tank..
Thread Starter
|
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,504
Likes: 150
From: ct
Im not a welder, But I didn't sleep at a holiday inn either.
I have a guy that welds all my tank repairs for me ( mostly shovelhead tanks), and has been a welder with his own shop for the best part of 40 years
what he has me do, is put it in a sink, run hot soapy water in it initially till almost full, then shake it around then empty..after wards, back in the sink, and let water run in the tank for about 15 minutes, dump shake again with some water in it and repeat.
after that he has no issue with Brazing... Now if it has a liner in it?? he wont touch it, he feels that gas and gas vapors get trapped* between the liner and the tank..
I have a guy that welds all my tank repairs for me ( mostly shovelhead tanks), and has been a welder with his own shop for the best part of 40 years
what he has me do, is put it in a sink, run hot soapy water in it initially till almost full, then shake it around then empty..after wards, back in the sink, and let water run in the tank for about 15 minutes, dump shake again with some water in it and repeat.
after that he has no issue with Brazing... Now if it has a liner in it?? he wont touch it, he feels that gas and gas vapors get trapped* between the liner and the tank..
Trending Topics
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,286
Likes: 64
From: SoCal
glidein wide,
Since you are talking about the mounting tabs and not the tank itself that have the cracks, I'm thinking that putting water into the tank and positioning the tank so the water is next to where the weld needs to be done will be sufficient.
Like Kingglide549 said, a TIG welder will concentrate the heat from welding enough that your tank liner and paint might survive the work with water in there to absorb the heat traveling outward from the weld.
You did not post pictures but the picture I imagine in my head looks to me like this is a possible repair with minimal damage.
Have you spoken to any welders yet about this repair?
Since you are talking about the mounting tabs and not the tank itself that have the cracks, I'm thinking that putting water into the tank and positioning the tank so the water is next to where the weld needs to be done will be sufficient.
Like Kingglide549 said, a TIG welder will concentrate the heat from welding enough that your tank liner and paint might survive the work with water in there to absorb the heat traveling outward from the weld.
You did not post pictures but the picture I imagine in my head looks to me like this is a possible repair with minimal damage.
Have you spoken to any welders yet about this repair?
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 10,291
Likes: 7,773
From: West Central FL
I'm not a welder but I have welded on a bunch of tanks. I wash them out with Tide Liquid laundry soap and hot water. I wash it , dump it, wash it again then put a garden hose in the filler and let it run for a few minutes to rinse. By then all the smell is gone.