I've got a 99 Softail Heritage with an unusual factory color that's kind of unusual. Rather than strip it for paint, I've gathered some tins for a repaint. The tanks I found predate mine, with the petcock a few inches forward of my current tank. I'll get a new petcock but is it possible to replace the bung as well?

 

You would have to pay to have it done by a body shop. Remove the orig one an plate the hole an weld in the new one then smooth out the changes before going to paint.

 

No, I don’t mean relocate the bung. I’m asking if the existing bung is replaceable. I don’t know if it’s screwed in or pressed in or what.

 

welded in. replaceable, yes but the weld will be on the outside but with an experienced tig welder, should look presentable. another issue is this is not an hd part that is sold separately so you would have to make your own or find a tank builder.

 

Judging by the overall condition of the finish if it were me I'd have no problem sandblasting and repainting the tins. Putting them back on at a later date in that condition would most likely decrease the value rather than raise it.

 

I’m thinking about hot tanking them to clean them inside and out. As for the bung, it is clearly not welded on the visible side.

 

Welded in place from the factory. If you know what year the tanks are from, get a petcock for that year bike, after that gas flow is gas flow. Fill the tanks with white vinegar for 24 hours, drain, rinse with another gallon of vinegar, then rinse with water, then rinse with a bit of gasoline. They will look shiny new inside and it will not eat your paint. Good luck.

 

You will like the more forward postition of the petcock on the replacement tank, it is much easier to find while riding when you go on reserve.

My `89 has the petcock in that position, but I changed to a later year tank (wanted to change color but not repaint oem tanks, fenders etc).

That older tank probably has the larger internal openings for the fuel nozzle also, not the ridiculous small opening all the new bikes have.

Once you have cleaned the inside of the tanks, don`t coat them with that Kreem ****, it will peel off.

There are much better tank coatings out there if you decide to recoat.

I will never recoat a tank I have cleaned, rust is easy to clean out but peeling tank liner is a royal PITA to remove.

 

amen to that mr. dan
never had a liner last
wish hd did like the old ones with cadmium coating.