Dent in Tank
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Dent in Tank
My 02 FXDWG fell over when a strap broke in my cargo trailer. It made me sick since I only had it for a month. I call Harley Davidson and I spoke to alot of professional body men. They all said the best thing to do was either live with it or replace the tank all together. Well I just couldnt live with a dent on my brand new bike. So I ordered a brand new tank painted with my exact paintfrom Harley, thank god my insurance paid for it cause it cost $995.00!!!
Banned
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 17,265
Likes: 21
From: Los Angeles, CA
RE: Dent in Tank
You can check with a paintless dent removal person, although I hear it is tough to remove dents from a tank depending on the location of the dent. When I got a dent in my tank I got a new seof tins off of ebay for $400. fenders and all...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 24,171
Likes: 16
From: Metro Atlanta
RE: Dent in Tank
I feel your pain. I did the same exact thing in the same location a few months ago. Everytime I hopped on it, it just bugged the heck out of me. I called the Harley dealership first and found out the ridiculous cost of replacing the tank, like $800 (and that's not installed). I then called around to various local shops to have it repaired and nobody felt that it could be popped out by using the paintless dent removal method. They all suggested drilling a hole, pulling the dent out, and repainting the tank to match which would have run in the ballpark of $200-300 or more. I then searched on ebay and found a brand new matching tank from a Harley dealership in NM that had been sitting around in an unopened box for $150. Couldn't beat that so I jumped on it.
Advanced
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Sandy, UT
RE: Dent in Tank
I know I'm a noob here, and considering the bike dropped I assume it's a good sized dent, but I've heard of people taking dry ice and holding it on the dent until frost is visible around the dent and then letting the area warm up again. It is supposed to pop the dent out. Never done it myself, but if you're replacing the tank anyway, might be worth the couple of dollars in dry ice to see if it works.
Anyway, I feel for you man. A few years ago I parked my bike in a parking lot that had been repaved within a few weeks. It was hot enough that day that my jiffy stand sunk into the asphalt and when I came back out, my baby was missing a mirror, handlebars were jacked up, tank was dented, and left saddlebag was scuffed all to hell. Still get nauseous thinking about it....
Anyway, I feel for you man. A few years ago I parked my bike in a parking lot that had been repaved within a few weeks. It was hot enough that day that my jiffy stand sunk into the asphalt and when I came back out, my baby was missing a mirror, handlebars were jacked up, tank was dented, and left saddlebag was scuffed all to hell. Still get nauseous thinking about it....
Novice
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Dent in Tank
Had the same sort of thing happen to me. Jiffy stand gave out and the bike did a slow fall to the ground. It put a dent in the tank from the asphalt and scuffed up the clear and got into the decal. I took it to the local body shop that does all of the body work for the local stealer and he said that he could repair the tank for around $300 and that the paint job would be better than the factory, so I am going that route.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,576
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Dent in Tank
The dealer dented my tank. They said they didnt. anyway they got a paintless dent removal guy fixed it up good as new.If the dent is on the side and not cloce totheseat thanthey should be able to fix it.
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 808
Likes: 4
From:
RE: Dent in Tank
..that's a first..I have never seen a dent of any size that didn't require either replacement or bodywork and paint.. seen ton's of riders ask about "popping" dents out but never seen one that was sucessful.
Later
Later
Banned
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,706
Likes: 7
From: Woodstock, Ont , Can
RE: Dent in Tank
Have to agree. Was a bodyman in my last life. You may reduce it but it will always show. A skilled person can metal finish it or use lead or bondo, but you still have to paint it in the end. At least now you have a reason for custom paint.
Ron
Ron