Ducati Monster Forum

Moto Board => Accessories & Mods => Topic started by: MonsterInDark on January 20, 2012, 10:27:38 AM

Title: Tank Leaking problem....PLEASE ADVICE
Post by: MonsterInDark on January 20, 2012, 10:27:38 AM
Has anyone had issues with their tank slowly leaking? I researched online and people have said that there is a flange leak problem on some of the tanks after u lay down the bike or if you lift the tank full of gas too often...i think this is my problem....but i just got done repairing everything and repainting the bike after my crash  [bang] is there anyone who has encountered this problem that had a cheap and easy fix for it...?  :-[

Btw its a carbureted 2001 M750 dark

I was thinking of using a tank fixer epoxy putty or something along those lines...any input would be appreciated...
Title: Re: Tank Leaking problem....PLEASE ADVICE
Post by: ducpainter on January 20, 2012, 11:26:33 AM
It's leaking from the hinge.

You should have weld/braze reinforced the hinge before painting and coated.

You can try to epoxy reinforce around the hinge and coat, but I've only had that work once.

Perhaps the Caswell coating left thick with epoxy reinforcing outside.

Good luck
Title: Re: Tank Leaking problem....PLEASE ADVICE
Post by: atomic410 on January 20, 2012, 02:29:36 PM
Hate to sound like debbie downer but you're prob f@@ked.  I had this happen to my race bike and learned the weld before you crash lesson the hard way.  I tried the epoxy way and it never really worked.  problem is once it bends it weakens the hinge area so much that its really hard to get a good sealing weld in there now.  plastic tanks ftw [bacon]
Title: Re: Tank Leaking problem....PLEASE ADVICE
Post by: Speeddog on January 20, 2012, 03:41:49 PM
The tank can be brazed in the hinge area (likely where it's leaking) without damaging paint that can be seen with the seat on.

Then the inside coated with POR15.

It's the standard repair for the steel tanks.
Title: Re: Tank Leaking problem....PLEASE ADVICE
Post by: ducpainter on January 20, 2012, 03:45:50 PM
Quote from: Speeddog on January 20, 2012, 03:41:49 PM
The tank can be brazed in the hinge area (likely where it's leaking) without damaging paint that can be seen with the seat on.

Then the inside coated with POR15.

It's the standard repair for the steel tanks.
True...

but the paint will burn. Recoat stuff usually gets kind of messy. ;)
Title: Re: Tank Leaking problem....PLEASE ADVICE
Post by: MonsterInDark on January 20, 2012, 03:54:59 PM
lol....well luckily for me i didnt paint the underside of the tank so thats not an issue  ;D and speeddog how exactly does one go about brazing something? haha...and if you could PM me with how much you would charge if you do this kinda thing that would be great too!  [thumbsup]
Title: Re: Tank Leaking problem....PLEASE ADVICE
Post by: muskrat on January 20, 2012, 04:33:09 PM
and don't use JB weld.  When I did it that way it lasted about 5 months and went to shit.  Get it done right.
Title: Re: Tank Leaking problem....PLEASE ADVICE
Post by: ducpainter on January 20, 2012, 04:45:04 PM
Quote from: MonsterInDark on January 20, 2012, 03:54:59 PM
lol....well luckily for me i didnt paint the underside of the tank so thats not an issue  ;D and speeddog how exactly does one go about brazing something? haha...and if you could PM me with how much you would charge if you do this kinda thing that would be great too!  [thumbsup]
we're not talking the underside....

it won't show with the seat in place.

Title: Re: Tank Leaking problem....PLEASE ADVICE
Post by: Drunken Monkey on January 20, 2012, 08:39:33 PM
Quote from: atomic410 on January 20, 2012, 02:29:36 PM
plastic tanks ftw [bacon]

You may be the first person in the history of the board to say this  ;D

Mine's been braised once already and it's leaking again, so my only option is to re-braise and then do the tank treatment?

Ugh.  [roll]
Title: Re: Tank Leaking problem....PLEASE ADVICE
Post by: ducpainter on January 21, 2012, 08:04:06 AM
Quote from: Drunken Monkey on January 20, 2012, 08:39:33 PM
You may be the first person in the history of the board to say this  ;D

Mine's been braised once already and it's leaking again, so my only option is to re-braise and then do the tank treatment?

Ugh.  [roll]
Was it coated when it was brazed?

It should be coated as the weld/braze is a reinforcement. The coating seals the leak.
Title: Re: Tank Leaking problem....PLEASE ADVICE
Post by: atomic410 on January 23, 2012, 07:34:21 AM
I just said it to light a fire.  [popcorn] although for the application of a race bike that you'd care less about paint wavyness etc, its the way to go. they do crash well[bacon]
Title: Re: Tank Leaking problem....PLEASE ADVICE
Post by: MonsterInDark on January 23, 2012, 09:30:13 AM
Well i tried the an epoxy putty that is formulated for gas tanks so the gasoline wont erode it as well as a JB weld coating over that....im hoping that it will solve the problem for a little while until i can get up funds down the road to buy a replacement....ive decided that i will jut keep this one and fix it as necessary and then ill order the plastic race tank from CA cycleworks for my bike....and the tank is super sporty and looks alot like a a street fighter tank....so ill just have to buy the red ducati decals so i can keep my Ducati Rep up! haha so now i just have to make it a few months until i can save up the 500$ that the race tank will set me back lol....
Title: Re: Tank Leaking problem....PLEASE ADVICE
Post by: koko64 on January 23, 2012, 12:49:17 PM
Quote from: Speeddog on January 20, 2012, 03:41:49 PM
The tank can be brazed in the hinge area (likely where it's leaking) without damaging paint that can be seen with the seat on.

Then the inside coated with POR15.

It's the standard repair for the steel tanks.
+1
Get it repaired properly. Mine leaked on my balls and near the rear exhaust, think about the potential consequences of that..
Had mine carefully repaired and reinforced in that area. Then this black goo was applied to the area which is a back up sealant. It is impervious to fuel, metho, kero, turps, etc.  It is used to bond carbon fiber NASCAR bodywork and is an excellent sealant.

Then I only needed to do some touch up painting of the area hidden by the seat. There's no certainty on the paint risk, but the guy I use can make a tank from scratch, so he's exceptional.
Title: Re: Tank Leaking problem....PLEASE ADVICE
Post by: H-2 CHARLIE on May 07, 2012, 12:41:01 PM
 HEY GUYS  , my tank has the same leak 2001 SS steel tank up under the hinge area ... Do i dry the tank out with a air mover fan and run the pump dry before i braze it ?  ..#2 And must i use pour -15 too ? ...#3   MUST THE PUMP be removed  from inside to do the braze job ?
Title: Re: Tank Leaking problem....PLEASE ADVICE
Post by: H-2 CHARLIE on May 07, 2012, 01:47:21 PM
wow , post was taken down ?
Title: Re: Tank Leaking problem....PLEASE ADVICE
Post by: ducpainter on May 08, 2012, 03:59:16 AM
Quote from: H-2 CHARLIE on May 07, 2012, 01:47:21 PM
wow , post was taken down ?
Huh?
Quote from: H-2 CHARLIE on May 07, 2012, 12:41:01 PM
HEY GUYS  , my tank has the same leak 2001 SS steel tank up under the hinge area ... Do i dry the tank out with a air mover fan and run the pump dry before i braze it ?  ..#2 And must i use pour -15 too ? ...#3   MUST THE PUMP be removed  from inside to do the braze job ?
Just let it air dry if the inside isn't scaly with rust.

The brazing is to reinforce, the POR to seal.

Yes, the interior must be empty. The pump screen will melt.
Title: Re: Tank Leaking problem....PLEASE ADVICE
Post by: Nero-92 on May 09, 2012, 03:49:01 PM
I thought I had the leak at the hinge on my s4 but when I took the tank of and got it drained and cleaned up I found that the leak was from the seal in the fuel level sensor at the bottom of the tank at least I think thats what it does it screws out of the bottom of the tank might be worth a look.