My gas tank has a nice dent in the top, over near the edge but mostly in a single plane so I remain almost ready to try some manner of slide-hammer driven dog-legged hookeroo and ponk this dent out myself. It's just off the tank vent and forward from there. It's a nice alloy tank made in Ireland by Asa Moyce back in the day so I very much wish to keep it functional but not as sad looking as is now. It doesn't leak so it's not a creased bend, more a simple ding. Not sure how it got there unless it happened while the TT1 was upside down after a low-side in turn 10 and I was sliding along on my sorry arse back a year ago. Now I use tire warmers but that hasn't helped the dent any at all since.
Anyone have experience with the repair of a dented alloy tank can offer encouragement or fair warning, please?

Cheers,

F McDermott

Hi Fran,
Is that the endurance bike? Contact your teammate, he may have some good input. I gave him a heads up.
Bill

could you fill it with water, block it all off and freeze it?

This video will be very helpful for you Fran. This guy has some really bad ass maintenance tips.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB0eRYHtpYo

I'm not a fan of fire and such in a workshop and near bikes with magnesium and other exotic materials.apart from the fact that the tank he's "mending" is NOT a Goldwingtank (as he stated), wouldn't it be more practical to use water and then apply pressure.
The buildup would be more gradual.
Making sure other straight parts on the tank will not be modified, put some clamps on them.
If all fails, go to Your friendly Audi-dealership, they know how to repair aluminium sheetmetal.
They could buttweld a piece of thread to the tank, then pull it outward.

ciao
ducadini

Does anyone know where I can buy some methylethylcasetone?

I hear it is "bad ass" stuff.

Bill,

Yes, the 790, that Verlicchi big-tube frame has been going and going since 1987 and the tank since '88 so no surprise it has acquired some patina. It still doesn't leak at all but the old girl deserves better after years of faithful service.

All the best!

fm

Fran, a while back (2013?), Lou posted a photo of his special "knocker" (compared to his regular one), that he made for this very purpose. I think he gave it a Ducati Part Number. Maybe you can borrow it from him.

I think if you remove the gas cap assembly you will be able to get to it easily. Then you will a heart surgeon to install the 5mm nuts again.

MikeV

Try Googling Paintless Dent Repair and find someone in your area. They can do some pretty amazing stuff with their picks and dollies. With the filler assy. out of the way access is great [unless there is a baffle in the way] so prying from the inside would be pretty easy. I popped out a smaller [much] dent with a steel ball welded to a bent rod and tapped away from the inside of my SS tank once, only took me about 8 beers!

The filler hole looks big enough to get a hand in. I enlarge r6 Yamaha tanks through the bottom,pump removed and its steel but is fairly pliable,i,m sure the alloy will present no problem. I use the head from a rubber mallet with the shaft cut off,i,ts not really destroying the tool as I find many other uses for it. Only problem,the wife has to pour cold water and fairy liquid on my hand to get it back out!!.But its worth the pain and loss of a bit skin.Try as I did,i couldn,t get the wife to stick her hand in.