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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Am I missing something? /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1356020679 Message started by newriverjunkie on 12/20/12 at 08:24:39 |
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Title: Am I missing something? Post by newriverjunkie on 12/20/12 at 08:24:39 I did a search and looked for it in the tech section but can't seem to find a thread on this issue anywhere. I filled up my bike this morning and when I got to work the tank was leaking from the bottom by the seat. It is a 2002 with 225xx on the clock...modified but nothing done to the tank. It was -40 degrees this morning and I'm wondering if I'm just missing some kind of overflow or if I'm not going to have any gas when I get back to the shop. Am I just blind or??? :-? |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by newriverjunkie on 12/20/12 at 08:25:42 Let me fix that...it was under 40 degrees...not 40 below...sorry. |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by Dave on 12/20/12 at 08:28:59 There are only two factory issued openings in the tank - the filler neck where the cap is and the opening at the bottom where the petcock is attached. |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by newriverjunkie on 12/20/12 at 08:31:26 Dang I was hoping you wouldn't say that and I was just missing an overflow... >:( |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by oldNslow on 12/20/12 at 08:32:41 If the leak isn't from the gasket between the petcock and the tank, or from the hose between the petcock and the carb, I'm thinkin' you've got a hole in your tank. Or the gas cap isn't on tight. |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by newriverjunkie on 12/20/12 at 08:58:21 There was definitely not any gas on the top of the tank...I'll check the hose at the carb...didn't even think of that. If it was leaking there it would cause it to blow up onto the bottom of the tank right? I noticed it when I got off the bike but didn't have a whole lot of time to check it out to thoroughly...just enough to see that it was dripping off the bottom of the tank. Sometimes jobs suck ;) but we got to have them to live so...I'll give it a look when I get back to the shop this afternoon and let y'all know what I find. Hopefully it's nothing to serious. |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by newriverjunkie on 12/20/12 at 21:13:27 Ok...got home and have just now stopped working on the bike...hopefully I got it fixed. Ended up taking the tank off and found that the whole mount at the rear of the tank had started to crack and was actually pulling holes in the tank where the spot welds were. So I threw some JB weld on it to hold it in place (and thought I covered the hole). Let that set then checked to make sure I got rid of the leak...which I hadn't. So I covered it some more with JB weld and let that set. Still leaking so I had to put some perma-seal liquid gasket (I was out of JB weld at this point) on it and I'm going to try to get some sleep and check it again in the morning. I was kicking around the idea of putting a different tank on the bike anyways so I guess here's my answer. The guy I bought my bars from has a 883 Sportster tank that I'm trying to see if he'll sell me on the cheap...then I guess I get to tackle fabing up some mounts for that this weekend. Then will have to find an auxiliary speedo also, might run without one for awhile since they're not required here in SC. Guess it wouldn't be a bike if there wasn't always something new that "has" to be changed or "has" to be worked on...at least that's what I tell the wife. ;) :P |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by Serowbot on 12/20/12 at 21:37:51 So, that's why, they rubber mount the tank... :-?... |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by Boofer on 12/20/12 at 22:52:07 NAPA used to sell a two part Play-Doh type epoxy for car gas tanks that went on the outside after thorough kneading to mix them. The main thing is getting the surface clean...without making sparks, of course. Be sure your rubber grommets are all there and installed correctly. Flexing is not good for sealing. |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by Paraquat on 12/21/12 at 06:15:13 Gas will eventually dissolve JB weld. At least it did on a fuel rail for a car I had once. Vibration might've played a factor. --Steve |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by oldNslow on 12/21/12 at 06:17:14 I don't think JB Weld or any other stick on stuff is going to work for very long even if you get it sealed for now. My suggestion is to drain the tank , flush it with water and then take it to a radiator repair shop and let them fix the crack. Those guys are pretty good a sealing cracks in stuff like this. I've had auto gas tanks repaired by radiator shops a few times. Then make sure when you reinstall the tank on your bike you have all the rubber cushions that Suzuki put on there when it was new. |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by arteacher on 12/21/12 at 07:32:07 Those rad shop guys can do wonders. My Land Cruiser developed a pin hole leak on the side of the tank. Without taking the tank off or draining it, they soldered a penny over the hole. They charged me $10.01. ;D $10.01... ;D ;D ;D... - Serow... |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by Dave on 12/21/12 at 08:22:09 I really don't think your tank is worth fussing with too much - unless it has some special paint job you are trying to keep. Replacement tanks are pretty cheap on eBay. The hard part about trying to fix this tank is that the cracks and leaks could be located behind the welded on mount - and you can't access those areas without first cutting the mount off so you can get behind it. |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by WD on 12/21/12 at 09:27:39 Any good old fashioned full service radiator shop can fix it. Had a tank repaired in 99, they soldered any cracks and pinholes and then lined the tank with a bake in alcohol proof liner. All I had to do was repaint the tank. Cost was around $35 then. Well worth it for that antique bike tank, but if the costs are comparable just pick up a tank from the internet and swap it out. Sportster tanks came in 4 lengths, some can be made to work, some can't. King Sportster tanks are way too long. Demin should be able to tell you what era is the easiest to adapt if you want to go with that kind of tank. He's done a few of them. |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by newriverjunkie on 12/22/12 at 18:39:27 Thanks for all the advice guys! That's why I joined the site. On a side note (kind of). I was talking to a buddy of mine who I occasionally ride with, he has a '74 Honda CB 750 (sweet looking ride, all original). I was telling him about my problems with my tank and mentioned the idea of putting a Sportster tank on in replacement. He got all offensive and said he'd rather put pedals on my bike than put a Sportster tank on it, amongst other things. It got me wondering...why the disdain between HD riders and non-HD riders? We all ride for the same reasons right? So why on this green earth does putting a Sportster tank on my bike make it such a bad bike??? Just a wee bit confused. I mean he went to the point of saying he wouldn't ride with me anymore...it's all water under the bridge for me because I'll ride everyday whether he wants to ride with me or not I'm just boggled right now...a bike is a bike. :-? |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by WD on 12/22/12 at 21:25:05 Hold over from the outlaw clubs of the 1960s, much of the membership rolls were WW2 veterans. You rode an Allied built bike or you didn't ride, and you never contaminated your American or English bike with Oriental parts. When the Japanese Big 4 became the world standard in the 70s and 80s, the same held true in reverse. Don't put HD parts on your metric, keep it pure. Still a serious blood feud between many in the SAE/Whitworth camp against the "rice riders" and vice versa. Your friend is also a victim of the "Sportsters suck" train of though (I've had several, most were beyond suck, but, a running ride is better than no ride, even if it is a "chick" bike). Or he lipped off to an old time rider and was shown "the error of his ways" (got his a$$ handed to him on a platter). Ignore him. If he's that stuck on it, that's his problem. My Savage has an English style 7" side mount headlight, full FL rear fender, 50s HD style dirt track fuel tank (with first generation Rebel 250 mechanical petcock), 15" apehanger bars... and a Kawasaki VN800A 2 up seat (with studded out Mustang seat cover to match the saddle bags)... and Intruder 800 rear shocks (off my wife's bike, which uses Savage shocks and a Mustang Royal Duke mini king and queen seat). Your bud would probably have a stroke... ;D |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by newriverjunkie on 12/23/12 at 11:49:24 WD I would love to see some pics of your ride. Like I said his comments are water under the bridge for me...I'm gonna put whatever tank on that I want to. I made the comment that I've got HD handle bars (10" mini-apes) on the bike already and he said that was different because handle bars are handle bars no matter what name was on them :o :-? Anyways...I just have to decide what tank I want on there...thinking about going down to the local salvage shop this Saturday after I get back in town and looking at some after market tanks to see what I like the best. |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by WD on 12/23/12 at 14:02:56 http://ravenscroftart.net/watchtower/chikstik1web.jpg http://ravenscroftart.net/watchtower/pokeydone1.jpg Seat and paint are different now. And it has floorboards now. Haven't finished the repaint so no current pics. Bike is in a bunch of pieces in the barn, home office, storage trailer, storage shed, down at my blacksmith shop... |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by newriverjunkie on 12/23/12 at 14:11:17 Sweet lookin ride WD! I'll try to figure out how to get pictures off my phone uploaded. I was gonna wait till my ride was done to post pics. So far I've got those mini-apes, no front fender, a bobbed rear fender (bobbed to the side bracket) and some custom bags made out of two 5.56 ammo cans that I welded to the side brackets. I was waiting to have a second car so I could put the bike on a stand and do some work to it, mainly paint it. But now I guess I got to figure out what tank I'm gonna put on it to before I can paint it. I'll get pictures soon...at least that's what I keep telling myself. |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by WD on 12/24/12 at 01:36:33 I've also got a twin leading shoe drum front wheel I may put back on (disc looks goofy and doesn't work right). Have to decide if my rims will be gloss black, cream or orange (I hate chrome). Bars will be blacked out unless I run the chick stick, then both will stay chromed to go with the seat and bags spots. Switch boxes have been removed, just need to wire in a couple 2 way toggle switches (both 20a fused) for headlight and turn signals (if I run them). Engine will be repainted Chrysler Hemi orange since the Chevy red-orange is getting old (flaking, chipping, boring). Exhaust will be completely blacked out (bbg/woodstove paint). Battery box will be blacked out (or relocated, and then blacked out). Black edging on the fenders and tank when the paint job is finished, HD rear fender tip trim will be blacked out. Red color seperation tape, maybe red pinstripes (English style) on the rims. More nude or otherwise risque pin up decals... And a set of SS runes under the tombstone tail light that will be replacing the worn out, too low beehive light on it now... |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by newriverjunkie on 01/01/13 at 21:13:42 She lived!!! ;D ;D ;D Got an OLD Sportster tank from my buddy for $20...plus about $15 in supplies and I was off to the races today. Took me 8 hrs cause I kept screwin the dang mount points up (and my welder quit on me). But I got her done and took her for a run down the street. Ended up stealing the speedo and speedo housing off my buddies VS700 and ran that off one of the bolts on top of the chrome head cover on the right side. Best part is the odometers were only a couple hundred miles off from each other. I've got to get a new cap for the tank cause the one that's on it rattles pretty bad and I'm pretty sure if I listen to it to much the voices in my head will start telling me to do stupid things. Thinking probably one that the center pushes down and rides flush when you don't have it out of the tank. I'll try to get some pics tomorrow when it's day light out and get them up here. |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by WD on 01/01/13 at 22:11:04 New thick gas cap gasket from the HD parts counter should run you $5 or so out the door... Then you have a rider tank while you set up a flush mount tank. They have the gasket back to the K-models (early 50s flat head pre Sportster). All they need is the year of the tank. NAPA has new caps that will fit it, look in the print catalog, the computer is next to useless for bike parts. If it's a later model cap with plastic screws instead of a twist lock, new caps are $10 and up... Any idea what year the tank came off of? |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by LANCER on 01/02/13 at 02:41:17 Hey, some folks just get all emotional and irrational about their bikes and/or women, but wha'cha gonna do ? ? |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by newriverjunkie on 01/02/13 at 03:51:52 No I don't know what year it is WD. I'll try to snap a pic tonight and post it to see if you (or anyone else for that matter) has an idea. It's pretty deep...I put right at 3 gal in it when I filled it. I'll get you pics though. Lancer...yeah good thing it's my bike and not his right? :-? ::) |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by newriverjunkie on 01/02/13 at 18:34:22 Here's a pic of the tank. If anyone has any idea of what year it might have come off of I would appreciate it. |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by WD on 01/03/13 at 05:29:33 Aftermarket or XLCR900/XL1000 Ironhead era. Size is the same as the last 900 I worked with, which was going in a rigid frame. So late 1960s to about 1974. |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by newriverjunkie on 01/03/13 at 15:38:29 WD you know your motorcycles! Hit the nail right on the head. From the pictures it came off a '74 or prior XL1000. So now it's just a matter of getting the money and finding the cap i want. |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by WD on 01/03/13 at 19:50:34 I've had over 100 bikes and worked in a lot of shops since 1987... and I'm a died in the wool SAE guy at heart. Harley, Indian, Henderson, Excelsior... I've even messed with a couple old (really old Pierces). I like my Savage, but it definitely reminds me why I gave up on British bikes years ago. How Suzuki could make a worse electrical system than Lucas is still beyond me... |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by ZAR on 01/03/13 at 20:19:12 4152160 wrote:
WD I used to mess with Beezers,Trunpets and Nortons and maybe old age is starting to show but I don't think the Savage electrics are anywhere near as bad as those dang Lucifer wiring on the Brits! |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by WD on 01/03/13 at 22:04:08 Mine is haunted, has been since day one. Sometimes both headlight circuits work, sometimes one or neither. Tail light quits working for no reason. Switch box guts fell apart. Battery is under or over charging at random. De-comp relay got full of water and shorted out... Both fuses will pop at random, no warning, no smoke, just pop... And just like my last two "Viles" (T120 Bonnevilles), you're going along fine and the clutch cable breaks, without being touched... :-? I've given it away twice and it has found its way home, so... |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by Cavi Mike on 01/04/13 at 02:07:03 There's worse things than crimped connections wrapped in electrical tape and stuffed in a wire loom? |
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Title: Re: Am I missing something? Post by ZAR on 01/04/13 at 18:28:58 624057486C484A44210 wrote:
There sure is Mike. You'd have to have ridden the old Brit bikes back in the 1960's/70's to appreciate what the flashlight we all carried was for. No it wasn't to see by when making repairs(but it did work for that too!). With Lucifer(or Lucas) electrics you pulled up to a stop and the lights all dimmed down to less that a matchsticks worth of light ...you pulled out you trusty flashlight so other traffic would see you and not run over you! Seriously,you had to keep revving the engine to keep the lights visible! But dang it,I really did love those old bikes. The Savage is much more dependable but still gives me the feel and thrill of those old thumpers! |
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