wordet11 wrote on 11/20/16 at 05:30:29:I have a 2002 Savage with a horribly annoying rattle that comes from the gas tank at any speed. It is not the infamous speedometer rattle, I fixed that. With the tank pulled off the bike and the speedometer removed, I can shake the tank and still get the rattle. It's something inside the tank. BUT, it's not just a loose piece of something floating around. It sounds like some small piece on a mechanism moving back and forth that is attached to the inside of the tank. Any ideas on what this is? Thanks!
most of the seams are welded from the outside. that means there's a pinch point that something could be dropped into and be caught.
or it could be something that was welded in like a bit of welding wire that's about to break off.
Do you fill the tank and the rattle is gone for a bit?
that would tell me the piece is towards the top.
Or only rattles when nearly empty... towards the bottom.
Not really important, just another clue but would make the next step easier.
I'd remove the tank (and buy another one) put a pound of something not really abrasive (unless you got rust), light enough not to dent, but something that may work that piece loose. Somewhere between walnut shells and 1/2" nuts. Then work it like you're removing the rust in the tank.