tank dent removal.

[shadowfist]

has anyone tried using the 'hairdryer and canned air' method of dent removal?

I have a dent in the gas tank of my second bike that i was going to try and pop out (p.p.o's fault)

the other day i ran across this video on youtube
easy dent removal

has anyone tried this? it looks like absolute baloney but it could possibly work because of the temperature difference...

 

[Nessism]

I tried it and it didn't work.

 

[almarconi]

I've heard dents can be removed by filling the tank with water and then freezing. I've never tried it but it sounds reasonable.

 

[supergrafx]

Ha Ha! I tried it last night before my bike crashed itself this morning, and no, it didn't work. not at all.

 

[shadowfist]

thought it would be to good to be true...

so freezing is supposed to work with water in the tank? any other good methods?

 

[almarconi]

I tried it last night before my bike crashed itself this morning, and no, it didn't work. not at all.

Which method, the hairdryer/CO2 or the freezing water?

 

[Nessism]

I've heard dents can be removed by filling the tank with water and then freezing. I've never tried it but it sounds reasonable.

Tried the freezing method as well and it didn't work either...rusted my tank though. In truth, as the ice started to solidify and expand, it was making all kind of cracking noises so I got scared and terminated the experiment. When the ice expands it will expand in all directions, not just in the direction of the dent. My concern is that a tank seam will burst.

I had margional success using one of those cheap glue-on dent pullers. It will get out the dent if it's not too deep or if it's not creased. Worth a try since the kit is only $20 or so from Harbor Freight.

 

[Agemax]

why not just get it to a proffesional panel beater/sprayer and get them to sort the dent out as best as possible, fill it and have a spanky new paint job?

 

[tkent02]

Ha Ha! I tried it last night before my bike crashed itself this morning, and no, it didn't work. not at all.

I bet you got the throttle cable pinched or routed in the wrong place when the tank went back on, or maybe even changed the shape of the tank enough to interfere with the cable.
So maybe it didn't crash itself, after all.
Do the cables go above or below the front rubber tank mounts?

 

[Nessism]

why not just get it to a proffesional panel beater/sprayer and get them to sort the dent out as best as possible, fill it and have a spanky new paint job?

Or better yet, take the entire bike to the dealership and trade it in on a brand new one!

 

[tkent02]

Or better yet, take the entire bike to the dealership and trade it in on a brand new one!

Come on, how much fun is that?
Any moron can cut a check, it takes skills to do it right on the old stuff.

 

[195suz]

Tank freezing

Tank freezing

Tried the tank freezing years ago and it spit the tank at the seams.

 

[Nessism]

Come on, how much fun is that?
Any moron can cut a check, it takes skills to do it right on the old stuff.

Sorry, should have used the smiley. My comment was a lame attempt at sarcasim. I strongly advocate DIY, even for things like painting and changing tires.

 

[Zooks]

What you need is one of these -

That's an auto body spoon used for removing 'hard to get at' dents.
Oh yeah - and the skills to remove the dent with it would be handy also. Unfortunately this just comes with years of experience doing panel work.

 

[tkent02]

Sorry, should have used the smiley. My comment was a lame attempt at sarcasim. I strongly advocate DIY, even for things like painting and changing tires.

I know your sarcasm, just giving you some back.
I have an extra GS1000 tank, might give the dent king a shot.

 

[shadowfist]

from my memory, i think it is a bit creased but i'll take a picture tomorrow hopefully.

edit: the dent's in my en500 by the way. not my gs750

 

[shadowfist]

so i finally got some pictures of my dent. any suggestions on removing it?

without a $60 spoon that is?

 

[Tom MLC]

Okay, I'm gonna tell you this only because it's true...I saw him do it. MY OFFICIAL DISCLAIMER...I DO NOT RECOMMEND YOU TRY THIS AT HOME!!!

While I was stationed overseas in Japan, I witnessed a worker in a m/c shop pop a dent with....

A FIRECRACKER!

Oh yeah, I stood back aways.

The tank had been purged with water & fresh air for a few days. The dude lit the fuse & tossed it in. Then quickly put the cap on. BAM! The dent was gone.

Freekin' unbelievable!

 

[posplayr]

musta

musta

A FIRECRACKER!

bin a calibrated Firecracker no doubt :clap:

 

[james750tz]

I tried the hairdryer thing but I used a real heat gun instead. I used some of that electronics cleaner stuff, and believe it or not, it does have some effect. I had to repeat the process about 5 times, but it did somewhat remove the dent. I ran out of the canned air, so I can't tell you how much I could get out. I wish I had taken some pics. The whole thing isn't going to magically disappear like the one in the video does, but it does work...kinda. Anyway, I used it on a large dent (not creased) and it will reduce the amount of body filler I will have to put on the tank. If you're looking for a miracle, it isn't. The big dent on the internet video is probably easier to get out, and the metal is thinner, so who knows...I'm going to try it on my pickup next to remove some acorn dings.
-james