help with gas tank mounting

[clydetheglide]

I have a 1979 Gs550 E with the stock gas tank. it was taken off to be painted and i am now having problems putting it back on the bike. I have the bolt for the back end of it (towards rear of bike) and the rubber mounts that go on that bolt. I also have the rubber knobs that go on the little posts that stick out from the front of the frame. For some reason - and i must be missing something here, with the rubber knobs on the posts, the tank is still to wide and doesnt even touch them in the front. any suggestions on what i may be missing woud be greatly apreciated. - thank you

[crc1214]

My 78 550 was kind of like that - the tank seemed to wide to fit on those front rubber mounts.

They must get compressed and shrink over the years or something.

Just push the tank forward as far as it will go while making sure the rubber boots are lined up with the recesses in the bottom of the tank that they fit into.

Push until the rear bolt mount on the tank matches up with the tapped hole on the bikes frame where it mounts to.

Put the bolt in and tighten it. Now wiggle the tank - if there's too much play, I'd say get some new rubber boots. I'd guess a hardware shop may be able to fix you up with something.

Good luck.

[moto_dan]

Just curious...Before painting did you try to pop out a dent in your tank using compressed air?

[mixongw]

Just curious...Before painting did you try to pop out a dent in your tank using compressed air?

[clydetheglide]

um....yes i did try to pop out a dent with compressed air, i got some of the shallow ones, and the deeper ones i had to bondo. why do u ask? is it possible it made my tank out of proportion because i think i wouldve noticed the whole tank getting wider.

[duaneage]

SAee if the rubbers are indexed. They may have notches or reliefs cut into them that fit onto the frame a certain way.
Have a helper look into the area where the rubbers go and see what is hitting what when you try to mount it,

[clydetheglide]

sorry, maybe i didnt explain it clearly, but the tank will fit on just fine. it isnt hitting anything. But it is about an inch and half to wide on each side and doesnt even come close to touching the rubbers for mounting in the front.

[crc1214]

Man, this is odd. Just a few days ago I was looking at a CB1100F on ebay and the dude said the tank had stretched after he took it off to paint it.
I thought "yeah right dude, what the f&%# have you been smoking"

Now I'm starting to actually believe it. I have never, ever heard of this happening. This is the real deal!

Guess you learn something new every day.

I think this should definetely be included in the "keepers" section.

[clydetheglide]

sorry, maybe i didnt explain it clearly, but the tank will fit on just fine. it isnt hitting anything. But it is about an inch and half to wide on each side and doesnt even come close to touching the rubbers for mounting in the front.

[duaneage]

You say the tank will fit on just fine, but it is not even close to touching the rubbers?
How fine is a fit when it is not even close?
I think a picture or two is needed to help you on this one.

[SqDancerLynn1]

You ballooned the tank with too much air pressure. Your only option would be to make new wider rubbers (GLUE two of them together ??) to fit

[moto_dan]

The reason I asked about the compressed air is that unless you restrain the tank it will spread apart just as you described. As one of our GSR members says "Been there and have the T-shirt". You may be able to gently bring the tank back into shape by using a rachet strap, but if you do go slowly or you risk creasing your tank. Good luck.

[duaneage]

Is it safe to use a tank that has been "balloned"

[moto_dan]

Is it safe to use a tank that has been "balloned"

If you're referring to my earlier comments then I'm not speaking of "Ballooning" as in literally inflating the tank but rather the dynamics of spreading the tank apart. Applying air pressure to the tank will attempt to flatten the tank from a "U" shape to a straight. This is probably clear as mud, but hopefully it will help. I personally would not be afraid to use a tank as long as it doesn't leak.