Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Dinged up tank - replace or repair?

One of the reasons I got such a good deal on my bike is that the previous owner had laid it down, and it has some cosmetic damage. The most glaring damage is that the tank is dinged up. And by "dinged up" I mean that it's dented and scratched.

So... replace or repair? A new tank from Triumph looks like it will cost around $600. Do you think I could get the dents hammered out and the thing painted for less than that?

If it were me I'd be looking at the likes of Ebay.

Yeah, what he said... Ebay. You can also try the "classifieds" forum on here, and it might be worth calling some local bike wreckers (think they're called breakers in the UK?) to see if you can find a good deal on a tank there. New would be the absolute last resort, knowing how Triumph charge for genuine parts.

absolutely.......I reckon nearer £600 than $600 for a new one. There's as few on Ebay UK, but shipping will be mahoosive. What colour do you need Joe?

like this one?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Triumph-Bonneville...A1%7C240%3A1318

Yes, but that one has a dent in it. Seems silly to replace one dented tank with another. In any case, I can bide my time. Cosmetic work is somewhat down the list.

But that is the right colour?

There is a prosess called "paintless dent repair". Depending on how bad the dent is and if it has a crease in it, it may be able to be repaired. I think the one in the picture is a good canidate for that prosess. I've never seen a moto tank done but I've seen car repairs done and it's not detectable. Check in your area for someone who does that kind of work and show him what you have.

I too got a deal on my bike due to some cosmetic damage. Mine wasn't laid down, but a rake from the dudes garage fell and scratched the tank severely and caused the right side where the knee goes to pop out (a little). I searched on ebay, and will admit they've got some pretty good deals, but I talked with my dealer of all people who was cheaper than my normal body shop guy. I was impressed. I paid $225 even and had the entire tank repainted. I popped the tank off and all the hardware brought it to them and they were done in two weeks. Best experience I've ever had with a dealer. Engle Motors of KC, MO

Engle Motors is a good one

Man, if you can't get it done for way less then that, it must be REALLY messed up!
A motorcycle tank is probably the best place to start learning body work and paint.(small and easy to handle) If you have no intentions of giving it a try, get it custom painted. Do you know how many people WANT a custom painted tank and can't justify the expense, and here you are having to do it.
Sounds like a win win situation to me.
Good luck.

My flame tank from Triumph was just under £400, with seals, heat guard and everything....
Look on eBay.

Or repair with filler and get the custom job as suggested above.

It's a shame as the black and silver combo is the best colour in my opinion.....

I had mine repaired also, body filler, then painted one side and re-did the stripes. Came out real nice. Couple things I was told, don't let anyone try welding a nail onto it to pull out dent, a fellow tried that, didn't have enough water in tank and the fumes exploded and cut the guy up pretty bad. good luck
jeff

I have welded quite a few tanks and never had one blow up. I always do it with the cap off and petcock out. I have had a couple shoot flame out the holes but no where near an explosion. I had rinsed them out very well prior to the jobs.

I have popped dents out with compressed air but be careful not to damage a seam. I have also done it by filling the tank to a certain point with water and freezing but the shape of our tanks don't lend themselves to that method. Plus that method it is very easy to split seams or deform the whole tank. Ask me how I know! LOL If the metal is stretched or creased compressed air won't work and neither will the paintless method. On old tanks used to be able to push some of them out from the inside with a piece of dowl or a metal bar but in most cases that would require some bondo to smooth it. You would have to cut the unleaded thingy out of yours to use that method I think.

I've had tanks welded and never had a problem. If a pro is doing the repair he "should" know what he's doing.

I dented mine unloading it w/5 miles on it in April. Is the Mulberry Red. Came up w/the same replacement $, so I had my body shop repair it (bondo)& the local paint supplier color matched it w/PPG paint that was what the shop used (otherwise you have to get minimum quantities of hardener & catalyst for a not cheap cost). The finished job was PERFECT w/no sign of the damage. Cost-$300. & I removed/replaced it CAREFULLY! The factory paint codes do no good because of limited availability in the US from a European paint mfg.

that tank on ebay lends it self to this treatment

http://video.google.com.au/videosearch?q=dent+removal+fuel+tank&hl=en&emb=0&aq=f#

That guy did a great job. On a black tank too, wish I had those skills but, alas, I suck at body work. I don't have the patience.