Dented gas tank help

Crap! Yes, I dropped my VFR this morning while rolling my baby out. Lost my footing and she went one way while I went the other. It fell against the garage wall and dented the tank. Ouch! Dammit! So now I'm wondering if the tank is repairable. It's not a huge dent, about 4" and didn't crease.

Anyone have experience with this type of repair? Can it be pulled out or will it just have to be replaced? If I could find a big enough tank pad I guess I could cover it up. Anyone have a suggestion or remedy for this type of repair?

 

I would take it to a shop that does paintless dent repair first. They may be able to get in through the filler and work that out, or not. Wouldn't hurt to ask.

like so

[video=youtube;tjOjYvT0jEU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjOjYvT0jEU[/video]

 

Yah, go to someone who does paintless dent repair ... ask around the local car dealerships ... there's usually one or two guys that are extremely talented in an area.

 

Being a Paintless dent repair technician myself, I would definitely look in to the possibility. The dent on your tank is fairly large and through a rolled contour line on the top of the tank so it may be a little costly, though likely not as much as a new OEM tank.

I too own a 5th gen bike (I'm assuming from your "My Ride" section under your avatar that the bike in question is the 98 VFR) and managed to dent the top of my tank in much the same place and I was unable to gain access to the rear most section of the tank through the filler nozzle opening because the filler neck goes down about an inch or so and the hole in the filler neck splash preventer is fairly small. This may give a PDR tech some issues with access and leverage. I was able to fix my tank but it required removing the tank and removing the plate on the underside of the tank that gives access to the fuel pump assembly.

Definitely ask ask around at one of your local auto dealers and see who they recommend as their PDR tech. Then check out the PDR tech themself and check if you can see some examples of their work.

If you were closer by, I'd be tempted to offer to fix it for you. LOL.

 

didn't even consider going through the fuel pump area. great idea.

 

Wasn't easy, or a lot of fun but it worked. As a side note, I did purchase a new gasket for the bottom of the tank afterward and some new crush washers for the fuel line.

 

You might even call around to the motorcycle dealers and see if they could give you the name of the guy they use. Sometimes they won't give you the names of outside people they use for stuff but most will. This way, you stand a better chance of getting a guy who does quality work. Not all those guys are the same. My dad has some he uses for cars. One is better on hail damage and another is better on door dings and minor mishaps. Good luck.

 

I have found in 20 years of doing PDR that bike tanks can be some of the most rewarding, and most challenging to repair. Bike tanks, especially in the area of the OP's photo, at least on the 5th gen VFR, can have a lot of breakable or bendable stuff in the way such as fuel pump and strainer assemblies, or floats for the fuel sending units. As gigemVFR suggests, a little bit of research here in the PDR tech in question (not just the company) will go a long way.

 

decal it with a Harley sticker

 

Just saw this in the classifieds on here .... http://vfrworld.com/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=6185&title=97-gas-tank-in-primer&cat=4

 

You guys rock. Love this forum. Thanks for all the info.

 

LOL.....bite your tongue, Sunofwolf. :beguiled:

 

Just like any other place that fixes stuff, get a second opinion on how much and can it be done by the paintless body shops. One guy I know who works in an aftermarket bike shop.. (Shameless plug time: Seattle Cycle Center) did that type work. I got whacked in a Costco parking lot in my cage. Showed him the dent. He says pop the trunk, he pulls off on of the soft panels and whacks the dent with the ball of his hand. The dent goes bye-bye. Paint and body shops have sales pitches just like any other biz and like any other biz some are straight shooters and some ain't.

The geometry of the tank where it got dented and the innards may be a problem. Ask! If that doesn't pan oot, conventional bodywork by filling and reshaping and using dent pulling is far from dead. Yep, it will have be painted.

 

Thanks to everyone who replied to this thread, maybe the tips will help others in the future. I dodged the repair with a tank bra courtesy of rsh here on the forum. He hooked me up with one he wasn't using. Thanks, rsh, works perfect and looks good!

 

I can still see it
Bike looks CLEAN

 

Funny, Duc. Went for a killer ride this morning. On the road by 7:30 before the heat and traffic. Put in about 150 miles and home by lunch. Gonna be a 95 degree day so had to put her away. Pool time!

 

SOW bit on an appendage sported by one of those shemales he frequents. He got bitch slapped and so is testy of late.

 

Glad your back riding, must of been a great ride..ear ta ear smiles abound.
BB, your one in a million... at first I didn't realize how much your rambling made sence. I appreciate your input and ALWAYS look forward to your response.
Still think your SOW
incognito.... just to rattle our gage

 

SOW should be in a cage. A Yugo.. You dudes in California should start getting used to converting those cents to centavos to make sense of it all.