Small dent in the tank: Repair it? Replace it? Or just live with it?

Okay, so my old Spectre has a nickel-sized dent on the left side of the tank. Nothing serious, and it's not all that noticeable (except to me.)

Just wondering if I should make an effort to try and fix it (I've heard about some kind of fix that involves dry ice?), buy a replacement tank (how common and/or expensive can a replacement tank be? The Bike Bandit price is something like $700 which is almost what I paid for the bike so Obviously I'm not going to do that), or just live with it? Currently my inclination is towards the latter, but if I'm going to try and repaint the bike, it would seem to be a waste of time to repaint the tank if it still has the dent in it - might be better off just getting a new tank and painting that one to match.

You can see the dent in this photo (just below my "ghetto" brake fluid reservoir clamp! )

I bet that will come out with dry ice. Some one recently posted a YouTube video of the dry ice method, see if you can find it.

You ride around with a c-clamp clamped on your brake master cylinder...... , but your that bothered by a nickle sized dent in the tank? my advice....repair replace the master cylinder problem and live with the dent till you repaint. then a smear of body filler and a bit of sanding and your good to go. jonnybiker

I would wait until you are ready to paint the bike then remove the dent.
with the dry ice there is always a chance of the paint cracking and then it will look way ugly

Zapp, here is the video I posted awhile back. It's on automotive metal, your tank is thicker metal so may take a little longer. I've never tried it so do so at your own risk.

tinyurl.com/2prb5f

Post edited by: Bluemeanie, at: 2007/12/13 17:36

I tried to dry ice my tank last night. My tank has a variety of dents from a LARGE crease all the way to very small dings... the dry ice did nothing to any of them. I left a large block of dry ice on one of the very small dents for over a half hour, and got no reaction.

It could be because it is cold here right now (in the middle of a wonderful NY winter). however i did heat the area before hand with a blow drier (I say that mentioned in one dry ice dent removal walk through).



THe dry ice did however make my beer nince and cold, so it was not a total waste.

I've always heard that it works best on a real hot day after leaving the car/truck/bike(?) out in the sun for a while. Guess that's no help for up North right now.
Never tried it myself -- just what I've been told.

There is a guy around here that removes dents with a system of different sized and shaped "fireplace poker" looking pieces of iron. He took some dents out of my mustang and I was amazed with the results and the best part is if there are no creases the paint all stays good. Just a thought I think it was listed under paintless dent removal.



www.dentdevil.com/index.html

hardr0ck68 wrote:

I tried to dry ice my tank last night. My tank has a variety of dents from a LARGE crease all the way to very small dings... the dry ice did nothing to any of them. I left a large block of dry ice on one of the very small dents for over a half hour, and got no reaction.

I just wasted 3 hours, 2 pounds of dry ice and countless kilowatts from the hairdryer. Almost no effect. It did take out some very, very small dings but didn't even touch the large, doughnut hole sized ones, and one medium , nickel size. It took my fresh primer right off with the rubbing (see video) so I wouldn't try it on fresh paint at all.
Gonna get some bondo.

I've always wondered what would happen if you filled the tank with water and then froze it. I've never had the nerve to try it. Maybe if someone had a spare tank, they could try it and report back.

I've always wondered what would happen if you filled the tank with water and then froze it. I've never had the nerve to try it. Maybe if someone had a spare tank, they could try it and report back.

saltydog wrote:

I've always wondered what would happen if you filled the tank with water and then froze it. I've never had the nerve to try it. Maybe if someone had a spare tank, they could try it and report back.

With my luck it would still have the dents and split the tank at the seams.:blink: :ohmy: