Pinhole Leak...Replacement Tanks? KZ700

Anyone had to switch out a tank on an 84-85 KZ 700? Mine just sprung a small leak and I'm looking for compatible alternatives. I doubt I'll find a replacement for that model. I've seen some 79 kz1300 tanks on ebay that look close, kz 1000 tanks are ok.

My question - Will the petcock location work with my ride? Any other suggestions that doesn't involve blowing myself up trying to repair the existing tank???

Similar tanks include: 1982 KZ750-R1 (aka GPz750), 1981-2 Z750-L1/2 (Europe), 1983 KZ750-L3, 1984 KZ750-L4 (Canada).

...yes, those are wonderful tanks...and just as rare as the KZ700 or have more rust than mine.

I'm curious about if the 79-80 KZ1300 or KZ1000 would work with slight modifications? These seem to be in better shape and more abundant than the tanks referred to in the last post.

I may be off base here, but I'm guessing modding a rust free tank would be safer/ less time consuming/ cost effective than:

1 Trying to eliminate rust that's inside an area where you can't sand.
2 Lining a tank to prevent future rust.
3 After hoping the rust is gone, spending 300+ on a good paint job.

Thoughts?

I took mine to a radiator repair shop and they fixed the leak I had with brazing rods.

mopguy wrote: I took mine to a radiator repair shop and they fixed the leak I had with brazing rods.

Good to know. A neighbor warned me some shops won't touch them anymore. I'll call around the Seattle area for shops.

Thanks!

As was mentioned, some area radiator shops won't boil motorcycle tanks (none in the greater Houston area will).

As for a different fuel tank...you can jury rig just about any tank to fit. In my mind, the issue to consider is the depth and width of the tunnel on the tank...since this tunnel fits around the frame, I'd be looking for a tank from a motorcycle about the same displacement. Tanks from larger displacement bikes (generally a wider frame) will require some way to fill the empty space on the smaller KZ700 frame. Not sure how that can be done to yield a stable fuel tank. Additionally, fuel tanks from some larger displacement motorcycles are considerably longer than the stock tank, e.g. the KZ1300 is much longer than the KZ700 tank. To give an example, the 1982 GPz750 tank (= yours dimensionally) is 2" shorter than the 1982 GPz1100 fuel tank. Although these two tanks look similar, if you drop the 1100 tank onto the 750 frame, then you cannot use the 750 seat, as the 1100 tank is too long.

I'd continue to look on eBay for a 1982 GPz750 tank...although, as you point out, they are rare, they still do appear.

on my ex's 440 we coated the inside of the tank with a plastic membrane. you can pick it up cheap at most bike shops. cant remember where i got mine but im sure its on the internet. fixed all the leaks she had.

Not sure if you found a solutions...I have a seam leak on my KZ1000J tank about 6 yrs ago...

I bought some epoxy...can't remember the name of it but it's the gray stuff that comes in a tube
it's like a puddy...anyways I mixed it together and pressed it into the seam leak which fixed the tank...

In a topic somewhere here on KZR, Jeff.Saunders recommended using an epoxy resin sold at West Marine.
I couldn't find the topic I was thinking of, but here's a similar one. KZ 650 tank leaking behind badge - options?

I've been successful at tig welding leaky tanks on the past. You don't have to blow yourself up to do it either.

I know this is a old post but have you looked into Kreme. I used it on a very old tank. It is a two part process. First is acid which etches the metal and the second is a coating type creme. When I used it, which my tank was very rusty, almost like it had been open outside, and the acid was eating through the metal. It had a lot of hole in it. I used the Kreme, and rolled it around, then saved what was left, after it dried I did it again , and to my surprise it sealed all the leaks. They actually say to do it to new tanks to, to keep them from rusting out.

You don't need to coat new tanks with anything to keep them from rusting. If they are new, in the box, and never had fuel in them they won't rust as long as they are not stored in a damp environment. If they are new, on the bike with fuel in them they will not rust as long as they are kept full of fuel. I have one of each, both 37 years old with zero rust in either one. Ed