NON-Rocket fuel tank dent

[Joesmoe]

Request advice on how to remove a dent from a fuel tank.

My daughter learned to ride on a Honda CB-250 Nighthawk, and still uses it.

She took it to school, and where she parked it, the wind blew it over, and the tank encountered something hard on the way down and suffered a grapefruit-sized dent.

I looked on the internet, and saw a video from some place in Florida that showed some curved bars they used to push the dent out from the inside. I couldn't find anyone with anything like that around here.

I went on eBay and "as seen on TV" bought one of their kits, which I could imagine might work on today's thin-skinned cars -- but the basic mechanism of hot gluing a hook to the middle of the dent, and using a screw puller to pull the dent out -- just wasn't budging the metal on the motorcycle.

Your thoughts most appreciated.

 

[EasTexRIII]

Sorry to say that the paintless dent repair (PDR) process you are describing only works on SMALL "hail dents/door dings" - Your left with only one choice on a dent the size of a grapefruit; Replace tank...... if you were to try conventional repair (body filler) it would be too thick & only crack later. the only other remote chance you have to repair it is if you can access that dent on the inside by going thru the filler hole with a PDR tool (curved, flat on the end bar as you noted) to push it out "as best as possible" - But it still won't be perfect. Or grind the paint off of the damaged area with course paper on dual action air sander, then use a tool that tack welds a small pulling rod (about the size of metal coat hanger) to the metal, that then attaches to a slide hammer type puller to pull the metal out (again, only as good as possible but not perfect) - Either of those methods you will still have to fill the "repaired area" with a thin coat of body filler, then feather, prime, block the filler area until smooth............ then repaint the tank. That could cost more than buying a new tank already painted unless you could rent/borrow the tools & do it yourself. with todays paint material prices, along with the size of that dent as you describe, I doubt it would cost less to repair.

Try this instead:

Honda CB-250 Nighthawk gas tank | eBay

Good Luck Sir

 

[Joesmoe]

Thank you so much ! Especially the link !

I tried to order one from the dealer, and they're the proverbial made-out-of-gold-must-be price.

I'll do that -- problem solved !

Thank you !!!

 

[EasTexRIII]

Look at those on Ebay or try Craigslist for a used one

 

[Bedifferent]

There are some professional places online that can do that repair work for you. Do a little searching and you will find one. Check some motorcycle custom paint shops.

 

[EasTexRIII]

Google

On this page there are many sites to buy from. the tools are strong enuff, however at that cost, if I were you I would:
1. Make sure you can access the dent inside from the filler hole or drop the fuel line base on bottom to access from there.
2. As Bedifferent said; Search your area for people that do PDR (paintless dent repair) work & have them look at it & tell you what they would charge - You will have to explain to them before hand your goal of function over cosmetics because they will tell you they can't do the work if you don't let them know you're not looking for perfection.
That being said, a dent that big is going to be a booger to get it to move, but worth a try.
Good Luck

 

[Joesmoe]

@EasTexRIII Thank you.

 

[08nzrocket]

hi,if the dent isn't too sharp or creased it is possible to blow it out with compressed air....Bung the hole up with something like a potato with a bit of plastic tubing through it to inflate with the duster and tap the edges of the dent with a rubber hammer while inflating the tank

 

[Bedifferent]

Check out these Joesmoe: It will probably be cheaper and you'll get a better job if you send it out to get it fixed. Not an easy job to get right.

Motorcycle Paint Repair Harley Paint Repair Dent Repair

Motorcycle gas tank repair and restoration

Precision Motorcycle Painting | Classic Motorcycles – Full Restoration – Painting & Repair

CycleFinish - Custom Motorcycle Painting and Crash Repairs

Randys Cycle Service & Restoration: Painting

 

[Bedifferent]

hi,if the dent isn't too sharp or creased it is possible to blow it out with compressed air....Bung the hole up with something like a potato with a bit of plastic tubing through it to inflate with the duster and tap the edges of the dent with a rubber hammer while inflating the tank

Interesting....