Guest gooseorduck Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 Sorry to hear about your tank. I do a lot of plastic molding, and our tanks are blow molded then pressure tested. Not sure how yours ended up that way, but I can guess that there's a thin spot and that just gave in (or out in this case). That is likely a processing defect during production. If the manufacturer is using recycled pellets, there could me some contamination from a different plastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gary Cheek Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 .......And the different plastics react differently with various gasoline additives. We had the same problems with blow mold prototype automtive tanks in automotive applications. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ratchethack Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 My tank has either gotten longer or my frame has gotten shorter . . .It is just difficult to get the tank past the front of the rear fairing. and it was not always like that. Y'know the first couple of times I noticed this while removing the tank, I just thought it was a fluke and forgot about it. Three years ago, the tank would swing up in front of the rear piece no problem. As I recall it didn't even make contact. Then it seemed to've closed the gap. Next it got progressively harder to squeeze by. Now it's a considerable effort to force it past, and that's shoving the tank as far forward as I can manage... the paint has begun to abrade away in the contact area. It seems either we've got "expanding tank syndrome" here, or we've got "expanding tank mount rubber".....?? At this rate, we might well be expanding our range between fill-ups, but it won't be long before we're sittin' on the pillion. Next pass, I'll investigate shaving down the forward rubber mounty-parts to see if this'll give any better clearance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gooseorduck Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 for the folks who reinstalled the valve and kept it vertical....do you still have tank suck when opening the gas cap or has it solved that problem? Thanks I haven't done anything on my tank and valve, like today, after a 150 mile ride and stopped for gas. Open the gas cap and I heard a loud swooosh and I felt the side of the tank collapse between my legs. Strange, so I just make it a point from then on to open the gas cap every couple of hours! Yeah, it's interesting to hear if you guys really found a cure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DOUGDANGER Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 Has anyone else had this happen to their guzzi? There are several areas on the tank that appear to be warped (bubbling outward). Never noticed it before. I've had the bike for 2yrs now and just noticed it the other day. There are several areas on the tank that have this problem. On the right side where your knee rests while riding, the right side just forward from the guzzi logo. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks. Has anybody contacted Moto-Guzzi about this problem, I think if their are enough people with this problem you might get some leverage with them. DougD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DOUGDANGER Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 Has anybody contacted Moto-Guzzi about this problem, I think if their are enough people with this problem you might get some leverage with them. DougD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest h8chains Posted March 3, 2007 Share Posted March 3, 2007 Good point. Anyone with a contact info? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Field Posted March 3, 2007 Share Posted March 3, 2007 A fuel additive could penetrate into the plastic in a few areas for whatever reason. Depending upon the type of plastic and or lamintes the tank is made from. A small pinhole or thin spot on the interior could allow for a localized reaction. The tank thicness may vary as well and the thinner areas would likely be subject . I only mentioned it because my buddy's KTM just had a similar situation going when he put some new fangled gas in it. The tank had a few random soft spots. He dumped the fuel and dried the tank with an air hose. The tank seems OK for now but the fuel had a definite role in the problem. I concur fully with what Gary is discussing above. Not all molded parts are perfect. Small flaws could certainly be the reason for localized bubbling. And fuel additives could certainly be penetrating through flaws. After reading of this thread, I've now heard of this syndrome on four V11s from different reas of the country. In the shop one day, we were discussing whether plastic tanks would last for the long haul. I'm doubtful, but one of our mecanics, who's German, said, "You have not athing to worry about! The Tooofv (TUV) has approved them, so they will be perfect." I'm not doubting the TUV, but I am pretty sure the gas sold in Seattle differs in formulation from that sold in Germany, and that's the source of my worry. I plan on keeping the Billy Bob for the long haul, so I've given thought to what sort of liner I could apply to protect the plastic, but not taken it any further. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todd haven Posted March 3, 2007 Share Posted March 3, 2007 Greg, Let the German know that the tank from Mikes' 96 R1100GS, orignally sold in Europe with a plastic tank, then imported to the US by a serviceman, began oozing raw fuel through the plastic about 6 weeks after ethanol was added to our fuel in March 06. This bike at the time had 80K on it, with no fuel tank issues. Looked like a blister, as if from a bad sunburn. Started with one small blister, smaller than a dime. A week later, there were 15-20 blisters. Replaced tank with used metal tank, no problem since. Never seen such a thing on the V11 tanks. Never seen one with 80K, either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ratchethack Posted March 3, 2007 Share Posted March 3, 2007 Ack! Another frickin' thing to worry about. Over the last few months, I've had a conspicuous bubble about 6 mm in diameter suddenly rise up under the paint on the top of my tank. I reckon at this rate it's more likely to get larger than smaller, and I've finally come to grips with the liklihood that it may well have little brothers and sisters comin' along not too far behind. Seems to me once it's started, there's no stopping it with tank sealant. But that's just me. Kinda like trying to stop Socialist tyranny once it's embedded in the framework of government. Wot're the chances of getting the far more expensive to produce (by 5 - 12X, depending), polluting, mileage & performance destroying government moonshine (ethanol) back OUT of our fuel here in the US, or anywhere else? ANSWER: ZIP. Once the disease of tyranny under the guise of forced, rabid, Junk Science Environmentalism has begun to rot the body politic and metastasize through the system, sowing even more ignorance in its wake, there's no hope. Socialist tyranny is historically 100% fatal once it takes root. The juggernaut rolls unstoppable on a railroad that has no side-tracks and the locomotive is stuck in gear with a full head o' steam. There's no turning back, the uphill climb to the washed-out trestle over the open bottomless gorge at the end gets progressively slower, steeper, and more painful. Application of pitifully weak brakes is negligible. Stinking Ethanol Subsidy Lobby/Extortion Cabal Eco-Nazi's!! Anybody know of a reputable company here in the US likely geared to extremely low volume (but steady) production of VERY EXPENSIVE replacement steel or aluminum V11 tanks over the next 5-10 years? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al_roethlisberger Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 I had a bubble form from up under the finish in my original 2002 tank a couple years ago.... which was replaced under warrantee. I thought it was a paint issue, but now I wonder Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
callison Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 Anybody know of a reputable company here in the US likely geared to extremely low volume (but steady) production of VERY EXPENSIVE replacement steel or aluminum V11 tanks over the next 5-10 years? Evan Wilcox Hand Formed Metal Expect to spend between $1500-$2000 with a very long wait. If anyone can do it, Evan can. Check out the curved aluminum pipes. Very sexy! Magni Style Pipes Moto Guzzi V11 sport $1700 polished alloy with glass pack Motoguzzi Lemans V65 special $1400 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeeve Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 Evan Wilcox Hand Formed Metal Expect to spend between $1500-$2000 with a very long wait. If anyone can do it, Evan can. Check out the curved aluminum pipes. Very sexy! Sh____, anyone can do that [given years of practice, an english wheel, planishing hammer, some ball peen hammers and a shot bag, oh, & don't forget the TIG kit & many hours of practice driving that, or you'd better know a good welder...]! Piece of pie! Easy as cake! No big deal, not like making an obelisk full of stars or anything... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big J Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 $2000 for a tank?Fu(k off,that's taking the piss http://www.thetankshop.com Bugger,any of you guys got the link for Johns place? S'okay,got it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchCityBallabio Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 I'd bet you anything, that it's the ethanol they're adding to the fuel. Alcohol has a nasty habit of eating through stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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