Alloy gas tank restoration

[Wired1]

I've just acquired a tt500 alloy gas tank which was painted a lovely shade of black with a spray can I'm guessing. Underneath the paint I have found El Toro orange and a few dents, but nothing major. I'd like some ideas on how to strip it without scratching it, and how to get the dents out. I have already applied a lot of paint stripper which has gotten a lot of paint off and revealed some highly polished surfaces underneath.
As for the dents I'm thinking about compressed air and a hot air gun? The tank has no holes so still smells of petrol so I'd better be careful. If it needs beating out it might require a hole underneath and subsequent repair so I'd rather not do this.

And before you ask, not I don't have any more of this bike - I do want one so I guess if I keep buying bits I'll get one eventually!

[Wired1]

I went out and bought a new tin of stripper from Ripco and some wire wool from placeys and had another go at the tank. Looks pretty good now, just got to gets those dents out... any ideas how? and what's this tank worth?

[Sketchy_Racer]

Is it steel or ally?

The method you mentioned works well, Just be patient when heating though. If you heat too fast you can give yourself reverse dents (don't ask how I know)

Another way is to fill it with water, put you cap on and chuck it in the freezer. check it regularly though, don't want it splitting open!

Good luck, should be a nice tank once done. make sure you give it a good polish up and clear coat it.

[Wired1]

Is it steel or ally?

The method you mentioned works well, Just be patient when heating though. If you heat too fast you can give yourself reverse dents (don't ask how I know)

Another way is to fill it with water, put you cap on and chuck it in the freezer. check it regularly though, don't want it splitting open!

Good luck, should be a nice tank once done. make sure you give it a good polish up and clear coat it.

Thanks for that, I hadn't thought of the freezer, I'll give it a go when the wife is out!

[Sketchy_Racer]

Doh, what a twit.

I came to this thread after looking through your attachments, didnt bother to read the title, or most the first post. Quite obvious it is a Alloy tank!

Don't get caught by the wife!

[vfxdog]

I've just acquired a tt500 alloy gas tank which was painted a lovely shade of black with a spray can I'm guessing. Underneath the paint I have found El Toro orange and a few dents, but nothing major. I'd like some ideas on how to strip it without scratching it, and how to get the dents out. I have already applied a lot of paint stripper which has gotten a lot of paint off and revealed some highly polished surfaces underneath.
As for the dents I'm thinking about compressed air and a hot air gun? The tank has no holes so still smells of petrol so I'd better be careful. If it needs beating out it might require a hole underneath and subsequent repair so I'd rather not do this.

And before you ask, not I don't have any more of this bike - I do want one so I guess if I keep buying bits I'll get one eventually!

Be careful with the compressed air and freezing tricks- you may find you end up with a strangely-shaped tank that won't fit the rest of that TT (when you find it). Best way is from the inside- through the neck if you can, otherwise cut it open on the underside. Then when you weld it shut again nobody will see your best efforts at alloy welding. Not an easy job though getting rid of the dents as the alloy has usually stretched and won't want to go back to being its original size and shape.

[aedavo]

Hi. Be careful putting compressed air in the tank. I know someone who did this to a tt500 tank. The air will spread the tank. You could end up with a inverted dent in the top of the tank.Im new to Kiwibiker .I have been reading your comments about electrical issues you have been having with your TT500. I have 2 of them and have just fixed both of them with spark issues.Do you still need a wiring diagram?
Also it looks like you have TT250 forks on the front.You might want to bring them down the clamps unless you are looking forward to a hell whellie...My 78 had the same type of forks and I had to constantly lean forward.

[Wired1]

Hi. Be careful putting compressed air in the tank. I know someone who did this to a tt500 tank. The air will spread the tank. You could end up with a inverted dent in the top of the tank.Im new to Kiwibiker .I have been reading your comments about electrical issues you have been having with your TT500. I have 2 of them and have just fixed both of them with spark issues.Do you still need a wiring diagram?
Also it looks like you have TT250 forks on the front.You might want to bring them down the clamps unless you are looking forward to a hell whellie...My 78 had the same type of forks and I had to constantly lean forward.

Thanks, yes I'd like a wiring diagram, although I have got it going now. Someone else said the forks looked wrong, but I've got two TT250's and they've got different forks to these so buggered if I know. I will drop them to the indents when I finish, right now I like them up there!

I will probably flick the dented tank off on Trademe as the one on my bike is better and I will eventually buy a perfect tank for show and keep the one on it for racing so I don;t need the dented one any longer if that makes sense. I also need to raise some cash for shocks so this will help.

[Wired1]

I've listed this tank on Trademe so if anyone wants a spare then have a look and make me an offer. I need to get a set of shocks so hopefully this will go a long way towards that goal - or if you have a spare set of original XT or TT500 shocks you want to swap for a gas tank then that would be good too.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=143086630