Poll I guess?

[dwire]

Both I and well the other bike that was in my life had suspicious dents in the fuel tanks parallel with the bike frame right at the spot where the fuel tank meets the seat - right in the middle of the tank. When I noticed this, while both bikes had those annoyingly insane aftermarket "fat - butt" two person seats, I always suspected this was either from a stupid rider, or perpetrator attempting to gain access to the tool tray under the seat as even though those seats were horrible and so wide they were dangerous, they did not appear to be the source of the screwdriver like mark. (Hell maybe some actually STOLE their OEM seat!) I never thought of that!

So, are there many other bikes out there with the same tell tale "screwdriver-like" pry mark on their fuel tank, or did I just see two in a million here. I always wanted to ask just how common this is now that these bikes have been around this long for all the prying screwdrivers to get at, but never have...

[ME 109]

Belt buckles?

[dwire]

I never thought of anything like that. Maybe I have a before picture of one of them; surely looks like a pry mark and until writing the above, I don't wonder if the prying off was not to get the entire seat rather than what was in the tray since both had horrible wide-ass replacement seats on them. They made it so my feet could not touch the ground properly and I am not all that short just below 6'...

[jagarra]

The only thing that lines up with the middle of the tank in that location would be a belt buckle or the tab on the zipper. Also if you have a snap near the bottom of your jacket, metal rubbing against the tank may be the source.

[Chuey]

I bought a wrecked bike that had about 34,000 miles on it. Everything that the PO hadn't touched was like new. Everything he had touched was done is such a way as to show that he had not a clue as to how things work or how tight to tighten things. The rocker cover bolts were stripped, etc. Maybe he never took off the tank. If he had, I wouldn't have put it past him to pry it until the plastic keeper nuts broke. I hope he went back to driving International Harvesters or something that can better take the ineptitude he brought to "maintenance".

Chuey

[mattcfish]

Tank bag buckle sandwiched between seat and tank?

[dwire]

I'm glad you have all posted with interesting alternatives I'd have never thought of. I guess I was thinking the "pry the seat open" deal due to the fact they looked identical, both had replacement seats and were both thin long straight dent/creases right in the middle of the tanks where they meet the seat. (Just where an idiot might think they could gain access to the tool tray) but again, even if my guess were half right, maybe they wanted the seats since they both ended up with replacement seats (ironically both identical Denfields or something?) Those ones so wide a guy such as myself had to lean on one foot to touch the ground. They were ugly, mega uncomfortable and in my opinion for all but a very tall and wide crotched individual, unsafe.

Glad I never wasted the time or cash fixing my ex's tank. I too was shocked how well a young man with zero experience in doing such a repair inside an awkward deal like a gas tank was able to massage it out. Said he could not guarantee not damaging the paint; yet ironically in the end, it looked as good as the rest of the tank and will take no more treatment than the skim coating someone will likely want to file down on it the tank before priming it anyhow. He took his time and spent a half hour to forty-five minutes doing it and charged me a mere $20 for it; which I thought was really rare and fair - oh and he made a house call to do it!

At any rate, interesting to hear the alternatives; I think others "might" have jumped to a similar conclusion seeing these two bikes separated by half the country about a production year and indistinguishable marks might have jumped to the wrong or odd conclusion I had too.Sadly I don't think I have a pictue as I was always trying to de-emphasize the not so nice things about the bike whenever any inquired... I feel better now thinking it less likely one day someone might take a 12 to 18" screwdriver and pry on my seat against the tank - now I just have to worry about all those collector belt buckles I'm unlikely to ever purchase. lol Interesting thoughts fellows, thanks.

[Major Softie]

Glad I never wasted the time or cash fixing my ex's tank. I too was shocked how well a young man with zero experience in doing such a repair inside an awkward deal like a gas tank was able to massage it out. Said he could not guarantee not damaging the paint; yet ironically in the end, it looked as good as the rest of the tank and will take no more treatment than the skim coating someone will likely want to file down on it the tank before priming it anyhow. He took his time and spent a half hour to forty-five minutes doing it and charged me a mere $20 for it; which I thought was really rare and fair - oh and he made a house call to do it!

At any rate, interesting to hear the alternatives; I think others "might" have jumped to a similar conclusion seeing these two bikes separated by half the country about a production year and indistinguishable marks might have jumped to the wrong or odd conclusion I had too.

Sounds like you got the deal of the century on the repair! I wouldn't be so certain that you "jumped to a conclusion." Everyone is offering alternative theories, but, you never know, you could have just stumbled upon two different bikes that had PO's who did the same stupid thing - maybe the only two. Just because it's really unlikely doesn't mean it's impossible.

[dwire]

Yeah, I'd surely agree about the deal o f the century. I have no idea how much that sort of stuff (not inside a blind tank!) but normal dent stuff should cost, but I think to be honest with you, he charged me $20 and I gave him $40 as it was spectacular. Sure, when the tank gets done, and people that know what they are doing start a sanding on it and wanting to put a skim coat on it to see the flaws and such, I'm sure it's not perfect, but you can no longer see it now!

There is a little tiny ding elsewhere I may do before I have someone do the painting, or at least talk to them about it. Oddly, while my career went a loopty-loop after having to split out of DELCO and the parts division, I did learn "the old fashioned way" to lead bodies and may inquire if that would be the way to go with the little tiny ding in that tank as I hate filler! Can you think of any reason why lead would be worse than that awful BONDO?

[Major Softie]

Oddly, while my career went a loopty-loop after having to split out of DELCO and the parts division, I did learn "the old fashioned way" to lead bodies and may inquire if that would be the way to go with the little tiny ding in that tank as I hate filler! Can you think of any reason why lead would be worse than that awful BONDO?

The ONLY thing better about Bondo is the weight, and that doesn't matter with something tiny. Leading is a much more permanent repair. Other than that, make sure you're wearing a respirator so you're not breathing in lead vapors and have at it.

Oh, there is the torch-on-a-gas-tank thing (Bondo does also have that advantage of not needing heat), but I'm sure you're aware and will deal with it somehow. I've heard of just funneling CO2 into the tank, exhaust from a running vehicle, dropping pieces of dry ice into the tank, etc.. Just don't trust your rinsing job and put something inert in there.

Do you have all the tools: wooden spreaders, wax for those spreaders, 70/30 solder, tinning paste? If not I know all that stuff is available from Eastwood, but it's something like $150 for the whole kit if you need everything. I've recently been contemplating getting such supplies myself - that's why I know what Eastwood is selling it for. I've never done it myself, but I'd love to experiment. I've seen videos of guys with little experience doing okay with it. I've also seen TV programs showing guys working it on vertical surfaces - those guys were GOOD.