Hey all. I'm about to MOT the Tiger for another year, but I have a slight fuel leak on one of the threaded inserts on the tank. Anyone know of a fix, or the type of plastic the tank is made from. Thinking I might try a bit of 'glue' around the insert. Just need a weld type glue to hopefully rebond it to the insert. It's a 96 Tiger 885 Carb with the plastic tank. Thanks Rob
Hi Rob, I’ve successfully used Quiksteel to repair a leaking insert on a plastic tank before. It’s a bit of a sod to do as you need to get the insert out, open up the hole a bit, fill with Quiksteel and then push the insert in before it sets. Screw a bolt into the insert then once set you can unscrew and the thread will be clean. I believe the tank is made from an acrylic, and they were made by Acerbis.
Hey Freck. Thanks for your reply. I was hoping not to have to remove the insert. Scares me a little Think this will be my job for the weekend. I like the idea of using the bolt to keep the thread clean. I did think about sticking a bolt in, then playing a propane torch on it to transfer some heat and soften the plastic to release the insert. I assume I would want the hole to be a fairly close fit to the insert and to use a little epoxy to fill the gap. Cheers. Rob.
The insert has serrations on the outside to grip into the plastic so really you need to push it into whatever material you use for sealing the leak. I used Quiksteel as it’s like a putty, made of two parts. When you knead the two parts together you’ve got about 5 minutes to mould it into the void you make where the insert was, then push the insert into it and let it set. I wouldn’t be using a torch anywhere near it as it’s likely to burn the tank not melt it, and if there’s any fuel vapour hanging about.......... My insert was already a little loose, but I just drilled around it to get it out and make a hole to seal up.
I have used Kwiksteel myself on a fuel tank so can vouch for its worthiness. it Is a very versatile putty
Hi, I have a 94 Tiger. One of the 7 previous owners must had an issed with one of the fairing inserts in the tank and has bodged/filled the hole with what I assume is kwik steel or something similar. Has anyone had a new insert made and do they go all the way through in to the tank itself and so are exposed to the fuel. I have had the tank off today and some of the paint is bubbling off underneath so I assume if needs the tank treating with that sealant from the company called Wyldes ?
The inserts are just moulded into the plastic when manufactured but don’t go through into the fuel. The usual problem is that someone will have used a screw that is too long at some point and it cracks or punctures the moulding behind the insert, resulting in a leak. As I’ve said in a previous post, I found it difficult to repair effectively without opening up the area and filling behind the insert.
Thanks Freck. "Opening up" the area is just a bit beyond my level of confidence. This a long shot but is there company that could take this on ?
