I just hit the 5000mile mark and I just noticed today that one of the tank fairing mounts are cracked. It looks as if my fuel tank is suffering from expansion.
Has anyone else here had this problem and if so what ended up being the fault?
i noticed the left side panel on my fuel tank has a very slightly larger gap than the right side.
nothing has cracked and i loosened all the fasteners a bit to avoid what has happened to yours. for all we know it could be the panels shrinking instead of the tank swelling
Mine is at dealer waiting on new panels (they had a tank) but like me, they could not get the panels off so must of destroyed them in the process. Spinning nuts, but I have had the panels off at least twice before the nuts started spinning.
From the looks of the panels where the bolts made marks, they had shifted like the panel shrunk or the tank expanded. Just my thoughts no facts other than I wait for parts for my bike.
Maybe you should. My KTM 950 Supermoto would deform the tank if it was off the bike for more than a day - empty or full. The way it was mounted on the bike it couldn't deform mounted, but once off, look out! It was quite the project getting it back on.
My 950 Adventure tanks (plural) are basically slabs on each side of the bike and I have to use a bottle jack to flex it enough to re-mount it. The paint is flaking off where it flexes.
The tanks are made with the same material as the ones on the 1098, 848, SF, and such by Acerbis and they all have the swelling problem, it's the Ethanol in the fuel, get the tank coated and you won't have that problem.
I have owned a 1098, a 848, and currently have a SF. I put StarTron in my tanks as a treatment for ethanol fuel. I have NEVER had a tank problem period.
I just don’t feel that is my job to seal a fuel tank on a motorcycle that is still under warranty. This is something that should have been addressed at the manufacture’s level.
I completely agree but I personally am not going to deal with anymore hassles than the one I had with my SF. If the MTS12 tank expands then the new one will be coated as well.
I just got mine back from getting a new tank installed. I thought it was just the body alignment issue that a few washers was suppose to fix, I was wrong.
LaRossa, have you actually used the Caswell sealer yourself? If so, how did the application go? I'm close to pulling the trigger on a Pikes Peak but now I'm leery. Not sure if I should buy it and use the sealer or wait and see if Ducati convert to aluminum tanks or something compatible, especially considering there is a class action law suit over this. I can see problems getting new panels for the Pikes Peak down the road...
Yes, I've done it on my SFS last winter as preventive mantenaince and so far has turned out to be a great idea in my case.
Don't let this issue stop you from getting the PP, I doubt they'll come out with a metal version of the tank any time soon, just do the treatment on the new tank and you'll be set but just remember that this will probably void the warranty. To tell you the truth I doubt anyone would be able to tell you coated the tank since the inside of the tank is shiny clear and after the treatment looks exactly the same sinse the coating is clear just like the stock finish.
That's good to hear it's a clear material. Hopefully the bond will hold up. I saw some stories about Kreem coming loose on older metal restoration attempts but I think it's all about surface prep. Thanks for the feedback.
I was out looking at my tank today and all looks well, but I did notice that all of the small fasteners the #3 allen heads that are on the fuel tank panels, have all been instaled with RED LOCKTITE. major nono, if anything, it should have been blue the red locktite if you dont no its there you will tear up all of your fastener holes the fiirst time you try to loosen.
My MTS1200 came from the dealer with several of the tank bolts stripped into the tank which could not be removed, which was the result of the dealer swapping body work on the bike. They stepped up and replaced the tank due to the stripped bolts, which was an $1100 part and took 4 weeks to get shipped from Italy.
I dread the day I call the Dealer to inform them that the tank deforms, but I keep their phone number on speed dial
One other thing. If you can get ethanol free gas, please use it. On my Multi I have used non-ethanol gas exclusively for 5 months after receiving a replacement and the tank is perfect. Yes, I realize that access to no-corn fuel will be impossible for most.
These issues need to be resoloved by Ducati, we pay good money for these bikes, its unfair that we should have to do extra work to prevent their F ups from surfacing. Im still pissed about the suspension springs having to be replaced and on back order for 3-4 weeks.
I have experienced the effects of Ethanol additives on plastic motorcycle gas tanks in the US, 10% Ethanol at the time. None good. Really curious what people are doing in Brazil that have motorcycles with plastic gas tanks? Brazil has 26% Ethanol additive to the gas. Any one from Brazil on the forum?
On top of the fact that ethanol does so much damage to motor vehicles, the most ridiculous thing is that it's not even profitable. Corn is not a good product to distill ethanol from. It takes as much energy to create a gallon of corn based ethanol as you get back when the ethanol is burned. The industry probably wouldn't exist in this country if the government didn't subsidize it.
OIl industry is huge that is where the blame should be placed , and secondly the corn industry is also huge...
It is easier to push the little guy around (DUCATI) than to take on the oil and corn Industry...
Notice your food prices going up and Imported food from South America and elsewhere???
I haven't noticed the problem on my 2010 Multi but my dealer has changed out a ton of Monster,1098,early Multistrada's, and Classic tanks. For the life of me I don't understand why Triumph hasn't had this problem too, Acherbis makes their tanks also. As is, replacing all these tanks has to have cost Ducati a bunch of money. Why don't they just ask Acherbis to re formulate the plastic used in their tanks to deal better with the alcohol in our fuel?:think:
Still waiting on my bike, over 2 weeks now. Like I said earlier, they had the tank, but not the panels. Panels on backorder. I am lucky to have another great bike to ride.
I have worked at refinerys that make the plastic resin ...
sometimes it is in "Powder" form and sometimes it is in "BB" size form...
Different suppliers different companies, the product is supposed to be the same obviously...
At the Shell Chemical plant , they used to make Medical grade plastic resin for Syringes etc...
I'm guessing that there was /is some off/bad batches or possible some defect when forming tanks...
I have Fused miles and miles of plastic pipe and when we cut it with a sawzall or the larger diameter pipe with a chain saw , sometimes the pipe will snap and sometimes it will stretch and bend till it is almost cut thru...
What I'm saying is that it is supposed to be the same stuff but there are differences ,
Some of it when we plane (Like a wood Plane ) the ends there is different colors in the ribbons of plastic , it should be Black , and some is almost see thru at different spots...
I think tighter controls where the plastic resin is manufactured and tighter controls during the forming process are needed...
Every manufacturer says that their product is best...
The spinning nuts in the plastic , if there is contamination on the nuts say some oil grease whatever from say a persons hand , or the manufacturing process, that would be a no no...
We clean the pipe joints with 75-99% alcohol and the heating pad surface (Teflon coated ) MUST be clean...
The plastic tanks will work , It must be done correctly every time , with the PROPER high grade resins , and process.
Every step of the way Must be followed properly ...
When I had problems with the tank on my GT, DNA initially denied me a replacement so I did a lot of research on what my options were. One of the websites I found is this one http://www.mda.state.mn.us/news/publications/renewable/ethanol/e20onplastics.pdf.
There is a lot of boring reading there, but read page 6 to get an idea what ethanol does to plastic. Ethanol itself has an effect. Water that collects in the ethanol also can cause problems.
If you want to be certain that you won't suffer from problems from ethanol, coating the tank is the only answer. I am not a chemist, but a friend who knows more about plastics than most anyone agrees. He's a composite expert that consults to the aerospace and yachting industries. His opinion is that phenol novolac epoxy is one of the most ethanol resistant resins available and is the best to coat fuel tanks. It is also his opinion that coating plastic fuel tanks is the only/ best way to protect them.
Getting your tank coated by a pro will probably cost you 300-400 bucks. Doing it yourself will cost you about $75.00 for materials. It's cheap, effective insurance against long term problems.
The only way I'd consider messing with a Caswell treatment is if the dealer had the tank off anyway and could get it done locally and reasonably priced, and would guarantee the results. As 'my' dealer recently lost their Ducati franchise, I will be seeking future service from a dealership three hours away that I've never bought a bike from, who don't know me from Adam.
I've gotten extended warranties on the three Ducs I've owned, and will definitely get one on this machine. If I see tank swelling (to the point it's unservicable), I'll have them put on a replacement. If the replacement tank swells and becomes unservicable, I'll have them put on another one. Etc., etc. By the second or third tank I'll probably be ready to move on to a next motorcycle anyway. If Ducati refuses to replace any defective tanks, it might just be time to move on to another marque.
I love Ducatis, but hell, they aren't the only manufacturer that makes motorcycles.
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