Help! 2003 749 gas tank is full or rust! - Ducati.ms

GiggityNH · Aug 16th, 2006, 7:15 pm

I recently purchased a 2003 749. The bike was harldy ever ridden (900 miles) and it seems that it was parked for long periods of time with very little gas in the tank.

Long story short, the bike was not running very well at all so I took it into the local Ducati shop to have it looked at. The tech told me he had never seen that much rust inside a tank without the tank having a hole in it!

And on top of that, the fuel pump was also so badly rusted that it couldnt be saved. He also told me the tank was so bad it couldn't be saved and I'd need a new one of those too!

At 800 bucks for a pump and 2000 for a tank, I'm looking for options. So I found a pump off of a 2005 749 on ebay. I won that auction at $77. But the bike shop told me I couldn't use it because the fuel lines were different. I know that he's right, but I'm begining to think they are just trying to milk money out of me. Surely there is a way to hook up a 2005 pump to a 2003 bike?!?

I'm also guessing the tank is saveable too. I purchased this online today http://www.hirschauto.com/acb/showde...t_ID=8&CATID=3.
Any comments?

I'm very new to this and any advice you can give me would be great

Or if you have have a tank I could buy for less then 2000, that would be very cool too!

ducati955 · Aug 16th, 2006, 8:17 pm

maybe it was from the other riding using an old tank to fill it up? thats what happened to mine, dude out the gas, new fuel fliter, and your set...

new tank too? did u check it out yourself, take it apart and see, thats weird that it would rust like that? or am i wrong?

ducati1982 · Aug 16th, 2006, 9:13 pm

tanks WILL rust .

If you want a less expensive, lighter and higher capacity tank go with fuel-cel tanks they are about 1200 and you just paint it. It's generally about 4-5 pounds lighter and hold more.

Fuel pumps go out even without rust when not used for a long time (gas gels in the motor)

Stick · Aug 17th, 2006, 8:35 am

I know the older FI pump set ups are set to run about 40-50psi for the port injectors.

I believe the newer SBK DUCs have TBI "shower heads", and if they're anything like the older GM engines, these are designed for less pressure--around 4-8psi. So it's possible that the older pumps won't be compatible for the newer systems. Someone else chime in here if I'm all wet about this.

I'd second a good look at the tank. There's a good write up in here (somewhere, maybe the archive area) with pics of someone that did the POR treatment on a tank. POR treatment kit includes an acid etching solution that eats the rust right down to the steel, and after neutralizing, a special sealant (coating) is applied to the inner surface. I think these kits go for $30 or $50. Might google "POR treatment" or "P.O.R. treatment". Or do the same search in here.

StavesacredarK · Aug 17th, 2006, 9:08 am

I think you are able and willing to do the work, Best of luck and hope to hear from you soon!!!!

Most of the satisfaction of being a duc owner is having a great knowledge of your bike. And surely you are on your way too. Sounds like your on your way, I don't know about the F.Pump issues but this board has many, many people who have vast knowledge on things like this. And as far as the tank goes. I think you should totaly clean it your self, seal it and be done with it. The one thing about metal is that as long as its not totaly destroyed, it can be salvaged. Don't let those punks at the Shop talk you into a $2000 tank!!!!!WTF

ducati2242 · Aug 17th, 2006, 9:16 am

Used something similar to that on an old norton that i used to have worked great and that tank was very rusty inside. As for the hose connectors surely you could use quick release couplings and that would replace the existing ones anyway. Might be wrong though.

mad · Aug 17th, 2006, 2:31 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stick

I know the older FI pump set ups are set to run about 40-50psi for the port injectors.

I believe the newer SBK DUCs have TBI "shower heads", and if they're anything like the older GM engines, these are designed for less pressure--around 4-8psi. So it's possible that the older pumps won't be compatible for the newer systems. Someone else chime in here if I'm all wet about this.

I'd second a good look at the tank. There's a good write up in here (somewhere, maybe the archive area) with pics of someone that did the POR treatment on a tank. POR treatment kit includes an acid etching solution that eats the rust right down to the steel, and after neutralizing, a special sealant (coating) is applied to the inner surface. I think these kits go for $30 or $50. Might google "POR treatment" or "P.O.R. treatment". Or do the same search in here.

Yep, did that tank treatment on another bike a long time ago and worked great. It put this plastic like impervious to gasoline coating on the inside of the tank. Rust was then an impossibility. Not sure where to get it now but the quoted thread seems like a good start. I just can not believe the tank can't be salvaged.

**vduc** · Aug 17th, 2006, 8:42 pm

I would try POR as long as it's not leaking.

I have a spare fuel pump and tank (yellow) I'm pretty sure they are 2003 or 2004 models. The tank isn't perfect some nicks in the paint, if you go to members gallery, vduc you can pictures of it. If you're interested PM me.

jlcihak · Apr 25th, 2007, 5:16 pm

so what happend?