[muzzmann]

I have an 07 SC biposto and an 06 SC Monoposto.... i have not heard of this tank spreading phenomena before so tell me where to look .... I am assuming it must happen at the front at the tank mounts that it would become noticable .....also is this a problem related to age, inside or outside storage, ambeint temperatures, ( ie is it more common say in Arizona than Quebec , Canada climates ?) or is it more common to particular year of SC ? has it been diagnosed by Ducati or do this just replace under warranty without explaination ?

Looking forward to some feedback on this one ...

Meanwhile thinking of doing my own one-of aluminum tank and tail section...

Steffano

 

[poolagent]

It is not known in Europe…

 

[geospencer]

There are two long threads about tank spreading in the Sticky section.

 

[muzzmann]

There are two long threads about tank spreading in the Sticky section.

I saw them but didnt have time to read thru them all .... I was just looking for a quick synoposis .........

Steffano

 

[Nimi]

All US tanks are prone to warping and bubbling, possibly due to ethanol in our gasoline. Ducati is working on a new tank, rumors that these are now being shipped. No reported problem on bikes outside US.

 

[motomotive1]

All US tanks are prone to warping and bubbling, possibly due to ethanol in our gasoline. Ducati is working on a new tank, rumors that these are now being shipped. No reported problem on bikes outside US.

This may be a separate issue, but my dealer seems to think the reason this happens on U.S. bikes specifically is because of the EVAP canister. If I understand correctly, what happens is that if you fill the tank all the way to the absolute top what can happen is a pressure buildup (probably due to heat on the tank itself) and fuel can flood into the EVAP canister essentially plugging it up. At that point there is no place for the fumes/pressure to go and the tank warps.

Some of the newer Ducati's have a sticker on the tank that warns not to "overfill" it. It says to fill it only to the bottom of the filler neck and no higher.

I haven't read through the complete tank thread so this might have already been covered/debated but it makes sense.

 

[Nimi]

This may be a separate issue, but my dealer seems to think the reason this happens on U.S. bikes specifically is because of the EVAP canister.

Your dealer is misinformed. None of us has been running with the evaporative can since we bought the bikes new. I just ordered my fifth GT tank, not even 3,000 miles, all w/o a can.

 

[dietrichpfeifer]

I just ordered my fifth GT tank, not even 3,000 miles, all w/o a can.

FIFTH!?! I'm still on my first tank, it's warped/wavy in the the knee cut outs and spread off the mounts (I've shimmed them out tiwce). For now I'm just enjoying the extra fuel capacity and increased airflow to the intake.

The "plugged venting" theory is not right. The tanks aren't ballooning up so much as just warping/bubbling/changing shape. I think it's the shape of the tank that causes them to "spread" and fall off the mounts.

 

[Bolder Biker]

Your dealer is misinformed. None of us has been running with the evaporative can since we bought the bikes new. I just ordered my fifth GT tank, not even 3,000 miles, all w/o a can.

If 10% ethanol can result in the need for a replacement tank or two, you must be running neat moonshine in yours, Nimi. 'Fess up!

Bolder

 

[axismotorrad]

Okay, having looked at the diagram of the tank:

Couldn't they fix the problem (at least the "getting wider at the mounts part) by simply changing out parts #2 and #17? #2 is the rubbery thing that fits into #17, and I am assuming that people are shimming out one or the other when the tanks spread. What if #17 had a lip around it sized to hold onto #2 (which might need to be slightly redesigned in a pretty obvious way)? This wouldn't interfere with the easy way the mounts work, but would hold the sides of the tank to the frame to prevent them working their way loose.

I haven't looked underneath, but is there any way a #2 with a threaded insert could be reached through a #17 with a hole in the bottom, and then an allen screw put through both once the tank is in place?

Mine is spreading slightly but not enough to be a big problem yet, but it would be good to figure this out permanently if it's going to keep happening.

Edit: actually just shimming 2 out with washers and adding a lip to the edge of 17 would probably do what I'm talking about.

 

[bupton]

Ducati is working on a new tank, rumors that these are now being shipped. No reported problem on bikes outside US.

Is this confirmed?

 

[BISHOP-BUCK]

Couldn't they fix the problem (at least the "getting wider at the mounts part) by simply changing out parts #2 and #17? #2 is the rubbery thing that fits into #17, and I am assuming that people are shimming out one or the other when the tanks spread. What if #17 had a lip around it sized to hold onto #2 (which might need to be slightly redesigned in a pretty obvious way)? This wouldn't interfere with the easy way the mounts work, but would hold the sides of the tank to the frame to prevent them working their way loose.

I haven't looked underneath, but is there any way a #2 with a threaded insert could be reached through a #17 with a hole in the bottom, and then an allen screw put through both once the tank is in place?

Mine is spreading slightly but not enough to be a big problem yet, but it would be good to figure this out permanently if it's going to keep happening.

Edit: actually just shimming 2 out with washers and adding a lip to the edge of 17 would probably do what I'm talking about.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DUCA...4573781QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
Someone on eBay is selling a shim kit for just this purpose.

 

[axismotorrad]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DUCA...4573781QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
Someone on eBay is selling a shim kit for just this purpose.

That accomplishes part of it, but unless I'm missing something, it doesn't hold the sides of the tank from moving outward, which was the idea I'm proposing. All that would do is keep the tank anchored until it spreads more. My proposal would hold the insides of the tank to the frame at the mounts and hopefully both anchor them as normal and prevent them from spreading outward.