Dented Fuel Tank

Short of massaging the dents from the inside of the tank, has anyone tried any of the "tricks" I've seen on the web? The one that interests me the most is the "heat and compressed air in a can" approach.

Hello Clark:

I think it largely depends on how deep the depression is, and whether or not there is a crease in the metal.


Do you have any photo's of your tank?

T.

Here's what I'm dealing with, its clearly not for my kz.

well I have seen aluminum be pulled back out with this type of crease before, but being this is a steel tank, I would be pessimistic about getting that crease out. At least without bondo or body work.

There is a Youtube video of a guy in New York who does this for a living. You might want to see if there is a professional in your area who could evaluate this to see if it is worth doing.

Or you may have to resort to hammering or suctioning most of it out with the final bit with filler.

One word of caution, Don't use a dent puller by drilling it with holes. The first owner of my KZ1000 used a dent puller on my tank and totally ruined it. The less holes you put in your tank the further ahead you will be, by not having to fill them back in with any brazing that will have to be done.

Regards.

T.

Clark wrote: Here's what I'm dealing with, its clearly not for my kz.

So here is an inexpensive tool. It took him quite a number of times but it got most of the depression out to where very little body filler would be needed to make it ready for paint.




Here is the guy in NY that does it from inside the tank.





Here is the ultimate in dent removal tools, pretty slick.

With the right shaped bar you could get it out by pushing from the inside but whatever you do decide on DON'T use compressed air. I have seen quite a few tanks that has been done to and they end up 2 feet wide and 8 inches high and it doesn't take much pressure.
I have seen tanks opened at the underside and fixed then welded closed where the ripples don't get seen.