RD350LC Petrol tanks. Repair/replace?

[DuncanB]

G'day, I am just starting a rebuild on an LC I bought, and one of the problems I have found (and there are a few) is rust along the bottom of the petrol tank around where the seam is. The trowelled on paint had done a good job of sealing/covering it up, but it has a few holes and some previous brazing work done. The price you pay for buying a neglected bag of s@#te I guess.
I did read somewhere about someone making new tanks for LCs... But I'm buggered if I can find anyone who sells 'em! Urban myth? Or does anyone out there know who/where/how?
If not, how about a good tank repair company preferably in SE QLD.

Cheers.

[BRG1200]

Bump.
Good subject.
Anyone got any tips or experiences on repairs?

Duncan, only new tanks I've seen are what look like hand beaten YPVS tankson ebay, made in India.

[L.B.]

Good little bit of info here,
http://www.rzrd500.com/phpBB2/viewtopic ... 3&start=15

[hybrid]

They don't have to be neglected to rust unfortunately.

I bought a new tank for my LC about 10 years ago.. that was one of the last few I think.

[fred99999au]

I posted a similar question on another forum a while back about cutting and repairing a RZ tank.

I got one from a forum member there and originally, it looked OK, but once the paint came off it was a real basket case with bog inside the tank up to about an inch thick. Also looks like it had a liner in it as some stage, so I wanted to cut it open and replace the steel of the tank.

The resounding advice was don't, buy a new one because you will explode yourself and ruin the tank to boot.

I haven't found anyone who does repair them but am still keen to cut mine open and have a go. With the number of holes in it, it hasn't held fuel in it for decades.

Will take photos when I decide which way I want to go with it.

Cheers

Fred.

[DuncanB]

I have found a couple of places in Brisbane that say they can do it.
Queensland bike wreckers say they will cut out the rot, and replace with new metal any areas that need it. Tig weld it in. Sounds great when you put it like that... but I'm sure it would be a time consuming job for even the best tin basher.
Fuel tank and radiator services say the will dip the tank to remove any trace of rust, then weld, braise and solder as the circumstance dictates. Then supply me with 'Red-Kote' to seal the tank myself. The guy did inspire a bit of confidence, and looking at his business looks like he would do a good job.
I've searched all over for new tanks, with no luck.. but it's only a matter of time before the guy at "lc crazy" makes some I reckon! lol
Either way, it'll hold petrol better than it does now! lol

[JonW]

Tell the fuel and rad services guy that if he does a great job then he will have work for years from just us off this forum

[ken007]

i'll second that, my other tank collapsed when i tried to unscrew the fuel tap screws, i can understand people paying 1500-1700 for complete ,painted panel sets when they come on the market

[hybrid]

There is no issue welding a fuel tank if it hasn't had fuel in it for a long time, OR if you flush it thoroughly beforehand.

[hybrid]

By the way, I have put POR-15 in both my 500 and LC tanks.

I would not use anything else as a sealer. It's not a thick rubbery crap like some of the other tank sealer products. It's a ceramic based paint.

[EPApolice]

I have repaired a few tanks and no I wont do yours. LC tanks are the worst things ever made and any one who repairs it will spend a long time doing so. If your tank already has been soldered up then when they try to repair it this time the original solder will melt out and you now have twice the job you had originally. I have managed to tig every tank I ever did except an LC one.
If you dont know what you are doing give it to someone who does or you will end up in hospital, draining the fuel out and flushing it out with water for hours is no good it will still go bang because the fumes remain. Minimum I do is drain, flush and a week open to the atmosphere then the sniff test, any smell of fumes another week

[DuncanB]

I'm a sheetmetalworker by trade (a long, long time ago), so can see what would be involved. This sort of shit is fairly specialised, and I wasn't, so I reckon that I'll let an expert loose on it rather than fuck it up myself. If I had a spare, maybe, but I don't.
The tank has been flushed and left open for a while now, and will be for a bit more, so hopefully by the time someone gets into it, they won't blow the bastard up!
I did find a guy today who restored old cars. His work was awesome, and he was making up some fairly complicated panels to weld in where he had cut rust out, on an English wheel. He gets first look when I'm back in Caloundra on Thursday. Though it could be a costly operation.

[fred99999au]

look on the bright side though, if you have a smallish explosion and don't kill yourself, you might get a bit more fuel capacity...

[DuncanB]

LOL... I'll make sure I'm not there when it happens, and I might get one of those non existant new tanks on insurance!

[ken007]

hi, seen this on gumtree, says it has a spare tank, see if hes willing to sell seperate, never know your luck,
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/avenell- ... 1008456904