Ooops not a good start to Saturday

03-07-2021, 09:36 AM

So fuelled with nostalgia from the Weekender I had resolved that this mornings task was to swap fuel tanks on the S2r from the ethanol ravaged original to the not so immaculate ( but not swollen or displaying a rash ) replacement .

My logic being that the bubbles would eventually morph into pin holes and the thought of unleaded dripping on a hot engine between my legs doesn’t really appeal !

All started well, fuel pump removed,breathers removed and I noted “ furring” in the breather connectors.However the original tank breather connectors were in way better nick than the replacement tank ones so a swap over was obvious . Originals removed and which soon cleaned with a length of wire.

Now all I needed to do was remove the replacement tank breather connectors…..ouch……sheared clean off flush with the tank!

Ideas please !!
My thoughts are to soak area in a release agent and use one of those reverse thread drill bit thingys but all advice welcome.

The good news is the original tank has only a handful of tiny bubbles underneath so that’s now back on and I will use “as is” until the replacement is sorted and long term I bite the bullet and get an alloy one…..what a faff

Bugger !!!

BFA2A7A1-159A-4BC5-8430-F731FC5963CC by Mike OConnor, on Flickr

Breather blocked…..and sheared !

9F896C52-B9AB-49D1-AA56-6E438736CF7B by Mike OConnor, on Flickr

Only a few bubbles…..low risk

3EAE6603-DF74-408F-A14B-A8CC32FDD4CF by Mike OConnor, on Flickr

slob · 03-07-2021, 09:47 AM

like you say ez-out or similar extractor bit should work fine mike.
i found the same blockage on my plastic tanks, I ran a small drill bit down them to open them up a bit and they stayed clear

03-07-2021, 10:03 AM

Hi Rob, I did consider drilling in situ but thought some of the crusty gunge would end up in the breather that is incorporated within the tank….. every day a school day

slob · 03-07-2021, 10:09 AM

mine came out ok, i drilled them in a vice.
i reckon the risk of fuel on on hot engine is much higher with no breather hoses than it is with bubbling paint

Dave G · 03-07-2021, 12:05 PM

I've just bought a spare tank for the same reason and had to drill out one of the breathers on that, a simple task with a small drill bit, I did mine in situ. I doubt I'll try and remove them though, just grease them a bit should be enough I think. I must have a look at my original tanks breathers in due course,might be a common thing.

03-07-2021, 01:35 PM

Hmmm, that didn’t go well, Mark came over and we didn’t make any impression, beginning to think a previous owner may have glued it in ! Off to Halfords

Mr Gazza · 03-07-2021, 02:22 PM

Sorry to read this frustrating thread Mike!

This might be of interest to you, probably worth a visit as it's in Wales I believe, so reachable for you. It's a very skilled lady who makes the tanks.
I know she has made tanks to fit Monster frames, but probably not Monster tanks as such.
Nothing looks like it phases them though and well sub £1000 for a bespoke tank, with your spare as a pattern.

https://tabclassics.com/

ChrisC2925 · 03-07-2021, 03:04 PM

On Blackadder tomorrow then Mike?

03-07-2021, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Gazza

Sorry to read this frustrating thread Mike!

This might be of interest to you, probably worth a visit as it's in Wales I believe, so reachable for you. It's a very skilled lady who makes the tanks.
I know she has made tanks to fit Monster frames, but probably not Monster tanks as such.
Nothing looks like it phases them though and well sub £1000 for a bespoke tank, with your spare as a pattern.

https://tabclassics.com/

Hi Gary, I have spoken to them previously and they can’t do one I am afraid,thanksfor the link though. It has led me to have a thought, if the breathers were gunged up, on my original tank, has that contributed to the rash in the plastic ?

03-07-2021, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisC2925

On Blackadder tomorrow then Mike?

99% sure ,but with the original tank, I have the replacement upside down with 3in 1 penetration oil soaking around the breather thread.

Zimbo · 03-07-2021, 06:34 PM

I had this happen to me with an S2R800 tank, in the end I drilled out the plastic fitting to 8.8mm (not to deep obviously!) and the tapped them to 1/8"BSP and fitted a hose barb fitting.

Nickj · 03-07-2021, 06:43 PM

Same here with an S2R tank, though unblocked. Drilled out and replaced with a brass fitting

jerry · 04-07-2021, 11:17 AM

Why cant they make Monster tanks at TAB is it the shape ????? or complexity ???

04-07-2021, 02:03 PM

Complexity I think Gerry, there is a whole lot going on inside the tank I noticed

03-07-2021, 09:36 AM	#1
Moco1961 Guest Posts: n/a	Ooops not a good start to Saturday So fuelled with nostalgia from the Weekender I had resolved that this mornings task was to swap fuel tanks on the S2r from the ethanol ravaged original to the not so immaculate ( but not swollen or displaying a rash ) replacement . My logic being that the bubbles would eventually morph into pin holes and the thought of unleaded dripping on a hot engine between my legs doesn’t really appeal ! All started well, fuel pump removed,breathers removed and I noted “ furring” in the breather connectors.However the original tank breather connectors were in way better nick than the replacement tank ones so a swap over was obvious . Originals removed and which soon cleaned with a length of wire. Now all I needed to do was remove the replacement tank breather connectors…..ouch……sheared clean off flush with the tank! Ideas please !! My thoughts are to soak area in a release agent and use one of those reverse thread drill bit thingys but all advice welcome. The good news is the original tank has only a handful of tiny bubbles underneath so that’s now back on and I will use “as is” until the replacement is sorted and long term I bite the bullet and get an alloy one…..what a faff Bugger !!! BFA2A7A1-159A-4BC5-8430-F731FC5963CC by Mike OConnor, on Flickr Breather blocked…..and sheared ! 9F896C52-B9AB-49D1-AA56-6E438736CF7B by Mike OConnor, on Flickr Only a few bubbles…..low risk 3EAE6603-DF74-408F-A14B-A8CC32FDD4CF by Mike OConnor, on Flickr

03-07-2021, 12:05 PM	#5
Dave G Imagineer Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Kilbride Bike: S2r Posts: 1,003	I've just bought a spare tank for the same reason and had to drill out one of the breathers on that, a simple task with a small drill bit, I did mine in situ. I doubt I'll try and remove them though, just grease them a bit should be enough I think. I must have a look at my original tanks breathers in due course,might be a common thing. __________________ "One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man" -Elbert Hubbard

03-07-2021, 02:22 PM	#7
Mr Gazza Lord of the Rings Join Date: May 2013 Location: Norwich Bike: M900sie Posts: 5,984	Sorry to read this frustrating thread Mike! This might be of interest to you, probably worth a visit as it's in Wales I believe, so reachable for you. It's a very skilled lady who makes the tanks. I know she has made tanks to fit Monster frames, but probably not Monster tanks as such. Nothing looks like it phases them though and well sub £1000 for a bespoke tank, with your spare as a pattern. https://tabclassics.com/ __________________

03-07-2021, 06:43 PM	#12
Nickj Too much time on my hands member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Forest Of Dean Bike: S2r Posts: 3,208	Same here with an S2R tank, though unblocked. Drilled out and replaced with a brass fitting __________________ "The final measure of any rider's skill is the inverse ratio of his preferred Traveling Speed to the number of bad scars on his body." Song of the sausage creature

04-07-2021, 11:17 AM	#13
jerry Old Git Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cricklade Bike: Multiple Monsters Posts: 2,910	Why cant they make Monster tanks at TAB is it the shape ????? or complexity ??? __________________ MONSTERMAN

03-07-2021, 09:47 AM	#2
slob . Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: East London Bike: Multiple Monsters Posts: 9,737	like you say ez-out or similar extractor bit should work fine mike. i found the same blockage on my plastic tanks, I ran a small drill bit down them to open them up a bit and they stayed clear

03-07-2021, 10:03 AM	#3
Moco1961 Guest Posts: n/a	Hi Rob, I did consider drilling in situ but thought some of the crusty gunge would end up in the breather that is incorporated within the tank….. every day a school day

03-07-2021, 10:09 AM	#4
slob . Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: East London Bike: Multiple Monsters Posts: 9,737	mine came out ok, i drilled them in a vice. i reckon the risk of fuel on on hot engine is much higher with no breather hoses than it is with bubbling paint

03-07-2021, 01:35 PM	#6
Moco1961 Guest Posts: n/a	Hmmm, that didn’t go well, Mark came over and we didn’t make any impression, beginning to think a previous owner may have glued it in ! Off to Halfords

03-07-2021, 03:04 PM	#8
ChrisC2925 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ormskirk Bike: M600 Posts: 244	On Blackadder tomorrow then Mike?

03-07-2021, 06:34 PM	#11
Zimbo Too much time on my hands member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Stonehouse, Glos Bike: Multiple Monsters Posts: 2,085	I had this happen to me with an S2R800 tank, in the end I drilled out the plastic fitting to 8.8mm (not to deep obviously!) and the tapped them to 1/8"BSP and fitted a hose barb fitting.

04-07-2021, 02:03 PM	#14
Moco1961 Guest Posts: n/a	Complexity I think Gerry, there is a whole lot going on inside the tank I noticed