crash / tank came off / 100ft flame trail

  • Beard
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crash / tank came off / 100ft flame trail

20 Jul 2010 06:53
#384061

Ok not really, BUT

i checked with a buddy both of our kz650's have 3 fuel tank mounting points.. the 2 rubber pucks up front and the rear mounting hole near the seat that the post from the tank goes through.

what is really holding this tank on? i know its worked since the 70's but am i crazy to have the want to drill a hole through the post on the bottom of the tank.. then slip it thorugh the rear frame mounting hole and then put a clevis pin through the newly drilled hole?
79 KZ650B
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  • Kawickrice
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Re: crash / tank came off / 100ft flame trail

20 Jul 2010 06:57
#384063
Mine snaps in tight. My 900 has what equates to a big rubberband on it. Is the reciever rubber tight and not dryrotted?
73 Kawasaki Z1
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  • Beard
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Re: crash / tank came off / 100ft flame trail

20 Jul 2010 07:03
#384064
yes theres that rubber grommet that it snaps into.. but i see a big difference between something being just "snapped" into place or being physically restrained in place.
79 KZ650B
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Re: crash / tank came off / 100ft flame trail

20 Jul 2010 07:07
#384066
You must be accustomed to the Harley way of mounting tanks, nuts and bolts.
73 Kawasaki Z1
07 HD CVO Ultra Classic
82 Suzuki GS 1100
74 Yamaha RD 350 (My two stroke toy)
77 Kawasaki KZ 650B-1 (My putt around bike)
80 Indian Moped (My American Iron)
1
Long Gone
75 Suzuki GT550
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  • kz750saskatoon
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Re: crash / tank came off / 100ft flame trail

20 Jul 2010 08:07
#384073
This is interesting to me. I was just working on a CB750 that has what you described. Pucks on either side up front, and then the back-end slips into a rubber grommet kind of thing to hold it down.

My KZ750 H2 has the two pucks up front and at the back a grommet that a bolt actually goes through and screws to the frame.

I like my bike's solution better.
1981 KZ750-H2
Saskatoon, SK

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Re: crash / tank came off / 100ft flame trail

20 Jul 2010 08:46
#384078
Just hold it tighter with your knees.
1975 Z1 900
1994 KX250 Supermoto
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Re: crash / tank came off / 100ft flame trail

20 Jul 2010 09:32
#384084
I thought the fuel line holds the tank on the bike :laugh:

Actually, the stock seat is locked down and rests against the rear of the tank. Try to pull the tank off with the seat locked down and see if you can pull it free. Maybe if the wreck was bad ebough the tank would come off, but if the wreck is that bad the tank might rupture anyway - in which case I would want it to fly as far from the bike and me as possible. Ed
1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)

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  • JMKZHI
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Re: crash / tank came off / 100ft flame trail

20 Jul 2010 10:21 - 20 Jul 2010 10:26
#384098
Kawickrice wrote:
Mine snaps in tight. My 900 has what equates to a big rubberband on it...
Beard wrote:
yes theres that rubber grommet that it snaps into.. but i see a big difference between something being just "snapped" into place or being physically restrained in place.
What Kawickrice means is that his bike has a large rubberband or strap that holds the rear of the tank in place. He probably has the big grommet too. The diagrams at Kawasaki.com for you bike may show that your bike should have a strap.

The rear of the tank on some (most?) 80s models are bolted to the frame.
Last edit: 20 Jul 2010 10:26 by JMKZHI.

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  • loudhvx
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Re: crash / tank came off / 100ft flame trail

20 Jul 2010 11:14 - 20 Jul 2010 11:24
#384108
The early 550's all have the two pucks up front and the back is only held in by a grommet. There is a tab that extends from the tank that the seat presses on to stop the tank from coming up as long as the seat is latched down.

I've been in two major crashes and the tanks stayed in place, but were banged up pretty good.

This is an ebay photo. You can see the tab extending off the back of the tank. Under the tank, near the back is a blade-shaped tab that points down and gets pressed into a slot-shaped grommet in the frame.

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Last edit: 20 Jul 2010 11:24 by loudhvx.

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  • TeK9iNe
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Re: crash / tank came off / 100ft flame trail

20 Jul 2010 11:25
#384110
650ed wrote:
I thought the fuel line holds the tank on the bike :laugh:

:P

If you want to get a tighter/less movement fit, try putting some pipe wrap sponge around the center tube, then scrunch the tank down on that. It holds it right in place nicely.

PS. On the later models, they switched to a bolt at the back that clamps the tank down in place.

GL.

B)
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Re: crash / tank came off / 100ft flame trail

20 Jul 2010 11:25
#384111
One of the stories that bumps around various motorcycle chat sites is that fuel tanks are designed to be 'loosely' attached to the frames. This is to enhance separating the fuel from the motorcycle proper in case of an accident. Since I am neither an engineer nor an explosives expect, I can not attest to the validity of this story...although I have tested it on several occasions...the tank stays on the bike even after a t-bone at 75mph :)
Michael
Victoria, Texas

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1977 KZ1000A
1978 KZ1000A
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Re: crash / tank came off / 100ft flame trail

20 Jul 2010 11:39
#384114
JMKZHI wrote:
Kawickrice wrote:
Mine snaps in tight. My 900 has what equates to a big rubberband on it...
Beard wrote:
yes theres that rubber grommet that it snaps into.. but i see a big difference between something being just "snapped" into place or being physically restrained in place.
What Kawickrice means is that his bike has a large rubberband or strap that holds the rear of the tank in place. He probably has the big grommet too. The diagrams at Kawasaki.com for you bike may show that your bike should have a strap.

The rear of the tank on some (most?) 80s models are bolted to the frame.

My 650 has a spade that stabs the grommet. My 900 has a rubber band type. Totally different between the two bikes
73 Kawasaki Z1
07 HD CVO Ultra Classic
82 Suzuki GS 1100
74 Yamaha RD 350 (My two stroke toy)
77 Kawasaki KZ 650B-1 (My putt around bike)
80 Indian Moped (My American Iron)
1
Long Gone
75 Suzuki GT550
74 GT 380
79 RD 400 Daytona Special
72 Honda CL 175
74 Honda QA 50
Tampa FL

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