250r Short Track Tank Fitment?

[bkm]

Are these things normally a pain to bolt on, or just the two I've put on my bike lately? My stocker honestly takes about three minutes, but both of these s/t tanks take an act of Congress to get the bolts started.

[Keith Salyer]

Mine goes on and off in a snap of the T-handle.

[bkm]

I've got to pull, smash, and yank to get it on. Do you use the stock tank rubbers on the tube under the tank?

[Outlaw #24]

Yep I have no problems with mine either. The stocker is more cumbersome. Loosen the two outside holder behind the radiator and bolt it up then tighten those up and it should line up for you better! Let me know?

[bkm]

They gotta be man handled, there is really no other way or tricks to it. Yeagerb witnessed it first hand. It's not that big of a deal, they go on, it's just a wrestling match. Maybe not being used and sitting on shelves for years, they've distorted slightly? Thanks for the replies.

[The_Steve_Man]

When I was putting my bike together I had a couple of tanks that had been sitting for a long time empty. They was a bit of a struggle to get on. Now that I have used it, it goes in easy.
It also spider webbed some once it started expanding with gas in it. I guess it shrunk from sitting empty for so many years an probably in the sun.
I put a clarke tank on my x and it was the same way ar first.

[poohbee1]

I think I had to push mine towards the forks to start the bolts, one was new the other was used . I wonder if its because there 1986 frames and the tanks were made for 85's . I helped put one on a 1985 but it was in 1985 and I cant remember if it was that tight.

[christph]

I haven't taken mine off for a while but I do remember a slight alignment issue with the holes. It takes some effort to get it on.

[Billy Golightly]

Mine goes on and off pretty easy - easier than a regular tank from what I'm recalling and remembering really. I always just set it on and run the back bolts in first, and then use a speed wrench with a stock to find the hole for the front ones and run them in. Doing it with a ratchet and extensio is a pain in the ass on both it and the OEM tank though from my experience.

[yaegerb]

Yep, I was there. Witnessed it first hand. The short track tank was a PITA to take off and put on. I can have my stocker off and back on in 5 minutes. This tank was more like 15, minimum.

[Keith Salyer]

That's what I do also. Get all the bolts started first then tighten them all up..When you do any carb work you have to remove the tank, but in that case I leave on the shrouds and in just 6 bolts and the fuel line your in business.

[Billy Golightly]

I would try using a speed wrench instead of a ratchet, that makes it a lot easier for me. You can kind of put your weight into pushing around the radiator hoses, through the rubber bushings, etc to find where the bolt starts at and just run them in. Too many moving parts and slack in a ratchet/extension/socket setup.

[atc007]

Some slide on like a...into a.. MOST require a lot of finessing. I am with the thinking of them warping with time when not mounted up and sitting on a shelf heaving/freezing thawing. You never know where ones been till you have it. The dc shrouds don't help a lot either.

[Outlaw #24]

LET ME SLOW DOWN...
Without the tank on, align the bracket that is under the shroud by inserting the bolt through the bracket and into the thread portion of the frame. Tighten the bracket hold down bolt so that when you remove and then reinsert the bolt it will go in easily every time. then on the short track tank for one reason or another you have to put the back of the tank under the back mount and hold slightly out on the shrouds and it will fall into place. you might have to adjust the bushings on the tank and place a dab of silicone so they wont move after it is all adjusted properly. That should help if not I AM SORRY!

[bkm]

LET ME SLOW DOWN...
Without the tank on, align the bracket that is under the shroud by inserting the bolt through the bracket and into the thread portion of the frame. Tighten the bracket hold down bolt so that when you remove and then reinsert the bolt it will go in easily every time. then on the short track tank for one reason or another you have to put the back of the tank under the back mount and hold slightly out on the shrouds and it will fall into place. you might have to adjust the bushings on the tank and place a dab of silicone so they wont move after it is all adjusted properly. That should help if not I AM SORRY!

I'm not sure how long your tank has been on your bike, but these two tanks have had probably ten years or better of shelf life subjected to -10 all the way up to probably 120 degrees with the garage door closed. I'm dealing with a physical distortion of the tanks. No matter what trick you use or tecnique you try, the only thing working is muscle, plain and simple. The lower shroud bracket is the least of my worries. I loosen it up everytime anyway and tighten it after the front tank bolts are started.

The point of this thread was just trying to figure out if this is the norm or the exception and it looks like it's about 50/50. I'd be willing to bet a NOS tank or a very mint lightly used tank would drop right on.