Hi folks,
I almost can't believe I am asking this but I hit my bike with a hammer which made me think that perhaps I should stop and seek council. I took my gas tank off my new to me 1993 R100RT to diagnose a no start and eventually replaced the starter. All went very well and was feeling a warm bond forming between the machine and myself. I cannot seem to get the fuel tank to seat and drop over the fastening pins. This is not the first airhead tank I have R&Red. Usually I line up the crescent on the tank and the 1/2 round on the frame, give it a shove and on it slips. This tank stops about a half inch shy of the pins. I tried more times than seems reasonable. I slathered saliva over both pieces (works on a bunch of materials) without it helping.The fairing on not binding. I can see not obstructions. I was tying a rag around a 2x4 to hit with a hammer when I came to my senses and shut up the garage. Am I missing something here? . Does this model have some idiosyncrasy I am not seeing.
Tim
On 70's and early 80's models (I'm not rich enough to own a later model like some of you guys 😛 ) the front tank mount is a rubber "glove" over a protrusion on the rear of the steering neck. That rubber part always becomes unseated and lodged at a strange angle during tank installation, and makes things very difficult. This happens so often that I've taken to gluing the rubber part onto the frame when the tank is first removed. Black silicone sealer, double sided tape, or contact cement work great for this.
I'm also afraid if the tank has to come off on the side of the road, loosing that black rubber part in the dark would mean disaster.
Hope this helps.
Owning an old Airhead is easy.
Keeping an old Airhead running great is the true test.
HMMM. off we go again.
Thanks
Tim
Wobbly,
The seed you planted has bloomed into a full grown solution. Took tank off again. When I Had seen previously that the rubber was on the tank and not the frame, I thought it was a design difference. This 1993 is pretty new-fangled for me. No! the rubber transferred from the frame to the tank. This gave me a very small target to hit. Once I switched the rubber back the tank dropped on as usual. I think I will cement to frame as you mentioned.
Thanks,
Tim
Wow ! That's great news ! Congratulations !!
I was thinking the whole time, if he takes a hammer to his tank, the thing with the biggest dent is going to be his wallet ! 😆 But of course, I couldn't really say that until after a solution was found.
Glad things worked out.
Owning an old Airhead is easy.
Keeping an old Airhead running great is the true test.
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