Broke oil tank tonight - I am an idiot

[Metallicat]

The oil reservoir on my Vec broke tonight while I was trying to remove the oil tank drain plug. Instead of the drain plug coming out, the entire grommet or whatever the heck you call it broke off the tank. I was only using a standard 12mm wrench, didn't expect THAT to happen. I wasn't torquing it to death trying to remove the plug either. My wife is going to be pissed that I have to dump $250 into a replacement part (Port Yamaha). $250 for front end bushings last year and another $250 for this crap this year, I thought I was doing good only spending $150 on oil, filter, an idler wheel, and all new idler bearings this yr. Now this....

 

[arteeex]

Two questions; could you find a place (welder or machine shop) near you to repair the tank for less? And, why would you even think of telling your wife what you're spending on a sled?

 

[gcr3903]

Did the tank crack or just the grommet? You may be able to get it welded back in. And $250 for front end bushings sounds out of line.

 

[Metallicat]

Wife will want to know where the $250 went....can these aluminum tanks take a weld and last? I would be ever so much poorer if the weld failed and I smoked my engine.

 

[Metallicat]

Sorry, I meant to say the bushings were $150! If the tank can be welded then that is the route I want to take!

 

[team ducktape]

Re: Broke oil tank tonight - $245 - F Me

Not sure if it is the same, or if can be made to work, but I have a 2003 rx-1 oil tank I would send to you for $65 to your door. PM me if interested. Good luck either way getting it fixed!

The oil reservoir on my Vec broke tonight while I was trying to remove the oil tank drain plug. Instead of the drain plug coming out, the entire grommet or whatever the heck you call it broke off the tank. I was only using a standard 12mm wrench, didn't expect THAT to happen. I wasn't torquing it to death trying to remove the plug either. My wife is going to be pissed that I have to dump $250 into a replacement part (Port Yamaha). $250 for front end bushings last year and another $250 for this crap this year, I thought I was doing good only spending $150 on oil, filter, an idler wheel, and all new idler bearings this yr. Now this....

 

[arteeex]

Assuming it's aluminum like the Nytro, it can be welded. But it will have to be very clean first. A dedicated welding house should be able to take care of it for you.

 

[Groomerdriver]

Sorry, I meant to say the bushings were $150! If the tank can be welded then that is the route I want to take!

Cat - have read of several instances where they were successfully welded. After that some type of mod was done to the mount system to prevent it from happening.

Do a search on the RS forum for the fixes.

 

[jamesc]

arteeex you're one of the few voices of reason i've seen here. these repairs should cost no where near what people post. get a competent welding shop to clean the tank and reweld the bung (that's what it's called) into the tank. if they charge you more than $30 they're greedy. for a good weld shop it's a fifteen minute job at worst and it will be much stronger than factory. my 2

 

[Budweiser]

I had the tank crack on my Vector at 2200 miles and my welder, who is very competent said it would be a tough weld. Something about the metal being thin and burning though it. My warrenty covered it so it was a non issue for me.....

 

[Metallicat]

Re: Broke oil tank tonight - $245 - F Me

Not sure if it is the same, or if can be made to work, but I have a 2003 rx-1 oil tank I would send to you for $65 to your door. PM me if interested. Good luck either way getting it fixed!

They must have changed the design at some point, my tank is round. But thanks anyway!

Yeah, I'll look into a weld shop first.

 

[2008FxNytro]

It can be welded. Be a little more than a 15 min job. Assuming its aluminum like nytro. Has to be really clean before can be done. I had to do some repairs to mine last yr.

 

[thejoker]

As stated this tank can be welded. Make sure the tank is very clean, heat the area to be welded to drive out any impurities in the metal and have the welder purge the tank with shielding gas as it's being welded this will allow for a good full penetration weld. If it's done correctly the rest of the tank will fall apart long before the weld fails. I would expect a good welding shop to charge about $40 or $50 to do it only because it takes a little bit of prep time to do it right not the weld itself.

 

[Metallicat]

I am an idiot. You don't even want to know how i broke it...I realized my mistake later. Can't blame the design of the tank on this one!

 

[jamesc]

righty tighty lefty loosey?

i was surprised when you said you tore the bung out