Gas Tank Woes LATEST NEWS!!!!!! 8-29-05!!!

[crackerkorean]

Short time line.
Tried PORing my tank.
Didnt work and pooled up.
Tried to get it all out but was unsuccessful.
Took it to a welder 7-25-05 to cut it open and take the last of the loose POR out.
7-26-05 Picked up gas tank with removed POR
7-26-05 (mind you same day) Drop off at radiator shop to get Red Koteed
Fastforward.


Today I called the radiator shop in the afternoon to see if my tank was finally done. They said it was so I stopped by on the way home to get it. I noticed when he brought it out that it was almost double the width and the "tail" of the tank was bent up.

The manager comes out along with the guy that does the Red Koting (I am guessing here he was the one getting defensive) and I told them that the tank was not right and that it was not the condition when I brought it in.

The other guy (not the manager) basically accused me of bringing the tank in that way and that something like that didnt happen there. He said there was pressure applied to the tank and it didnt happen at the radiator shop.

I asked him why I would be willing to pay 85 bucks for a cleaning and red kote if the tank was ruined. He then preceded to say that it must have been the welder that messed the tank up. I asked him once again why would I bring a tank in that was messed up. So he ended up suggesting to apply a vaccume to the tank to bring the sides down. So he took the tank and stormed out.

At this point I am shaking so badly because I am so upset. Especially at the fact that I am bringing back this bike on a shoe string budget. And I was really upset at the fact that I was blamed for the damaged tank when I brought it in in perfect shape. The manager said that if the vaccume didnt work I could take and not pay the 85 bucks. I told him that he would be  replacing the tank  and he refused. I told him that I was not going to purchase anohter tank when the one that I brought in was in perfect shape.

I then preceded to ask for the owners name and number ( chain of radiator shops that have been around for over 50 years). He then back pedalded a litle bit and asked that I give them a little bit of time to vaccume the back back to shape.

I will give them till lunch tomorrow (wednesday) to get my tank done. I have a feeling that it will not be perfect like it was when I took it in that somebody is going to purchase me a tank and its not going to be me.

What can I do on my end to make sure that I get a new tank and at not my cost because of the tank that I took in was in perfect shape other than the light coating of rust on the inside that was caused by the POR.

I am going to give them time so they cannot blame me for rushing them to get it done.

Also to explain the damage more here is a more detailed explination.
The sides of the tank are bent out instead of being a U shape its more of a flat V.
Also the tail bit that gets held down under the seat is bent up and forward.

I think what happened is they sealed the tank tightly when the MEK or any other chemicals were in there and it slowly expanded and bent the tank out.


Please help with suggestions. I ned to get my bike on the rioad an this is just another set back.

[Lucky]

I can't help you with the legal aspect of this, but maybe H2Olawer can.. we also have a few law enforcement officers here..

If i had a spare tank i'd Give it to you & tell you to make out an invoice for $200!  these guys suck! what they should have done right off is called you & let you know there was a problem...

I know it's not the solution your looking for, but it's only a few bucks to file a small claims suit...

--Lucky

[Junior]

Cracker-Sorry this happened to you. I am also on a tight budget and hate getting screwed big time. (Pardon the language) I am also a little off the wall sometime and frankly, I would tell them to take the tank home and hang it on the wall walk out and find a used tank somewhere. Good luck.

[crackerkorean]

Well if need be I will take it to small claims.
I have pictures of when my wife and I were stripping the tank and its straight.
I can also get an signed affidavit from my friend that I bought the bike from saying that the tank was in good shape.
I am also sure that I can get two one from the welder and his son both of which saw the tank right before I took it to the radiator shop. I might even be abl eto get a power coater that I spoke with who looked at the tank to sign one also.

I am going to take a camera with me tomorrow to the rad shop and take pics of the tank to show a before and after.

Hopefully all goes well.

[Lucky]

Ok, crackerkorean, how about this...you really need an 82 tank, smknjoe really need an 83 petcock, & i could use some cash. ?i should be able to assemble one complete petcock (with a fabbed up return tube & a new diaphragm).

Smokinjoe sends the tank to you, i send him a petcock, & you sends me some $$?? ($70)

i'm going to cc this to his post.. (http://ridersofvision.net/forum/index.php?topic=3218.new#new)

--Lucky

[h2olawyer]

Wish I could be of more help on your legal rights.  Unfortunately, I'd be practicing law without a license in Georgia.  I'm licensed only for Colorado.   :P  Therefore, the following are merely suggestions & ideas from a fellow forum member & do not constitute legal advice.  (Obligatory Disclaimer  ;D)

It sounds like you have a good plan.  Asking to call the owner was a good move.  With photos & affidavits, you should have a strong case if it even gets to small claims court.  The shop's expense of defending even a minor complaint like this would heavily outweigh the cost of making it right to you.

If you are not satisfied with their attempts to make the tank correct & they don't offer to pay for a replacement tank, ask for the owner's phone number again.  Also, if they are members of the Better Business Bureau, contact that organization if you can't get just compensation for the damage.  Just a threat (from the BBB itself) to revoke their membership might get them to move more quickly.

I know you're upset, but you might give them an extra day or two to get things done for you - then start bringing out the artillery - small shots at first - calling the owner.  Then move to the BBB.  It may have little effect, but you could also write to the newspapers, radio & TV stations - either letters to the editor or if they have consumer advocates, you might get some help there.  Small claims should be the last resort.  However, getting signed affidavits & presenting copies to the radiator shop should show them you are serious if the previous steps haven't produced any action.

I seriously doubt you could get a local attorney interested in assisting without paying them on their hourly scale.  However, an initial consultation is often done at no charge & they may have some other ideas.  If you end up in small claims court, the office of the court clerk (or some similar title) will be very helpful to you as a pro-se litigant (self represented plaintiff).

Keep us informed & if necessary, I can do a little more research into it for you - but only as an interested forum member!  I do all transactional work & my job is to keep my clients out of court.  My only experience in that area is obtaining a couple restraining orders & a couple probate actions.

Good Luck & I hope it all works out quickly for you.

H2O

[crackerkorean]

Well for now I am going to call them and tell them to stop all work on the tank right now so that I can obtain pics. If not I would like to stop by there either way and get pictures of the after.

I am also going to stop by the welders and talk to them about the whole situation. I will call the owner first and go from there.

I will give them the benefit of the doubt so that they cannot use me rushing them as an excuse.

[crackerkorean]

I just got off of the phone with the radiator shop and they said they tried but that we need to sit down and work something out.

What do I need to bring with me to make this the most beneficial for me to make sure that I come out with what I need to make this right.

And if they offer a monetary sum to fix their goof up what should I ask for to be a reasonable amount.

The orginal tank was in perfect shape other than some surface rust on the inside. All the sheet metal was in great shape and not rusted through any where.

[Lucky]

What do I need to bring with me to make this the most beneficial for me to make sure that I come out with what I need to make this right.

And if they offer a monetary sum to fix their goof up what should I ask for to be a reasonable amount.

Go to Yamaha, price a tank.. weather you can get one or not, & bring that with you, then tell them you'll settle for..$200. that's the price you found one for

[Mutt]

I just priced one from Yamaha extreme sports. Of course it said "backordered" but, the list price was $621.24 part number 11 H-24110-00-6M.

Mutt

[crackerkorean]

I just called the local yamaha shop and its 675.99

[h2olawyer]

Glad they're starting to work with you.  That's a good start.  Lucky's suggestion is a good one.  Finding a tank that doesn't have some rust through is difficult.  You'll have costs associated with getting a used tank into the condition yours sounds like it was in.  Take in the price quote you got & the phone # of the Yamaha dealer.  The price of the new one (even though they are now made of unobtanium) should have them willing to settle fairly quickly.

H2O

[crackerkorean]

I have two price quotes. One from an independant motorcycle shop that can purchase OEM parts. The price from Extreme Sports and I know how much they cost at my local yamaha dealer and I will take the phone number with me and they can call and they can even use my cell if they do not belive me.

I would like to get 1/2 retail or about 300 for a good replacement and to get it to where I had it.

I will post this afternoon on how it turns out.

[crackerkorean]

I spoke with the manager this afternoon and he apologized for the way that he and his staff acted yesterday.
The guy that accused me of lying even came into the office and apologized.
I gave them the two pieces of paper that I had one with a quote of 621 and the other of 675. I agreed to half of the average of the two. Thats 324. I imagine that I can get either a reasonable replacement and get it to the condition mine was in or one that is in great shape.

The shop manager still has to talk to the owner of the company so I will know something tomorrow morning.

So anybody have a tank that is in really good shape they want to sell? Maybe even one that has been PORed?

[h2olawyer]

Glad they're being cooperative.  Looks like you won't have to resort to stronger measures.  $324 should get you either a very nice tank or get a lower condition one up to good shape.  Heck, even if they come back with a counter of $300, that should be OK.  I think I saw a red tank on eBay - a couple dents in the front corners but otherwise looked pretty good.

H2O

[crackerkorean]

DaveTN told me about it to. I am watching it and asked the seller rust.

I would really like to get one that is already PORed if at all possible so that I dont have ot mess with it and can start riding a little sooner.

any body want to sell their tank <wink wink> <nudge nudge>

[smknjoe1964]

I have a 83 tank in great shape already pored ! and I have two 82 tanks both need some dent work and both need pored .I would like to have 150.00 for the 83 and 50.00 for either of the other 82 tanks. One of the 82 tanks is already stripped to bare metal and just needs some dent work and pored ! Let me know if your interested and Ill send you some pictures if you like .

[crackerkorean]

Would an 83 tank work on an 82 bike? I know the petcock opening is different. I might be able to get a local metal fabricator to make an adapter.

[Lucky]

an 83 tank will work on an 82 bike (really, it's with the 82 carbs, year of the bike doesn't matter.
--if the 83 tank has a petcock, just block off the return fitting on the petcock
--if the 83 tank doesn't have a petcock, use an 82 petcock
& have a shop fab up an atapter plate.

the adapter plate should be simple for them to make as long as they have the tank & petcock.  it's simply an oval plate, with an oval hole & 3 holes.

one end hole & the middle hole are threaded. the hole at the other is not threaded.

the end with the threaded hole is bolted to the tank.  the center hole & open hole line up with the petcock & other tank hole.

use a longer bolt to pass thru the petcock & adapter into the tank at one end, & the regular bolt on the other side of the petcock to the adapter plate.

use the 82 petcocks o-ring to seal one side of the plate, & a gaskett with an oval hole between the plate & tank.

hope that makes sense...

--Lucky

[crackerkorean]

an 83 tank will work on an 82 bike (really, it's with the 82 carbs, year of the bike doesn't matter.
--if the 83 tank has a petcock, just block off the return fitting on the petcock
--if the 83 tank doesn't have a petcock, use an 82 petcock
& have a shop fab up an atapter plate.

the adapter plate should be simple for them to make as long as they have the tank & petcock.  it's simply an oval plate, with an oval hole & 3 holes.

one end hole & the middle hole are threaded. the hole at the other is not threaded.

the end with the threaded hole is bolted to the tank.  the center hole & open hole line up with the petcock & other tank hole.

use a longer bolt to pass thru the petcock & adapter into the tank at one end, & the regular bolt on the other side of the petcock to the adapter plate.

use the 82 petcocks o-ring to seal one side of the plate, & a gaskett with an oval hole between the plate & tank.

hope that makes sense...

--Lucky

A picture would help.  ;D