Rotten tank - solution found

You have to bear in mind that XS250/400s were shite bikes in the first
place and no-one in their right mind would think of restoring one. If
I'd acquired one and found it leaked fuel I wouldn't bother buying a
new tank, I'd chuck it in a skip and walk away. Ducati SS models are a
different kettle of worms.

 

Is this pun actually intended ?

Paul.

 

Good enough reason to avoid them then.

 

That would've been the Forza Italia half of the company rather than the
Baines half. They split a few years ago, & not in a friendly way as far
as I can tell. Forza still claimed that Baines did all their servicing
work - something that Baines knew nothing about...

 

I would first ask what welding process the guy is using, if it is anything
other than TIG for a tank I would start worrying.
OTOH the traditional method of making a tank is to solder it so that is
also acceptable.

 

I'm pretty sure it was all called Baines Racing when I dealt with
them. The service side could get more money doing race prep work so
that got priority above after sales stuff and the people buying bikes
suffered. If I'd bought the bike in October or November rather than
March it would have been different but who the **** buys a brand new
sports bike at that time of the year?

 

I'm sure Baines will do you right; they know their stuff.
I would have offered you my tank as a temporary, but it's
been converted to run a Triumph fuel pump for the 620ie!

 

Baines Racing and Forza Italia have been seperate entities since about
2000

 

You mean 1999? I thought they were still as one when I bought the MV in
2002 but could well be wrong.

That's kinda my point, Baines don't sell bikes. I know not whether they
did as a separate entity in the past, but the sales/aftersales bods who
caused your grief won't be anything to do with them now.

As far as the OP's problems are concerned, Baines do have an excellent
reputation for spannering, unlike many dealers involved with MVs.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Tim

LOL!

 

Uh huh.

IIRC you did a lot of commuting to Jockland for Servicing.

 

Relatedly - have you checked out what other people might have fitted
that would look ok? At that price I'd be surprised if every owner had
shelled out the thick end of 800 or even 400 for a repair.
A tank's a tank, after all.

 

From all the appeals on the web, people haven't been able to fit any
replacement. Mdina Ducati said that prices of good used tanks are
'skyrocketing' because of this problem, plus the fact that the racing
guys are flapjacking all the good ones (*waves* at Ant).

Pet-Seal and the like is one imperfect solution.

New ones are discontinued.

The US composite pattern ones cost $1800 plus paint plus shipping plus
duty

One-off replacements will be expensive because of the fitment issue
plus the need to site the fuel pump, filter, sender etc precisely
right.

It's a real, real bugger.

 

If they're getting as rare as that I'd expect an enterprising
fibreglasser to start up soon.

 

Don't encourage him.

 

eye-thank-ewe

 

I would be inclined to give your new tank a very good dose of sealant
to help prevent it rotting out again.

The cost of tooling is always a bugger when making small quantities,
I wonder if a local company could do a fibreglass or composite
replacement at a reasonable price.
Fibreglass moulds are cheaper and easier to make than metal press dies.

 

Yeah. It was early when I posted that reply.

So the service department fucking about was nothing to do with Baines?

They're good but they were extremely unhelpful. I got the impression
that their attitude was one of "we're always busy so if you don't like
it **** off".

 

Well, like I said elsewhere, they already have in the US. But it costs
1800 bucks...

 

And that's raw.

A third or a quarter of that would be more realistic. Sounds like the
'glasser there is just screwing what he can out of the market - ****
him.