Topic: Beginner Help Changing Gas Tank

[broken]

Hey all, maybe the greenest question ever to hit this board but I find most information around glances over the small details which I'm hesitant to assume things about. Anyhow, just got a new tank for my '75 CB400F and going to swap it, just wondering does the gas line just slips off the petcock or is there something else holding it there that I'm gonna wreck by pulling? Anything else I should be aware of before swapping tanks? Thanks a lot, sorry for the basic basic post, I just don't want to screw anything 'cause I didn't know some small thing.

bro`ken

[Geeto67]

usually there is a small hose clamp on the fuel line to the petcock (a wire hose clamp not the screw clamp). 9 times out of 10 if the fuel line is replaced the wire clamp gets lost and is not replaced so long as there is no leak. Take a look if you see a piece of wire wrapped around the hose then pull the two loops toward each other and it should loosen, if not just yank it off.  Most times I look at the line and if it looks old I will cut and replace, since gas line does go bad after a while it isn't a bad idea to put new rubber on when changing the tank.

BTW make sure there is no rust in the tank before putting it on, otherwise we will get another post about carb rebuilds. 

[Barrett99]

This would also be good time to install an inline gas filter, available at most bike shops and quite a few
auto parts stores.

[Uncle Ernie]

I recommend putting on a hose clamp before the hose gets old. The hose is like a Chinese finger puzzle, so it's actually easier to get something flat (screwdriver) and push it off rather than pull.

Where did you get a new tank and how much was it?

[broken]

Thanks for all the info, line already had a filter, swap went great. Tank I got off Ebay for $107 USD plus $35 USD shipping from US to CAN.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=4570826984&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT

Excellent condition, couple paint nicks but no dents and clear coat shines all over. I'll be selling my old one once I take a few pics, got a number of dents in one side ( not my bad! got the bike with them nothing too major, still looks great ) and the clear coat on the top is a little dull, working cap and petcock. Figured the price of the new one was worth the trouble I would've gone through to get the dents out and a new paint job.

bro`ken

[pmpski_1]

Be careful when you unstrap the seat side of the gas tank. The rubber may be old and crack easily.

[broken]

Yeah the rubber strap is almost done for.

bro`ken

[SteveD CB500F]

"Fuel Tank Rear Mounting Rubber" NOS £8.00 (~US$15) for David Silver

[Raul CB750K1]

Yeah, forget the rubber strap. if it breaks it means it was long gone, so time for a new one and many years to come of trouble-free gastank-removing.

Raul

[Lumbee]

...does that tank strap serve any real purpose?     I broke mine the 2nd or 3rd time I removed the tank and just never replaced it...the seat seems to hold the tank in place fine...

[SteveD CB500F]

I don't suppose it would hurt too much without one.

I broke my battery strap and drove around for two years without one.  The battery is held firm by the +ve and ground cables.
I found a replacement from David Silver while looking for something else, so replaced it at that time.

[Lumbee]

..there is a battery strap?   

[Einyodeler]

I think those straps were put in to keep someone from stealing your battery,they sure are a pain in the arse to unhook

[SteveD CB500F]

Yep.

And when they're 30 years old, you stretch them and they snap!

[Raul CB750K1]

I had mine broken for some time. The seat keeps the tank in place, but I feel safer if I know the tank is firmly attached to the frame.

Raul

[mrbreeze]

My gas tank and battery straps are both there but have been broken since I've owned it (4-2000) I can't see any reason for them being there except for authinticity.I'm not going to worry about them.

[gaijin]

The tank strap on my 400f seems almost new, though I never use it. Once my throttle cable came loose in traffic (doh!) and the hardest part of the quick fix was getting the damn tank strap off. Probably it would get easier the more I use it, but I don't anymore, since I keep pulling the tank off all the time.