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Has anyone tried to solve this problem by re-drilling the holes for the bolts further up the yolk, I have a tap of the correct size and I am thinking on doing this as the tank has become difficult to bolt down easily.

Do you mean drill and tap some new holes in the frame?

yes thats the plan, the bolt passes through a elongated catch bracket so there is scope to re-drill and tap out the whole.

I suppose if your tank has expanded enough to move the hole and still have enough material between the 2 threads (old and new) then I suppose it's ok.

My tank has expanded but I just undo all the rear mounting brackets when I refit it, then fit the front first, then refit the rear bracket (it seems to be easier to manouevre that way).

Surely its safer or easier to elongate the holes on the rear bracket?

I will have to look further into this, never thought of the rear holes

please record the reply when you share that with your wife......

My main problem is that the tabs on the tank that you bolt down interfere with the top yoke when you raise or lower the tank. drilling and tapping new holes in the frame isn't going to help that.

Personally I'd also think twice about drilling holes in the stress area around the headstock.

Kwackerz wrote:Surely its safer or easier to elongate the holes on the rear bracket?

Been there, done that - still not enough clearance

F-ing F-a-nol

I would imagine the best thing to do is not lift the tank unless absolutly neccesary.
On the ocasions i have lifted my tank i have had to start the bolts off at an angle and then lift the bolts straight making sure not to cross thread the bolts when fitting

my tanks expanded , could only just get it past the top yoke ,, i took the front mount off,, filed slots, so it could go further under the tank .. so far appy days

You must have bloody vivid imaginations you lot.
When I complained to that nice super intelligent bloke at my local Trading Standards, I told him about the expanding tanks and the fact that they may even split.
Fuel spraying out over the engine and hot exhaust could be good fun.

His condescending reply was -

" You don't think the Government would put ethanol in petrol if it was causing problems like this do you".

So come on you lot, let's stop these feckin stupid comments now!

Or perhaps each of us should try to arrange for our bikes to be inspected by our local Trading Standards on the same day if possible and try and get MCN or somebodby involved if we can achieve it.

???

HowardQ wrote:You must have bloody vivid imaginations you lot.
When I complained to that nice super intelligent bloke at my local Trading Standards, I told him about the expanding tanks and the fact that they may even split.
Fuel spraying out over the engine and hot exhaust could be good fun.

His condescending reply was -

" You don't think the Government would put ethanol in petrol if it was causing problems like this do you".

So come on you lot, let's stop these feckin stupid comments now!

Or perhaps each of us should try to arrange for our bikes to be inspected by our local Trading Standards on the same day if possible and try and get MCN or somebodby involved if we can achieve it.

???

Thats a good idea howard, i like it. Who would organise all of this? Someone retired maybe? Good with council issues? A good looking black falco rider maybe?
Can you think of anyone who would meet this criteria

letters to MP's is a start

then share a stock letter around the inter web

when enough interest is raised, start an e-petition - that targets the oil companies - something

"We below seek urgent clarification from the government to unsure that the responsible companies are held liable for the effect of the addition of ethanol on vehicles, and are to be encouraged to allocate funds to compensate all those affected"

something like that

Aladinsaneuk wrote:
when enough interest is raised, start an e-petition - that targets the oil companies - something

There's been an e-petition (I even shared it on this forum).
Hardly anybody signed it - nobody's interested.

Sounds like Pete is already taking the job on! (Some good ideas there).

I would be glad to help, (but seem to have less time now I've retired Jay).

As Andy says, nobody else seems interested.
Are the Aprilia tanks made out of a unique type of plastic and no other bikes are being affected?
I would not have thought so, but why is nobody else kicking up a stink like us, even some modern cars have plastic tanks, (but then again they don't get taken off very often, so how would they ever find out), and they are not going to rust and want replacing are they.
How many recent bikes have plastic tanks these days, and/or possibly how many big selling older bikes, as I am not sure now I have mentioned it.
My ZX9R and recent Hondas were all steel tanks.