Wanted Tank to fit a 82 XJ550 Maxim

Had a terrible situation where the Radiators shop returned my tank destroyed and said sorry... I'm newer to this so don't want to do hard modifications. I'm wanting to do a slight conversion to a cafe racer style. I would love some help finding a tank, trading for one with other parts I'm taking off, or finding other options. Thank you.

 

Looks like idiot pumped 100 psi into it and boom. The upside is if you keep it on the bike it will hold at least another gallon of gas

 

Seems to me they owe you a tank

 

He’s trying to say that even if he fixed the tank, because of the original sealer rusting off from behind inside, and it not coming out in his dip and he’s “tried everything on these old tanks before” that nomatter what the tank is junk. So his contribution is just him being nice... I don’t know if he’s right or not. I can have him straighten it out and stuff if someone knows a way to take care of the inside. That sealer seems indestructible and there are chunks of it in there as well as pulling of the walls.

 

Sounds like he’s trying to weasel out of making things right. If he’s “tried everything before”, why didn’t he tell you that first and decline the job?????

the metal on the underside looks darn solid from here. It looks like he attempted to to widen the tunnel!! What does the rest of the tank look like??

you can remove ANY loose pieces. It just takes a bit of time, finesse, Long tweezers or other tools to grab pieces, break up larger pieces, vacuum, Stick with gum on the end, creativity, etc...... you can (normally) see down to the bottom of the right side of the Tank. So if you can SEE debris, you CAN remove it. It may not be easy, but we’ve all done it.

Now if you’re looking for some other shaped tank, lick you wounds, walk away and get a different tank.

But from what I see,I still call BS on him

 

Anyone have any more advice or options for a tank? He offered to take the tank back and fix it all up (doubt he can) but he claims that the inside is so bad it’s not worth anything anyways it’s just gonna keep clogging things up and that slush inside is gonna keep breaking down. Or he will give me $50 bucks to use to find something else...

I would be fine doing another type of tank, I just haven’t been able to find anything that will fit easily. I heard basically a first gen Radian(86 I think), then the maxim and seca 550’s are all that will work. However I can’t find any of those.

Council would be appreciated, thanks guys!

 

If you’re still looking, I have a solid tank off a 82 maxim XJ550.

 

Fill a pillow case with sand half way lay flat till its about 3" thick, then roll the opens end up the last half and staple entire length closed. Remove all attachments from tank, and flush outside with water hose thoroughly. Shake remaining water out, flip upside down onto pillow case sandbag. Jiggling it and pushing into bag seating it firmly. Use or borrow an oxy\acetylene torch, start heating at lowest bent area moving torch side to side, purpose is to get areas glowing yellow to light orange and using a large rubber mallet to slowly pound it back into as close to original shape. As it starts to pound out (when u see metal moving) move torch around as well, never get any spot to a (glowing Red) color, and especially don't pound that spot or burn thorough metal (keep it moving). Slowly work heat to high points. A rubber mallet will push big areas flat, where as a steel hammer will push (ping) small dimples. That's why I said rubber,you don't want to make inside look like a mountain range. Hit colder areas that will force a wider area of metal to move the softer heated area preventing mallet from melting and smoking in your face. Don't worry about remaining water inside, heating metal that hot will make it evaporate and be bone dry when done. (I) could have that looking good in about 2 hrs myself and paint stripped, and in primer in 4.
I don't know your metal working experience, so if little or none then prepare to move slow with it.

 

How much you want for your damaged tank?

 

you willing to sell/shipp that tank, Im interested if so.

 

I've got a tank from a 400 Seca for sale.

 

I dont have any other XJ's in my posession, so not interested in anything xj related at the moment except for the 550 tank and swing arm. but thank you for the offer.

 

Pm’d

 

Dave, here are the pictures of the 400 Seca tank.

 

Dang it, same damage, same holes.

 

For those who don’t know what this is, it’s a baby cousin..... the XS400rj Seca. Here is one of mine so you can see what one looks like.



eventually my other one will get there, too...

dave f

 

nice little twin...

 

That's cute, you should do a post about these.

 

Look ma, no frame tubes in front of the engine!

 

hey dave, whats the redline on that thing? and is it 4,5, or 6 speed?

 

6 speed.....

 

Wow, I did not expect to see a 10k redline on that... cool little dude... does it vibrate like the xs650's do?

 

Nah, it rides pretty decent for a little bike. ive unwound it pretty good too... not thrashing it, just giving it what it want

 

I just saw a Maxim version of the 1983 XS400 for sale. Super nice shape. I just need to win the lottery.

 

The hard one to get would be the xj400 maxim..... Japanese market only.

the 400 has several iterations...... both single cam and two cam

xs400 Special - 2 cyl
xs400 seca - 2 cyl
xs400 maxim - 2 cyl
xj400 maxim - 4 cyl

I had an xs400 special awhile back, but it didn’t do anything for me....

 

Hello,
I have a tank for a 82 xj650. Don't know if that will fit your 550.
Gary Potter

 

It will fit but the hooks inside the tank tunnel need to be removed and relocated rearward, otherwise the tail of the tank is too far back.

 

Okay