Bending a tank badge

I have a replacement tank badge that wants to be straight, not form fit to the tanks contour and it'll eventually be snagged on something & snap off. I was thinking about using a hair dryer on it to make it soft and bendable and then try to hold that to the tank so it would cool off & be formed properly.

Any better ideas?

 

Heat might work. Maybe set the tank on its side and let gravity do the work.

 

How about boiling hot water to soften the badge and then quickly use pressure to form fit!? I've never done this so be careful not to ruin the badge or your hand.
I'd use gloves

 

I'm concerned about heating it on the tank what with it containing gas. If it were free of gas/vapors I'd be OK with it. I'm also concerned high temps on the badge might peel the foil lettering from the plastic. That's why I haven't done anything to try and fix it, I'm hoping someone has done this and all came out fine.

 

I used 650 Maxim badges on one of my 550s; they don't exactly fit, curvature-wise.

I put them on, tightened the screws snugly but not tight, and parked it in the sun. Went back after 6~8 hours in the hot sun, and tightened the screws up the rest of the way.

You CAN use hot water, but be very very careful; too hot and they start to shrink/distort and you'll never get them back to straight again.

 

I meant to get them hot and soft BEFORE putting them on the tank and holding them tight till they cool on the tank forced to cool to shape???

 

i put the cheap aftermarket ones on my bike, they were straight when i got them,when i screwed them on the tension it created is a bit like a spring washer ,so should keep a bit of tension on them to my way of thinking anyway, 12 months later they are still on and looking good



as it was a slightly different size i had to drill and tap a new hole on the tab,but for 16 bucks for the set im satisfied with them.

 

So, the tank I have doesn't have the slots for the tank badges, maybe it was bondoed or something. Maybe it is an after market tank. I have badges I was thinking of using JB Weld or something to just glue them on? Drilling holes in my gas tank isn't something that I wan to do. I also have side cover badges for my bike now was thinking of just super gluing them on to the covers. Do any of you have better suggestions?

 

YES.

Don't glue them or use JB Weld.

Do it the "automotive way" with 3M automotive trim tape. http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/e ... HC842H7Fgl

You can get a small roll of it at the auto parts store; it's an extremely sticky, two-sided thin foam tape. It's pretty much the same thing Yamaha used to attach the sidecover badges originally. I think the 30mil stuff is what they sell in small "consumer" packages. I got mine at AutoZone. Used it to reattach sidecover badges on both of my bikes; it's permanent until you slice it off, just like original.

 

Thanks for the info Bigfitz!

 

Is that on your new tank doc?

I believe the 750's used stick on badges and not the screw on kind. I removed all the paint on the 750 tank I got and there is/was no bondo or other filler over badge tabs.

 

Yep on the new tank. My old tank someone filled in the slots, so I figured it was the same with the new one as well. BTW: 152 miles before I hit the reserve! Put 160 on it before I put some gas in it. Taking the tank off tomorrow so I didn't want to fill it up. Putting in my new valve shims.

 

Some were screwed on, others taped. Depends on you tank.
If you think it was bondo-ed....careful use uf a small magnet will tell you quickly.

dave