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This page will show some of the steps taken to restore an XLCR gas tank that was attacked by a post. These motorcycles
were meant to be driven and unfortunately, sometimes mishaps occur. The owner stated he was just waiting for a stoplight,
minding his own business when suddenly from out of nowhere this deranged post appeared and .... :o)
Because of the severity of the damage to both the shell and the bottom, it was necessary to separate
them to straighten each. I am not very fond of plastic fillers in general, and on the XLCR tank in particular, so all
work to restore this tank will be without the use of this shortcut.
After two days of hammering, shrinking, stretching, bending, swearing, kicking, screaming, pouting, crying, bleeding,
tending to an owee and all the other skills I so gracefully perform as I practice this sacred craft, I took
the following four photos (once the bleeding stopped) to show the progress.
Anyway, you can now see that the contours have mostly been restored and now all that remains is the finishing.
I can't believe I just said "all that remains".
What remains is really the tedious part of smoothing out the panels by raising each of the low spots. This is why
plastic fillers are so popular.
Hmmmm, maybe I should buy stock in a plastic filler company instead of the line I am in.
The below photos show how the bottom went downward from the pressuse of the impact causing the rear to bend
up. It's not supposed to bend up at the end. This deforming is very similar to what happens to a long ballon when
you squeeze it in the middle.
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Please check back to view the progress. I will be working steadily, but not exclusively on it and will
post more pictures as this tank is returned to the original shape.
All material on these pages is copyrighted by Jim Haubert 2002 - 2003
310 1/2 W. Second Street, Winslow, AZ, US, 86047,
928-289-2568
Now Located on "The Mother Road", Historic Route 66
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