How Can You Remove a Dent From a Motorcycle Tank ?

Copyright (c) 2008 Steven Magillthe reflected black lines will all be smooth. If on
You may be wondering, "How can you remove athe other hand the tank is dented, then the
dent from a motorcycle tank?" It's a goodreflected lines will converge, balloon and be
question, and one that has puzzled many peopledistorted where the reflected dent is. This is
over the years. Specialists in this area of dentimportant!
removal have got it down to a fine art theseAs the dent is massaged and caressed from the
days. Their dent removal techniques are just likeinside, using a special tool designed for removing
magic.dents in motorcycle gas tanks, the reflected black
How can you remove a dent from a motorcyclelines in the region of the dent will become less and
tank? By going inside to push out, or by goingless ballooned and distorted. By the time the
outside to pull out, either way the dent getstechnician has completely removed the entire
removed.dent, the reflection will be smooth and perfect.
Motorcycle gas tanks have their caps on the top,Of course, the actual surface of the motorcycle
usually at the highest point. That way they can betank is constantly checked as well for
filled to the maximum. Unfortunately, the gas capssmoothness. But the reflections of the black lines
on motorcycle tanks are not large openings.is arguably the best visual and actual guide as to
Some motorcycle gas tanks are double skinned.the presence or otherwise of the dent. Properly
It's a bit like having a tank inside a tank. This kindperformed, the dent will vanish completely and
of gas tank makes it difficult to remove the dentthe repair will be wholly invisible. That's the mark
from the inside as you will be applying pressure toof a good motorcycle dent removal - nothing left
the inside metal skin, and not the outside metalto see.
skin where the dent actually is.The days of answering the question of, "How can
However, if the tank has a single wall, or metalyou remove a dent from a motorcycle tank?" by
skin, then the job becomes very easy. Well, easyremoving the tank, rubbing it down, or removing
in the hands of an expert at least. The first thingthe paint with stripper completely, then applying
done is to attach an object a bit like a flag ontofiller, rubbing that down before re-spraying the
the tank. This has a flexible mounting that can beentire thing has all but gone.
adjusted to any angle, and at the end is aToday's expert technicians use paintless dent
rectangular flag-like card with parallel black linesremoval techniques. They attempt to leave the
running the length of it on a white background.original factory paint exactly as it is. They also
This is a very clever idea. The "flag" is reflected inattempt to remove the dent with leaving a mark,
the shiny paintwork of the motorcycle gas tank.and more often than not they succeed.
If the tank is in perfect factory condition, then