How To Solder Holes In Motorcycle Gas Tanks (2019)

1981 Yamaha SR250 Cafe Racer Project
In this video I want to share my experience in filling some small holes with solder on both the KZ250 gas tank and the SR250 gas tanks. This was mt first attempt at using this teqnique and I have to say that it was a bit easier than I expected. Hopfully this helps you out if you need to patch a hole in the gas tank of your cafe racer project! As usual if you have any questions just as down in the comments!
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[@taylorramsey4519]

As a plumber I feel obligated to help, the solder not sticking is a problem known as cold welding. Instead of getting the solder hot enough to melt, get the tank itself hot enough to melt the solder. That will allow the solder to stick to it. Using a butane style torch is especially handy in a situation like this because you can get only that small area hot enough to melt and accept the solder without too much heat soak, potentially causing some shrinking.

[@TulsaMotoClub]

Hey thanks for the advice!! Yeah I've actually taken soldering certification course for my.day job since making this video and recognized my mistake but you know you cant get better at something if you never try it to begin with. Thanks for checking out the video and leaving such a helpful comment!

[@tanerrc]

Using a heat gun or blow drier to heat up the area around the hole helps the solder attach to the metal. Great video!

[@TulsaMotoClub]

You're right. I recently did a soldering certification at my day job and learned that I would have had an easier time 8f I had heated the area with a heat gun or something.

[@softwaretutorials3559]

Awesome tip

[@softwaretutorials3559]

Just popped a hole in my tank taking the old emblem off. This is perfect. Thank you

[@Andy588tt]

Hi m8 well done but just a little tip Im a panel beater and have done this for the past fourty years on car bodies What you need to do is clean the area grind off all rubbish rust paint etc next you need to tin the mild steel eastwoods do a paste paint on then use a blow torch once the heat is faned over the repair area it will go dull then with a wet clean rag wipe the tinned area like magic it will go all shiney now keep it hot and with a lead stick for body filling the metal will melt the lead use a flat stick to shape ware leather gloves use tallow to stop the stick from burning shape up and file to get a better shape.lots of practice dont burn hands rub down with cloth emery to key ready for priming and top coat . use sloch to seal inside fuel tank . Do the tinning and soldering before sealing with sloch the tank needs to be dry inside.have fun and keep practising Andy Watts from sunny Lowestoft

[@bretearwood7027]

Another tip: if it smells like fried chicken you are holding the soldering iron wrong!

[@garymurawski1476]

what should it smell like?

[@RMSadventures-ie4fr]

@@garymurawski1476 hog dogs over a open flame. trust me you'll know it when ya smell it, and feel it LOL

[@captlarry-3525]

Wrong! you must get the metal hot enough to melt the solder ..all you have done is make a dangerous "cold solder joint" that can and will pop right off ! when the solder will melt when it touches the metal it is hot enough. That tiny soldering iron is too small, Use a propane torch or 100 -200 watt gun/iron. Must be acid core solder or acid type flux. unless you have special solder and flux, remove galvanizing, solder then re-paint to prevent rust, after removing acid flux.

[@eloimumford5247]

I had this problem on my very old Jawa 250 ...i did'nt know at the time it was possible , no garage wanted to repair by fear of explosion , had to buy a new tank...Thanks for sharing.

[@thatairplaneguy]

Use a torch to heat up the tank metal first. That iron tip isn’t big enough to heat up the tank steel and the solder. That was why it took you a while.

[@ianbray3580]

I have done this successfully over 20 years ago and the tank is still great, do you think I can do it now? No way I’ll keep practicing

[@vintageirish9006]

Strange. My cheap $15 soldering iron worked just fine…

[@paulhealey8221]

Thank you for the video. This will be a great help since high heat brazing is not a option for me, I need to preserve the rare original paint on my 1968 Harley Davidson XLCH. Also I don’t really trust the various sealers on the market. To me, your solder method is the clean, safe and permanent solution. Again, thank you very much! Very much appreciated my friend.

[@TulsaMotoClub]

Thanks Paul! Happy it helped you out!

[@rockinws6567]

INSANE! please don't try anything in this video!

[@2000jago]

1:41 - why so close to camera? Back up a bit....

[@mwtraining4310]

Is it holding up?

[@JohnBobRoger]

Must know the type of solder and type of flux. Plumbing type is different than Electrinic type, both flux and solder...Plumbing type is corrosive.

[@HighPriority]

Watched your video a while back, I’m going to try this on my Kawasaki tank here soon. How is the solder holding up?

[@TulsaMotoClub]

Holding up great!

[@jonathansimmonds5784]

I wish more Brits would post soldering videos, I cringe every time I hear a Yank say 'sodder'....

[@ddddoc7078]

Oi it's sol-duh innit wotwot

[@bobs3354]

Not many Yanks in Oklahoma.

[@Andy588tt]

you cannot put solder direct onto mild steel you need to tin the mild steel first otherwise the solder will not adhere properly sorry m8 basic tinsmithing lol

[@rockman49er]

And how do you do that

[@ewanbaxter9199]

The title and materials say solder but you say soder, why?

[@nurgle11]

Thats how they pronounce it in the US with a silent L (i.e. sodder). The words root is the Latin "Solidaire". In Anglo-french (i.e. after the Norman conquest) it was "soudure" but back to it's Latinised form "solder" in the 15th century. American's just kept the french pronunciation (souder) because they love the French :D

[@bobs3354]

@@nurgle11Yes, we love the French. As a bonus, it annoys the Brits.

[@joelperezgumba]

Did it work I'm doing the same thing in the morning

[@Ashish-qm2ry]

You made it look so simple.Keep it up!

[@TulsaMotoClub]

Thanks friend!

[@FranciscoGalicia]

Thanks for your video. Do you think you can cover a 1/8 of a hole? If so I was also thinking to seal a tank from inside. Thanks

[@motto666]

Your music is making people deaf with earphone. Is it still holding up 3 years later?

[@chrismc410]

Will this work on a car? Car in question: 1989 Plymouth Colt 4x4 Wagon 1.8L. I can have the tank replaced if I have to . But if it saves $450+ cost and labor to replace, I will

[@goerkzilla2361]

I wanted to avoid heat treatment and tried another approach: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIikmYmZaKijZ9U

[@marcopolo5633]

Rapido, sencillo y bien hecho.

[@marcjohntabuyo3891]

You used lead wire sir? Thanks in advance

[@garymurawski1476]

rosin core, or no core?

[@randykgokah9690]

That was smart solution

[@TulsaMotoClub]

Thanks

[@OHOWUNEEDIT]

Loved this video. Short and to the point!

[@TulsaMotoClub]

Glad to hear!

[@basilauximpenaflor4406]

Whats that liquid you put?

[@TulsaMotoClub]

I believe you're talking about the flux. The paste flux melts with the heat

[@OlumiDay8]

I tried this but it still leaked in the same spot

[@mkk94]

Whether the lead react with petroleum??

[@like-nw2vq]

Is this petrol tank and will it last

[@mdhossain6041]

Soldering iron waatt??

[@austinvickymoore3656]

So how did this hold up?

[@ultrapollito688]

What kind of solder wire did you use?

[@ALEXANDERCRETA1]

Bad idea

[@sajsantos6031]

Thanks ☺️

[@JGlenRay]

Nice job!

[@TulsaMotoClub]

Thanks duder!

[@bridgetdorcas9883]

Can i do it without removing the tank

[@TulsaMotoClub]

I wouldnt

[@phillblack1745]

Dude slow the hell down for one please and I say this with respect and tell us more in depth of what you used slow it down buddy lol seriously I mean this respectfully and I would don't sound like I'm sorry I'm just being very forward thanks man later

[@chrisl8818]

Dude... I watched this with the sound off and even I knew exactly what he did 😳 What don't you understand? Clean the area. Lead soldering wire. Flux. Soldering iron. Grind down smooth.

[@bixbyeilands]

Phill, a little punctuation goes a long way to clarifying thoughts. Give it a try!

[@rickpearson9838]

easier to use a torch lighter instead of a soldering iron.

[@cobrin6437]

believe it or not, you can use a gas torch type of blowtorch for heat, the kind for heat shrink or cooking. Enough heat for the job without being too much to get you into trouble.

[@TulsaMotoClub]

It actually hit me after the job was done. I know I should have heated up the work surface first. Oh well. Next time!

[@randharma]

love the disclaimer, nice

[@TulsaMotoClub]

:) thanks duder!

[@Tyler-np9ud]

Is flux really needed? What will happen if it’s not used?

[@TulsaMotoClub]

Flux just helps make the solder flow easier. Dont need it but it helps

[@jasonmcnamara2079]

I think most solders are self fluxing but in this case it helps to have a bit more initially to help the solder adhere

[@jonathansimmonds5784]

Oh no, now it's acertone! Sorry, I can't watch any more, it's like Winston Churchill once said, 'Two nations divided by a common language'.

[@jonathansimmonds5784]

I mean it's not like there's some genetic reason you can't pronounce stuff correctly, you know how to say sold when you sell something, when you join the army you become a soldier not a sodder (although maybe some do!) so come on chaps, let's hear the language you call English spoken as English.