Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

G'day again..

Anyone happen to know what type of aluminium is used on the ZXR750 fuel tanks? I'm thinking probably 6061-T6?

Reason is, I need to do a welded modification to a spare alloy fuel tank I have to make it suitable for road use. Obviously in a previous life it has been used on a race bike & the underside has been deepened to increase capacity, but it won't fit on a standard bike with the standard coils & airbox in place.

Advice on what aluminium to use from anyone with experience welding these tanks would be much appreciated.

Jason

Check the specs on ER4043 and ER5356 grade filler rods.

Are you tig welding? If so, you'll need an AC/DC machine. Preferably with a HF start.

Check out this place, it might help you out.

http://www.bocworldofwelding.com.au/

Nice Plug stu
Shows what I know but I thought the tanks were steel

robracer wrote:Nice Plug stu
Shows what I know but I thought the tanks were steel

the RR was alloy,

had a laugh at stu's plug too

Only trying to help.....

Thanks guys...

It will be TIG welded, not by me though.. will get one of the guys who know what they're doing where I work.

Jason

Jason wrote:G'day again..

Anyone happen to know what type of aluminium is used on the ZXR750 fuel tanks? I'm thinking probably 6061-T6?

Reason is, I need to do a welded modification to a spare alloy fuel tank I have to make it suitable for road use. Obviously in a previous life it has been used on a race bike & the underside has been deepened to increase capacity, but it won't fit on a standard bike with the standard coils & airbox in place.

Advice on what aluminium to use from anyone with experience welding these tanks would be much appreciated.

Jason

Highly unlikely to be 6061T6, that alloy is not really suitable for fabricating, it is more likely to be something like 5083.

If you're putting it back onto the road I have a spare tank from my L (93-95) model track bike if you fancy a swap?

yzr750 wrote:

Jason wrote:G'day again..

Anyone happen to know what type of aluminium is used on the ZXR750 fuel tanks? I'm thinking probably 6061-T6?

Reason is, I need to do a welded modification to a spare alloy fuel tank I have to make it suitable for road use. Obviously in a previous life it has been used on a race bike & the underside has been deepened to increase capacity, but it won't fit on a standard bike with the standard coils & airbox in place.

Advice on what aluminium to use from anyone with experience welding these tanks would be much appreciated.

Jason

Highly unlikely to be 6061T6, that alloy is not really suitable for fabricating, it is more likely to be something like 5083.

^^^^ this. 6061T6 is the sort of alloy you machine to make.....things. It isn't what you use to build a fuel tank.

StuMiller wrote:Check the specs on ER4043 and ER5356 grade filler rods.

Are you tig welding? If so, you'll need an AC/DC machine. Preferably with a HF start.

Heh Stu - what sort of Tig welder would you recommend for welding aluminium ?

I have been welding since 18, stick welding, oxy and also have a nice little gasless Mig for the small jobs - so I have a pretty good understanding of what is needed to weld properly - but I have NFI about Tig's or what would be a good unit for a small home workshop.....

Depends on your budget. You can pick up a good 200 amp DC HF start tig for under $1000.

If you want pulse, gas purge, 2T/4T, up slope and down slope, you'll pay more.

To avoid unnecessary plugs, PM me and I'll email you some details.

no worries, pm on the way......cheers

Definatly get HF start, we get one at work that's not and I hate it

Off topic but gos what's your gas less mig, Ill prob get one but have heard mixed things about them
Cheers

I'll have to check mate - but it is just a cheapie. It does work well though, I knocked up a massive cage on the back of PC's ute last weekend, nailed the job in 2 days wait till you see the photos !! Its a lockable cage so he can secure all the band gear in the back, its getting a proper tonneau cover made up shortly. Should look really good when finished.....

The gasless Mig was perfect for this job - heaps of small spot welds to secure the mesh to the frame, only used thin-wall RHS 20mm for the frame, this Mig only has a Hi/Lo power switch so just did the lot on Hi.

Was also a good chance to test-run the new welding mask I picked up earlier this year......one of those instant ones that have a reaction time faster than the speed of light !!