V7 Classic - Plastic Tank - Warranty Claims

Technical Small Block V Twins (not new V7s)
1

Has anyone had their plastic tank replaced under warranty ? Or considered it ?

I have a plastic tank that no longer fits as it appears to have “lengthened”, and the retaining bolt no longer lines up with the frame.

  1. Has anyone had a similar problem ?

  2. Has anyone else had other problems with the plastic tank ?

  3. Has anyone made a warranty claim for such a problem ? If so, then was the claim successful ?

  4. Has anyone made an out of time warranty claim for such a problem, and if so, what was the result ?

  5. I do not know if any other models were kitted out with a plastic tank. If so then I would be interested in hearing from members who have had similar experiences.

My general searches on the internet seem to indicate that ethanol in petrol does not produce a happy result in a plastic tank. I wonder if this is one of the reasons that the latest models have a steel tank.

2

I have a V7 Classic with a plastic tank. It is a 2011 model. I understand that it is best to avoid any job that involves removing the tank as, once untethered by the retaining system, they can be a right pain to get back on. I have been told that some people shave down some rubber stops on the nose of the tank and apply quite a high force using a crowbar to get the rear retaining bolt back into the lug on the chassis. No direct experience myself though.
Best of luck; and if you find out how to do it please post some tips.

3

Had this problem on my 2008 750 Breva. Tank was a real bugger to get back on. I was told by someone racing a Triumph at Brands Hatch that placing a plastic tank in a freezer will cause it to return to it’s original dimensions.

4

Drain, dry out and leave in a dry environment and it will take up its’ original size.

5

I’ve also experienced this problem on my 2010 classic. I did try to fit a stud and slide the rear mount over it but no luck with that. Would be interested to hear of any solution.

6

how about getting a proper guzzi from the 80’s, no plastic there! :laughing:

7

Mee-phoo-cane-eow. :wink:

8

Solution: PXed the plastic bike (having first replaced the plastic tank) for an all metal one; 2016 vintage.

Added extras, apart from the metal tank: 6 speed gearbox; ABS; traction control; 6 litres more fuel in the tank.

I just hope the new one is better. The old one was running very sweetly with nearly 17,000 on the clock.

9

I’ve got one of the first 2011 V7 Racers (No.975) and after about 6 months noticed the plastic tank chrome finish showing a crack line. It didn’t leak but drove me mad. I had it changed under warranty and within 3 months the same thing happened with the second one. That was also changed under warranty but this time with a metal one. No problems since and I’m much happier now :slight_smile:

It’s not as simple as just changing the tank as I believe the fuel feed system also has to be changed.

10

When I was looking into my problem with the plastic tank, I went to the local former Moto Guzzi agent to enquire if they had a second hand tank. It was apparent that what they had dealt with was the same problem as yours; namely the chrome finish de-laminating from the plastic tank. I suppose, in retrospect, that chromium plating onto plastic was not a good idea. But then perhaps it was the expansion of the tank due to ethanol that caused the boundary between plastic and metal to become unstable.

During my enquiries it I also found out that the fuel pump unit from the plastic tank would not fit a replacement metal tank. A new fuel pump unit would have to be acquired also. The combined cost of new metal tank and fuel unit was going to take the bike to a point where it was almost an economic write off. I suppose it would have been, had I had the job done at the bike shop with their added labour costs.

Now, with the new bike with a metal tank, I have to say I am happier too.