Clark Tank verses Stabilizer

[Idahocharley]

Bought one of the underbar stabilizers and a larger clark tank. Tank hits stabilizer post.... grrrr. Anyone running a larger clark tank and a stabilizer - how did you do it......

2011 EC 300 6 day

 

[thumperrider1]

I had a very similar problem with my 09 RMZ450 using the IMS tank and a GPR.

I ended up grinding some material off the damper post collar and damper arm and also used a heat gun on the tank. I used a 1/2 drive ratchet extension to shape the tank while it was hot. These were the "before" pics.

Just make sure the wall thickness on the clarke is decent on the front area. Obviously I would try to shape the tank before grinding anything on the damper.....

 

[Idahocharley]

So you heated up the front area on the tank with a heat gun until it was pliable then used a socket to shape the area for clearance?

(The stock shrouds fit like crap on the clarke tank also. Just reviewed an old posting noting the same thing last year from another Idahoan)

I take it you did not heat the socket - correct?

 

[husley]

I spoke with Clarke last week, they assured me their tank would be compatible with my GPR. Im on a 2010 but same frame. Ugh

 

[tnttimber]

I've got a Scotts damper with a post from brp and it clears just fine. Mine is a 2010.

 

[thumperrider1]

So you heated up the front area on the tank with a heat gun until it was pliable then used a socket to shape the area for clearance?

(The stock shrouds fit like crap on the clarke tank also. Just reviewed an old posting noting the same thing last year from another Idahoan)

I take it you did not heat the socket - correct?

That's correct.

 

[Idahocharley]

Good news for me - sort of.

Clarke is allowing me to return the tank to them and will post something on their site which indicates that these tanks do not work will for the 2011 model year bikes.

Numerous compliants for the 2011 years fitment but they DO WORK on 2010 year bikes. I do not know what the differences are between 2010 and 2011 gasgas models although clarke indicated they suspected the OEM shrouds had been changed.

The Clarke tank fit the 2011 frame but had to be slide all the way up to the steering head for the shroud fasteners to be even close to lining up. Even then - the shrouds did not fit the wings on the tank and there would of been some serious tweaking necessary both with the tank wings and the shrouds to allow an acceptable arrangement. If you were looking to run a steering stabilizer (like I am) it would involve some reforming on the front portion of the tank - maybe twice as much as the earlier picture posted in this thread.

Thumbs up to Clarke for recognizing the problem - Now we just need to have a company address the needs for a tank to fit the 2011 (and up??) bikes - I still want and need a larger tank.

 

[husley]

Thanks for the update, VERY helpful as I have a 10' and going to purchase a tank

 

[cascade_crawler]

not good as I have a 2011 and need a larger tank.

 

[twowheels]

Good news for me - sort of.

Clarke is allowing me to return the tank to them and will post something on their site which indicates that these tanks do not work will for the 2011 model year bikes.

Numerous compliants for the 2011 years fitment but they DO WORK on 2010 year bikes. I do not know what the differences are between 2010 and 2011 gasgas models although clarke indicated they suspected the OEM shrouds had been changed.

The Clarke tank fit the 2011 frame but had to be slide all the way up to the steering head for the shroud fasteners to be even close to lining up. Even then - the shrouds did not fit the wings on the tank and there would of been some serious tweaking necessary both with the tank wings and the shrouds to allow an acceptable arrangement. If you were looking to run a steering stabilizer (like I am) it would involve some reforming on the front portion of the tank - maybe twice as much as the earlier picture posted in this thread.

Thumbs up to Clarke for recognizing the problem - Now we just need to have a company address the needs for a tank to fit the 2011 (and up??) bikes - I still want and need a larger tank.

A couple of questions - have you tweaked your radiators at all, or are you running braces that hold them more forward than normal? Did Clarke offer to let you try more than one tank?

Here's why - to the best of my knowledge the only difference between the '10 and '11 frames is the color. Same goes for the shrouds. The radiators should be the same with the exception of the deletion of the expansion tank in 2011. Aftermarket fuel tank manufacturers don't seem to hold to the same standards on sizing as OEs do - I wonder if the specific tank you tried would even fit on a 2010.

 

[Idahocharley]

Sorry about not responding sooner - just have not been on the forum.

Bike is a 2011 EC 300 Six day model. It came with OEM radiator braces. I did not request a second tank from Clarke to test. My experience with Clarke tanks has been very positive in the past (at least 4 tanks) and I did not even consider that there could be/would be significate flutations in the tank sizing.

I did not attempt to force bend the radiators or bend anything in order for the tank to work. I simply attempted to install the new tank and it was not even close on the radiator/shroud fitment. I did put a significant amount of pressure on the radiators to see if I could get the tank to work; but it was short of bending the radiator braces. I could have looked at relocating mount tabs, etc. to get an fit; but in my opinion this should have been basically a bolt-on tank.

I do also appreciate the note from Clarke that indicated that I was not the first to have troubles fitting the 2011 model with their tank. Numberous posts about this same tank on 2010 models.

I did not know what the physical changes were betweent the model years of 2010 and 2011 - FWIW