My tank has a case of the mumps???

Hey guys, disconnected the battery tender, wheeled her out & noticed that my tanks has some weird 'bumps' in it...on either side of the gas cap & slightly forward. They are very subtle & about the diameter of a golf ball...but even without looking, if you run your fingers over it you can feel them.....any ideas???

The bike didn't have much gas in while standing over the winter. Took her out for a nice hour ride & they're still there. Weather is awesome...mid 60s...damn I almost forgot how awesome this bike is to ride....what a blast!!!!!....just a bit concerned about her case of the mumps . This happen to any of you guys??

cheers for now, Rob

Mine has mumps too.



Damned ethanol.

It should be a warranty issue.

Hey Crotchey, so you reckon it's this crap gas of ours? Have you tried to get KTM to replace it under warranty? I'm running premium at the pump...,or whatever the highest octane is.

I'll post some pics in minute or two. I'm guessing the 'swelling' is not going to go away....if so, I have my first service coming up & I will definitely take it up with the dealer...surely stuff like this should be covered under the warranty?...or do they expect us to buy race gas

cheers Rob

Here are some pics of the 'mumps'....hard to get good shots without the proper lighting, but you should be able to see the bumps in the red circled areas.

Cheers Rob

mines an 57 (07) SD and i have the same as crotchrocket.. i doubt it will be under warranty after all this time, (4 years) i suppose i will have to live with it

Mine is still under warranty, but I haven't taken it in yet. I plan on doing it soon though.

Do you guys have alternatives? In Aus we have the ethanol contaminated crap, or 95 octane, or proper 98 octane that I run in my bikes, that does not produce the mumps!

Is the ethanol the highest rating allowed in you country?

If so that sucks.

I'm on my fourth tank. Last one was replaced out of warranty. All three have either cracked or started to bubble on the outside. There's clearly an inherent problem with the design or manufacturing process.

If you have this issue (fuel tank deformation due to water absorption) with a US spec bike then you will still get the tank replaced, even if the bike is technically out of warranty. EPA forces the manufacturers to "warranty" any part of the bike that is considered integral to the emissions system for a period of ten years from date of purchase. This is a huge issue that a lot of us have been dealing with on our Ducatis, and seeing how the tank is manufactured by the same company, Acerbis...

Can you get ethanol free gas in PA? We have nothing but 10% ethanol gasoline in Western NY.
My bike is at the dealer for a leaky tank. I didn't see any mumps after this winter. Bike was stored with the reserve light illuminated (when the key was on) so there wasn't much gas in it. Hopefully this EPA 10 year ruling has merit. Could save me buying an extended warranty, if there is one available.
FYI, my bike is a 08 SD purchased new in February 2010.

The ethanol does not technically cause this, but it is the catalyst that allows it to happen. The tanks are made of a specific nylon compound that reacts poorly to constant exposure to water. The ethanol in our fuels will wick the water particles from the fuel itself, when allowed to sit stagnant, and allows separate layers to develop in the tank: one petrol, one ethanol and one water. Over time the nylon that the tank is constructed from will absorb the water, and this is what causes the tanks to swell.

A friend of mine is an attorney in the DC area, and has been in constant communication with Ducati about this very problem, which has plagued several models over the last several years. He was actually making pretty good headway in getting a working solution developed (i.e. not going after any damages), but then a separate law firm out of San Francisco filed a class action suite against Ducati. This suite basically caused both Ducati NA and Ducati Spa to quit talking with Izaak.

Anyhow, you can read up on all the research here: http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index ... ic=43639.0

Sadly, I have the mumps too.
Didn't have them when I put it away for winter,went down and looked now.
Left side of tank by the seat junction.
I am sure it is only the start.

This bike keeps diaspointing me.
This my tenth KTM and my first and last KTM street bike.

Keep in mind that any new tank you get from KTM will also start to swell in time if you don't do anything to mitigate it. They are simply going to replace the tank with another made of the same material. My Ducati, an '06 Sport1000 is starting to show signs of deformation on it's third tank.

There are a few products out there that can be used to coat the interior and seal the tank. That's basically the best option until Acerbis starts using a different formula of nylon. Well, other than fabbing a metal tank that is.

MrZ32.
Thanks, Hope hope! I will research and try next week. Hope hope!

drkwng.
Read your link, Looks to me that there is an issue on Ducs. But from what I read it looks like they are replacing deformed tanks, not ugly ones.

twinrider32.
So true about problems with Jap bikes.
I have had less issues with this one in the last 24 years than I have had with my Duke in the last 1.5 years.



Let's keep the tank thread going. Anyone else?

If memory serves me correctly, the proposal to move to a 15% blend was declined.

I have been contacted by a law firm (Girard Gibbs LLP) addressing the Ducati gas tank issues. I found them through the Ducati forum link posted by "drkwng". I emailed them Saturday evening and received a voicemail from them today, Monday.
I called them back and spoke with a person named Amy Zeman. Amy is the person who left me the voicemail.
She was very interested in what I had to say in regards to what some of us are experiencing with the deformed SD gas tanks. If you want this issue to get some legs, may I suggest contacting them via the www.ducatmonsterforum.org link or email Amy Zeman at [email protected]

Below is my response to Amy Zeman at Girard Gibbs LLP.


Attention: Amy Zeman of Girard Gibbs LLP

Thanks for your prompt reply in regards to the questionable KTM Super Duke Gas Tank / Ethanol issue. Although not comfirmed that ethanol is the cause of the warping of the KTM Super Duke gas tanks it does bear a close resemblence to the Ducati gas tank problems.
It was told to me, by my dealer (Williamsville Competition in Holland, NY), that Acerbis manufacturers both the Ducati and KTM gas tanks that are in question.

As promised, I am sending you links to three particular motorcycle forums that discuss the Ducati gas tank problem and where the KTM Super Duke owners are experiencing the same deformation and leaking gas tanks.

I am going to post on the www.superduke.net website about your firm contacting me via my participation through the www.ducatimonsterforum.org forum.

Any help in regards to this problem will be beneficial to us, the consumer.

Regards,

Russ Withiam

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=16061

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthre ... 633&page=6

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthre ... 633&page=7

http://www.advrider.com/forums/search.p ... id=5642498

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index ... ic=43639.0

You know, the best thing that anyone in the states can do, is contact your local political representative/senator and voice your frustration over this issue. Tell them that the cause of this is directly related to the agriculture/corn industry lobbyists continuing to push for higher and higher amounts of ethanol in our fuels. Tell them that you oppose this idea, and strongly encourage them to echo your concerns when they vote on any upcoming legislation on ethanol related issues.

Hiya drkwng.....I'm still pissed about my mumps & just this weekend ran into this product. I'm sure it is not new to the market, but do you have any personal feedback on it...or know of anyone who may have used it with good results. I'm guessing it would be good to use if the scoot was going to stand for any length of time with some gas in it.



Cheers Rob

I called my dealer to day to get an update on the SD that I dropped off a week ago. He has ordered a new tank (under warranty) to replace the original that has only one riding and storage season on it.
I used the Star-Tron in my last tank of gas prior to storage. I believe that leak problem existed before the introduction of the enzyme fuel treatment.
Not sure if the Star-Tron works but it seems one would have to use it all the time to see if it addressed the suspected ethanol related expanding tank problems.

I have a 2005 . I had my tank replaced out of warranty for leak and swelling so much the paintwork cracked . I even got the choice of colour so went for a black one over the orange in the hope it wont go the same way as the orange one did . I had to contact KTM UK directly to get it done though .

My dealer is in western New York. They are Williamsville Competition. They are also a Ducati, Husqvarna and Moto Guzzi dealer. I have only dealt with them with the delivery of the SD in 2010 and now this issue. I believe they will stand behind the consumer. I have talked to other people I know in the motorcycling community who have dealt with Williamsville Competition and they have nothing but good things to say about them so I have that going for me. Al Gillen, the owner, readily admitted that the Ducatis were having tank problems but said he hadn't seen a KTM problem. I will be calling KTM NA and get their take on the situation.

With Sequentialshift's reply as to getting KTM to replace the tank out of warranty tells me that they know of the problem and will stand behind the product. Time will tell.

[quote="sequentialshift"]I have a 2005 . I had my tank replaced out of warranty for leak and swelling so much the paintwork cracked . I even got the choice of colour so went for a black one over the orange in the hope it wont go the same way as the orange one did . I had to contact KTM UK directly to get it done though .[/quote]

Today, I had the opportunity to speak with Brian Licul, KTM NA Customer Service Manager. We had a candid conversation in regards to the SD gas tanks leaking. He mentioned that he has only seen maybe 10 tanks that had to be replaced. I told him my biggest concern is when the tank is out of warranty and a leak develops, who will pick up the tab for a replacement tank?
He assured me that KTM will stand behind their products and will be fair as to how the claim is handled. They have replaced tanks before , when they were out of warranty,
Bottom line was that KTM NA has and will take care of the consumer on a case by case basis.

I suggest to others on this forum to call KTM NA if you are having a problem.

Seeing as I have an '06 with an '07 tank which I have noticed has a small case of swelling, and people are getting them replaced on KTM's "goodwill" 'cause theres an underling fault, do you guys reckon I'd be able to get one through the same route?

I'm guessing the answer would be no seeing as it isn't the original tank, but.....?

Is this the manufacturers fault for making fuel tanks that can't cope with the fuel or the governments fault for introducing fuel which is not compatible with existing equipment?

Either way, guess who gets screwed....

To alll those who think it is a manufacturing defect...it is not. In Europe they eat corn, they don't grind it up and ferment it. that is why european manufacturers are not tested for long term exposure for the crappy blended gas we are stuck with.

[quote="Chiguro"]I've got a 2008 SuperDuke R and was purchased in 2009. I do live in California and yes...I've got the mumps...

I emailed Amy to see what progress, if any, has been made and if just another complaint can get the ball rolling faster with KTM. I'm not looking for monetary compensation, rather...I just want a solution. Replacing a tank every few years would be annoying.

Lets see what happens...[/quote]

Chiguro,

I'm curious to know if anyone from Girard-Gibbs (Amy Zeman) replied to your email. My last correspondence with them stated they weren't going to pursue a suit. Just curious.

Dealer replaced my tank yesterday under warranty, new one is smooth and lump free, hope it stays that way!

For those of us in the states:

AMA is trying to get support rallying behind a bill prohibiting the Administrator of the EPA from authorizing the use of gasoline containing greater than 10 percent ethanol in certain vehicles. Please go through this site and show your support.

http://capwiz.com/amacycle/issues/alert ... 6&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=22077

E15 anyone?

Any one from the UK with this problem had their tanks replaced under warranty?

The case that I previously posted has gone (as it was large harder bumps) but I've now got a fair few small softer "pimple" type bumps in various places.

Grrr. Just noticed my most recent tank (number 3) now has a crack near the filler cap. The bike is long out of warranty at this point.

That's pretty ugly, but aren't these tanks made of polyethylene? That's the same stuff fuel jugs (carboys) and "gas cans" (non-metallic) are made of.

If so, it isn't ethanol that's the problem ... Ethanol is often stored and shipped (by chemical manufacturers) in polyethylene containers.

In addition to UV, polyethylene can be susceptible (but usually at elevated temperatures) to some chlorinated solvents and aromatic hydrocarbons. Its the latter of these are present in gasoline (e.g. xylene and toluene). Because polyethylene is effectively crystalline at room temperatures, it generally holds up well to the low concentrations of these chemicals in gasoline. While polyethylene has a somewhat low melting point, our gas tanks shouldn't be seeing anywhere near the needed amount of heat (temperature) to adversely affect the tank material.

I do wonder however, about whatever activator or modifier that would have to be used to get the paint to adhere to them (quite possibly these same aromatic hydrocarbons). Perhaps its a copolymerized polyethylene ... the vinyl acetates and acrylic copolymers used for this, could result in substantially increased susceptibility. Maybe the tank isn't polyethylene at all?

Regarding Ducati - isn't there a pending class action suit over their tanks (which I thought were made of polyamide - not polyethylene)? I thought I read somewhere that Acerbis makes their (and some KTM) tanks - ?

Gents - where possible, I'd be exercising those warranties. I have to wonder in any case, why some tanks exhibit this and some not.

just a thought - is it possible those with deformation of the tank are not running fuel through said tank on a regular basis?
I.e. is there a correlation as to how long the fuel sits in the tank before being used up?
I have slight deformation but use my bike regularly and fuel rarely sits for more than a week.

I ask because a friend has a Ducati Monster, know for their tank deformation issues as they are made by Acerbis as are ours (I believe) and he rarely rides. His tanks (on his third) have had some SERIOUS deformation.

Acerbis makes the tanks for both Ducati and KTM (as well as Aprilia, Harley Davidson and MV). The thanks themselves are made from a version of nylon (PA6 in the states) that absorbs water that the ethanol wicks from the gasoline.

I think it was Nick, but I'm not 100% sure. It may have been the other guy with spiky hair and black rimmed glasses who told me what KTM had said.