Syncro tank straps

[KJH]

Hi all,

My fuel tank straps are knackered on one side. Can anyone please tell me if diesel straps are the same as petrol?

Cheers.

[Aidan]

the same rusty things

[peasant]

I hear it's a pig to replace them ...might as well do it right and get stainless ones (and never do it again)

http://www.kaefer-co.de/index.php?view= ... ge&id=2831

[syncropaddy]

I bought a set from this place. Bit slow on delivery but they fit.

[Boltze]

Three years ago I tried the prototypes of this stripes for Thomas Koch. The fitting was perfect.

[KarlT]

Can you see the bolts to replace or is a total pig of a job?

[Boltze]

It takes a long time to get the tank out. Everything was rusty or no more. The syncro was 20 years ath this time, and the strips the original ones.

[KarlT]

Hold on, are you saying the petrol tank has to come out to replace the straps?

Can't it be propped & straps removed?

[syncrosimon]

The tank straps are held on by 4x 13mm nuts, two on each strap. You can get them out without too much trouble when the gearbox is out, not tried it when gearbox in. The two rear nuts bolt up onto the rear cross member, the front of the straps you can see from the engine bay, and has an adjustable piece of stud, this thread can rust, but you can squirt it with penetrating oil from the engine bay iirc. A long reach deep socket 13mm socket is very handy. I used an electric impact driver and lots of oil to gradually work the nut up and down the thread (rusty) until it came undone. I think I even put a 13mm nut with a cut through one face, and threaded it on and did it up to the seized nut, to clean the thread, it is easy to twist the top part of the bracket, which at the front is only accesible with tank out.

The tank will not fall out, even without the staps there, it is a job that is probably worth waiting for a gearbox removal day. My tank did not move a single mm when straps released.

Mine had a complete covering of surface rust, but painted up easily. If you have your welder out you most likley could effect a repair, which is more sensible, considering you will never see them again.

Removing the tank requires a great deal of levering pulling and more force than you think is sensible, if you can avoid it I would.

Here is the rear mounting of the tank strap, see how rusty it looks.


And in the bottom of this box you can see the painted bracket, no welding required, just wire brushing.

[jebiga41]

just got some replacement straps myself going to have a go at replacing a least one of them without taking out the engine or gearbox so will let you know how i get on although not looking forward to it but don't see why should have to take out the engine or gearbox am i just being niave here in assuming one can replace the straps without removing the above ?

[Aidan]

it's possible to do it insitu, really helps to have it on a ramp though for access from below

[jebiga41]

thanks aidan will have a go at it when it eventually stops raining over here (although that could be next year ) in beautiful green ireland figured i can probably replace one of them as can see everything so but haven't really looked at the other one but access may be a problem although still working through my list of things to do, so could be a while finished the back wheel bearings brakes etc so now to concentrate on the front ball joints and brake pads pipes, cv boots etc ah it never ends

[syncropaddy]

Im doing mine tomorrow (20th) if you want to see what a pig of a job it is

[KarlT]

Photo stages, please.

[syncropaddy]

Had to modify the bigger of the two straps as the tank outlet was too close for comfort. Not an easy job to fit a tank and new straps but its done now. Took about 3 hours in all once I remembered where all the pipes went !!!