the swollen tank is driving me up the wall! i changed headbearings in less time than its taken to refit the tank... and it's still not fitted!

even after fitting the MH adjustable tank mounts the tank is still too big. the front mount rubs on the head bearing cover and is @ 5mm too long still. ive tried levering it back but can't get it far enough. i could leave the rear bolts out and maybe tiewrap thenm instead but then the seat doesn't fit!

any ideas?

Only thing I can think of is to get an offset front mount made up

Or, grind off the captive nut in the frame, elongate the hole slightly and refit a normal nut. Think that could be the winner!

Put the tank in a deep freeze.............................?

That did cross my mind. I don't have one big enough unfortunately and I'm not sure how successful it would be. Would probably need doing every time the tank comes off. It's an idea though. New rear tank mounts worked fine on the other bike.

Fit the two rear bolts then using a couple of ratchet straps ratchet the tank back into position until the front mounting bolt seats nicely

take the rubber bung that fits in the hole that centralises the tank and cut out a section from the stepped down section - put the cut out pointing to the rear of the tank this allows the bolt to be started in the thread as you have some fore and aft slack but as you tighten it down it pulls the tank into place - has worked fine on mine for the last 5 years or so? If i can figure out a picture posting account and you can't figure out what i mean i will try and put up a pic......

Another way to do it is to unbolt the rear of the tank, install the front by the head bearing first then lever the tank forward from the rear to place the rear mounting bolts.

Comrade: I appreciate the fact that these last two photo's fit on the screen but WTF are we looking at?

Motohooligan has extended mounts that work like a champ and look clean too.