Found****Looking for a nice '87 FJ1200 fuel tank

[fjsforever]

Looking for a nice tank for an '87 model FJ1200. Must have good/excellent original paint, no or little rust. Tks!

[FJmonkey]

What you seek will not be easy to find. More likely in a poor to usable condition. But good condition bikes still get found, you may get lucky.

[CutterBill]

Looking for a nice tank for an '87 model FJ1200. Must have good/excellent original paint, no or little rust. Tks!

Yeah, and I want Gigi Hadid to serve me breakfast.  Not gonna happen...   

[aviationfred]

The 1987 bodywork parts are about the most difficult to find. My suggestion is to set up a notification search on eBay. About the only other suggestion would be to find a '86/'87 tank in not so perfect shape and re-paint to the factory colors.


Fred

[ribbert]

Looking for a nice tank for an '87 model FJ1200. Must have good/excellent original paint, no or little rust. Tks!

....and pigs refuelled and ready for takeoff.

It's always worth asking but unfortunately your quest is unlikely to be fruitful. You might get lucky elsewhere but I would not be relying on it. Good tanks are like hens teeth and anyone here who happened to have one would not be parting with it.

You would do best to follow the advice already given, restore and repaint your existing tank. Yes, a pristine replacement tank would be nice, but it ain't gonna happen. The odds on finding one for sale in the condition you describe are about the same as winning the lottery.

But, stranger things have happened and it's worth throwing out there, just don't hold your breath.

Noel

[giantkiller]

Aren't 86 and up all the same, other than color and petcock. Niether of which matter. If you repaint it.
If you widen your search. For all years and are patient. You might get one. Both I and my brother found tanks in a matter of a couple of months. Mine is shiny clean inside. Just the wrong color. For $100.
For that matter. Wouldn't the 84-85 tanks work, just a different lid. And slightly more capacity? Because of the lid not being counter sunk.

[giantkiller]

This is the tank that came on the bike I bought to make the turbo bike. The tank looked fine, from the outside. Was totally perforated on the bottom. Could blast the inside. And make a new bottom plate and weld it in easy enough. Or if someone could find a tank from a newer bike( that has a cosmetic cover) that fits. Or even a plastic tank from an ATV/dirt bike. Even better. Would never rust. You could use the Fj tank for the cover. Or take a mold off the Fj tank and make a cover out of carbon fiber. Or just fiber glass. (Which is what I was going to do. When the pristine tank, in the wrong color appeared for $100)

[weymouth399]

Couple of things to consider here. In 85-88 in America Yamahas sales tanked. They weren't selling bikes like they wanted  that's why you don't see 88 Yamahas in America. It was the full line that had this issue. Because of this a lot of these 85-88 bones were in crates for years, some were not sold till the 89-90. The fuel tanks were rusty before they left the dealership lots. I did many tank flushes on brand new bikes back then. So yes finding a mint tank will be very hard to do on this continent. And 87s were different colors in other parts of the world. If I can't get a title for my 87 to sell to a guy in NC I will have pretty nice one that's been creamed, and a ton of nice parts 24k mi bike. Hate to part it.

Bob w

[aviationfred]

Aren't 86 and up all the same,

To answer this question and info for the original poster. No the tanks are not the same. The 1986/1987 tanks and petcocks are the same. The 1988-1996 tanks and petcocks are the same.

The main difference is..... The 1986/1987 tanks use a vacuum actuated petcock. The 1988-1996 tanks have a free flow petcock. You can not have a 1989 tank and install a 1987 petcock. The actual hole in the tank and screw holes are not the same dimension.

You can use a 1988-1996 tank on a 1986/1987, using the standard OEM petcock as long as you install an inline manual ball valve that you will HAVE TO close every time you park the bike. If you don't close the ball valve, there is nothing keeping the fuel from potentially getting through the carbs and filling your crank case with fuel.

Adding a fuel pump to the 1986/1987 models would also solve the problem of using a later model tank.

Another option would be a late model tank w/standard petcock and install a secondary aftermarket vacuum actuated petcock.

Fred

[JMR]

Aren't 86 and up all the same,

To answer this question and info for the original poster. No the tanks are not the same. The 1986/1987 tanks and petcocks are the same. The 1988-1996 tanks and petcocks are the same.

The main difference is..... The 1986/1987 tanks use a vacuum actuated petcock. The 1988-1996 tanks have a free flow petcock. You can not have a 1989 tank and install a 1987 petcock. The actual hole in the tank and screw holes are not the same dimension.

You can use a 1988-1996 tank on a 1986/1987, using the standard OEM petcock as long as you install an inline manual ball valve that you will HAVE TO close every time you park the bike. If you don't close the ball valve, there is nothing keeping the fuel from potentially getting through the carbs and filling your crank case with fuel.

Adding a fuel pump to the 1986/1987 models would also solve the problem of using a later model tank.

Another option would be a late model tank w/standard petcock and install a secondary aftermarket vacuum actuated petcock.

Fred

I have used this Pingel inline vacuum valve for years. http://www.pingelonline.com/pc_product_detail.asp?key=3CCC32F0434D41F0B6C89EC32D85EB11   It supplies enough fuel fuel for FCR-39's and is very reliable.

[FJmonkey]

I have a spare '89+ tank that was stripped and the interior coated. I consider the tanks condition as rough and needs a proper recondition. If interested send me a PM.

[fjsforever]

Thanks for all the info guys but I blew an opportunity for an NOS '87 tank months ago on Craigs....$300 (sobbing!). Now, of course, I recently obtained an '87 that could use one...

[giantkiller]

Or just put the pingel manual one on. And bend bend the screen on the top slot of the side panel down for access. And not worry about the petcock. I made my first plate for a pingel imitation. That started leaking. At the West coast rally. So I purchased a real pingel from Randy. That Robert Installed for me while I waited. Thanks again.
I have an 87 tank. But it's been empty since 87 and has alot of rust inside. From sitting empty.

[fjsforever]

Or just put the pingel manual one on. And bend bend the screen on the top slot of the side panel down for access. And not worry about the petcock. I made my first plate for a pingel imitation. That started leaking. At the West coast rally. So I purchased a real pingel from Randy. That Robert Installed for me while I waited. Thanks again.
I have an 87 tank. But it's been empty since 87 and has alot of rust inside. From sitting empty.

If you're willing to part with it I may be interested....How extensive is the rust?...any pics? LMK

[krusty]

Nice, but shipping would be a budget killer.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/FJ1200-fuel-tank-/282310180657?hash=item41baff7f31:g:D9gAAOSwa~BYS8J1