Hawk has catawampus tank mount

DSAdventures · 02-18-2024, 10:54 PM

The bracket that supports the tank on my 2023 X-Pro Hawk looks like it was welded on about a 1/4" off center. The bolt that holds the tank was a bit bent coming from the factory, so at the factory they really had to force the tank to the side to jam the bolt in. In the picture you can see how the tank naturally wants to sit on the bike and it's relationship to the shock. It's so difficult to get the bolt in that I leave it out because I don't want to create a wear point between the tank and frame.

Is this a thing with Hawks or did I just get a "unique" one?

bigdano711 · 02-19-2024, 07:58 AM

It's a thing. You can cut it off and re-weld, or you can just go with it.

Thumper · 02-19-2024, 10:05 AM

I was thinking of drilling a new hole if you don't have a welder. Unfortunately, the new hole would be on the edge of the old one. You may be able to start with a punch, then use a small drill bit to get it going. Drill slanted away from the old one. You can worry about straightening the hole as you increase bit sizes. You can switch to a dremel to shape it out.

One issue will be breaking off the old nut under there. Maybe once you have a new hole you can punch it out from the top.

When there is room for a new nut under there, you may need to tack weld it in place. Or Zap's go to... JB Weld

As bigdano sez, you can cut the bracket off and reweld it.

Either way, this is fixable

zero_dgz · 02-19-2024, 11:05 AM

Yeah, I would just cut that sumbitch off and weld it back on in a slightly more correct position.

It's the perfect thing for it: It ought to be mild steel, it's just painted black so it'll be easy to re-touch afterwards, and it's in a spot nobody will see it if you do a ham-fisted job. This is a perfect excuse to pick up one of them $99 Harbor Freight flux wire welders.

buzz · 02-19-2024, 12:01 PM

Ya. zero dgz so simple and the only fix.

DSAdventures · 02-19-2024, 03:15 PM

Okay so it seems like the jig at the factory is out of whack and others have seen this too. I do have a welder so I'll probably cut it off and move it over. Ironically it happens to be a part that has one of the better welds on the bike. The paint is actually thick there too so I am a little bummed that I need to rework it.

I want the tank bolted down in case the bike takes a big tumble some day, I don't want it to turn into a yard sale with stuff flying off.

02-18-2024, 10:54 PM	#1
DSAdventures Join Date: Nov 2022 Location: Seattle Posts: 32	Hawk has catawampus tank mount The bracket that supports the tank on my 2023 X-Pro Hawk looks like it was welded on about a 1/4" off center. The bolt that holds the tank was a bit bent coming from the factory, so at the factory they really had to force the tank to the side to jam the bolt in. In the picture you can see how the tank naturally wants to sit on the bike and it's relationship to the shock. It's so difficult to get the bolt in that I leave it out because I don't want to create a wear point between the tank and frame. Is this a thing with Hawks or did I just get a "unique" one? Attached Thumbnails
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02-19-2024, 07:58 AM	#2
bigdano711 Join Date: Jun 2023 Location: Big Piney, WY Posts: 438	It's a thing. You can cut it off and re-weld, or you can just go with it. __________________ 2023 Hawk 250 from XPRO off of Amazon MOUNTAIN MAN RC + MOTO on YouTube "If there were more bloody noses, there would be less wars." - Hagbard Celine "Someday, after mastering the waves, the winds, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love and then, for the second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire." - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
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02-19-2024, 10:05 AM	#3
Thumper Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Kansas City Posts: 2,388	I was thinking of drilling a new hole if you don't have a welder. Unfortunately, the new hole would be on the edge of the old one. You may be able to start with a punch, then use a small drill bit to get it going. Drill slanted away from the old one. You can worry about straightening the hole as you increase bit sizes. You can switch to a dremel to shape it out. One issue will be breaking off the old nut under there. Maybe once you have a new hole you can punch it out from the top. When there is room for a new nut under there, you may need to tack weld it in place. Or Zap's go to... JB Weld As bigdano sez, you can cut the bracket off and reweld it. Either way, this is fixable __________________ -2022 5 speed Templar X Orange, OEM 51T rear sprocket, 14T front sprocket -NOS 2020 KTM 250SX (2-stroke motocross), less than 10 hours on it Last edited by Thumper; 02-19-2024 at 02:38 PM.
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02-19-2024, 11:05 AM	#4
zero_dgz Join Date: Jan 2020 Posts: 257	Yeah, I would just cut that sumbitch off and weld it back on in a slightly more correct position. It's the perfect thing for it: It ought to be mild steel, it's just painted black so it'll be easy to re-touch afterwards, and it's in a spot nobody will see it if you do a ham-fisted job. This is a perfect excuse to pick up one of them $99 Harbor Freight flux wire welders.
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02-19-2024, 12:01 PM	#5
buzz Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Dayton Pa. Posts: 877	Ya. zero dgz so simple and the only fix.
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02-19-2024, 03:15 PM	#6
DSAdventures Join Date: Nov 2022 Location: Seattle Posts: 32	Okay so it seems like the jig at the factory is out of whack and others have seen this too. I do have a welder so I'll probably cut it off and move it over. Ironically it happens to be a part that has one of the better welds on the bike. The paint is actually thick there too so I am a little bummed that I need to rework it. I want the tank bolted down in case the bike takes a big tumble some day, I don't want it to turn into a yard sale with stuff flying off.
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