Dent repair

snuffcityrider

snuffcityrider

Well-Known Member
Visit site
Had a quarter sized dent on my tank that was there when I bought the bike, probably caused by the handle bars. I was quoted $175 to "try" and pull it out from a local body shop. Found a "Pops-a-Dent"
at the auto store for $19.99 and after 10 or so attempts the dent is 99% gone. If I kept messing with it could be that it'd be good as new. For now I'm happy with the Q-tip sized dent that's there now. Just thought I'd share for you DIY'ers.
 
I looked it up, looks like you use a glue gun with a puller type device. I have a tank that I would like to get some small dents out of, I wonder if it would work for that. The problem is they are in the corner though.
 
I was thinking on getting this tool for future purpose, but my question is will this work at all or just a waste of money?
5nxsbu.jpg
 
FZ-thousand said:
I was thinking on getting this tool for future purpose, but my question is will this work at all or just a waste of money?
Click to expand...

Depends on what type of dent it is, i.e. thickness of the metal, is it a crease, etc. I can see this working well on something like a car door panel or fender with a dent that's just pushed in.
 
The pulling systems work on certain kinds of dents. Like NJ said - if the metal is creased - forget it.
I went through a body work phase and I think I read, studied, Youtube-ed and talked to every kind of technician available. I even considered taking a class at the local tech college just because I really enjoyed it.
One trick that I will go to my grave telling people to try 1st is to heat up a dent with a hairdryer or heat gun (careful with the heat gun - those things can be powerful) and then hold a can of compressed air upside down. This will POP the metal out. It works awesome and there are so many Youtube videos on it that I will say just search Youtube. However it really is just that simple - 2 steps - that's it. Since most people have a hairdryer and compressed air, this is pretty well a FREE fix. Even with metal that is creased - this technique will pull out SOME of the damage. It will NOT pull out all the dent but it certainly makes it better.
 
Commuting to work one morning I was unable to avoid running over a fair-sized piece of tire tread with my left front tire. I heard it bobble in the fender well, then saw it on the road in my rear view mirror. When I got to work I discovered it dented the left front fender at the rear of the wheel opening, down near the rocker panel. The fender is only about 2" wide at that point and the tread had bent it back, leaving a 2"x3" buckle in the metal. Since it was a lease car, I knew the bastids would charge me for it at lease-end.

I took it to a dentless repair guy who took it in on the spot. He had to remove the fasteners that attach the plastic fenderwell liner to the bottom of the fender to access the damage. Working from both the inside and outside, he pushed and pulled that dent until it disappeared, literally in front of my eyes. He used mirrors and lights (no ,not smoke and mirrors....) which he kept moving around, to visualize the dent from different angles, as he worked. From the outside, he repeatedly used round plastic discs which he hot-glued to the paint, and then pulled the dent out with. He used a variety of metal tools from the backside to push it out.

The guy is a flippin' artist. He worked the better part of an hour and when he was done there was zero evidence the panel had ever been damaged; the paint was like new. Cost? $75.

I asked him if he repairs motorcycle tanks, and he told me he could, and that he could do it on the bike without draining the tank - depending, of course on the size/location of the dent.

These guys are all over, you might want to find one in your town. For what it's worth, here is the guy I went to:

Paintless dent repair & removal Top specialists in Michigan
 
So yesturday I decide I'm going to pull out that little dent my knee made in the tank when I fell over parking the bike.

Bought the "Pops-a-Dent" from Reilly's Auto parts. Plugged in the glue gun and waited for it to get hot, and waited and waited and waited for 30 minutes and it wasn't hot. Phooey!!! Return said item to store and got a refund because the other box they had was opened and that gun didn't work. OK, I went to Auto Zone and bought another one, plugged it in and waited, and waited and this one stayed cold as well. Beginning to see a trend here.

Go back to Auto Zone and take the only other one they had, plugged it in and you guessed it, no heat. Back to Auto Zone for a refund.

Three strikes and you're out. I guess I'm keeping the dent to remind me not to engage the sidestand while the bike is still rolling. :surrender:
 
I went to Reilly and Auto Zone. Same packaging, same product, same failure.

Advance didn't have any and NAPA was closed on Sunday. Walmart, Kmart and Farm & Fleet don't stock it.
 
Last edited:
NJFZ1 said:
Depends on what type of dent it is, i.e. thickness of the metal, is it a crease, etc. I can see this working well on something like a car door panel or fender with a dent that's just pushed in.
Click to expand...

I was actually expecting this kind of comment and yes you are right sir. Bought the thing and tried to pop out a dent with my wife's car. The dent was in end of the trunk area w/c has a curve. Before starting the procedure I was actually having the hard time to stick the tool it self. To make the story short it a waste of time and money.
 
Update: I stopped in at Harbor Freight and they have the same thing for $9. I bought it and tested the glue gun. This one heated up right away. I haven't tried to pull out the dent but will do so within the next few weeks. (I need access to an AC outlet that I can bring the bike near. I live in an apartment complex and it's about 100 feet to the parking lot.)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top