Body won't fit

[bemusedinsojo]

This is about my Steamer body, not my girth. I put Freddie back together and rode him like a stallion.
Oh dear I just realized how that sounded. Anyway each time I pit it back together it doesn't quite fit together well. Like the gaps between the tank and fairing don't match on either side and the fairing over the headlights is cock-eyed. Anyone have an idea or did I get a Tiger from the Island of misfit toys?

Thanks for help. My knowledge is thin.

[ssevy]

Ethanol in the fuel will deform the nylon tank so your bolts and holes don't line up well. When it remains together, things stay mostly aligned and in place, but when you take things apart, each piece tends to go its own way. Draining the tank and letting it dry can shrink it back to proper size, but I'm not sure how long this takes? My tank was off for several weeks for a petcock replacement and some welding, so I only know it fit perfectly after I put it back together.

[JayDub]

  just one of many steamer quirks, supporting the tank along the tunnel such as on a trestle - and empty, for a couple of days worked for me, I tried ethanol stabiliser but that didn't help.

[bemusedinsojo]

supporting the tank along the tunnel such as on a trestle

I'm not sure what this means. Sorry. All I can think of is a train trestle. 

You just deleted a square closed quote by mistake

[bemusedinsojo]

Plus I can't figure out how to quote. Me noob.

[nickjtc]

Plus I can't figure out how to quote. Me noob.

Welcome to the Steamer idiosyncrasy club. Of course us Roadie owners with our steel tanks don't have to deal with that 

[tjmann0]

I have had 2 fuel tanks on my steamer that have gone this way , I machined the front and rear tank apertures to help , you can take quite a bit of meat out of these areas , After the swelling comes the blistering , Only consolation is that you can't look at your tank whilst riding enthusiastically .

[JayDub]

I'm not sure what this means. Sorry. All I can think of is a train trestle. 

Like a train trestle, but smaller 
If you sit it on the floor it will try to spread flat.

[Mustang]

I'm not sure what this means. Sorry. All I can think of is a train trestle. 
Like a train trestle, but smaller 
If you sit it on the floor it will try spread flat.

american translation....................SAWHORSE !

[tonytiger]

had the same problem with mine, the paint bubbled as well. I've stripped the paint off the tank and resprayed it
and decided to do the fairing as well as it was scratched. I've also got some tank sealent to put in eventually.

[bemusedinsojo]

Oh a sawhorse! Trestle! Got it! I had the tank on a flat work bench so that is why it spread. Thanks I'll put it on a trestle/sawhorse next time. Thanks for all the help to all. The people here are as cool as the Steamer!

[threepot]

Try fitting tank/fairing  fasteners before securing the tank itself.  I've had my bike for 5yrs now,and only recently have I been able to use the 2 rear tank bolts   One of the steamer 'idiosyncrasies'! I love mine

[bemusedinsojo]

Another good idea threepot. Thanks.