Rubber Tank Pad

[nkdfun]

I just bought a new 2013 Triumph Tiger 800XC at St Pete Powersports, Florida, (very nice dealer) and I bought a bunch of accessories to go with it. One of the accessories is the Rubber Tank Pad from Triumph, part number A9780006. The part number changed so it may be different by the time you read this. Suffice to say, it attaches to the rear of the tank, just in front of the seat. It varies in thickness by design, with the thickess part being about half an inch.

Included with the pad is a large 'wet nap' of sorts to clean the area where the pad is to be applied.

When I first installed the pad, I cleaned the tank area with the provided ‘wet nap’. Apparently, there is not enough on this towel to really clean the tank as well as it should be for good adhesion. Although the pad stuck to the tank, the edges were coming up. There was nothing that I could do that would make them stay down. I didn’t want to leave that gap there to allow sand and other debris to damage the paint under the pad. So here is how I fixed it:

1. Slowly peel the pad from the tank. Since it’s not sticking well, it shouldn’t be too hard and the adhesive should stay on the pad. Be careful not to lay the pad where dirt can get onto the adhesive.
2. Use an automotive wax removal fluid to clean the area. Don’t use rubbing compound. I used a pre-wax cleaner. Then I used isopropyl alcohol (regular rubbing alcohol) to clean the area again.
3. Bring the pad to the sink where you’d wash your hands. Lather your hands with a liquid, non-gritty, hand soap (I used Soft Soap) and then use your lathered hands to wash the adhesive side of the pad. This is to wash off any wax that was transferred to the adhesive. Don’t worry, the adhesive will be okay. Don’t use the alcohol on the adhesive!
4. Rinse well. Don’t leave any soap on the adhesive.
5. Do not pat dry with a towel of any kind. Use a hair dryer on a high heat setting to blow dry the adhesive side of the pad. You may need an oven mitt, just don’t let the mitt touch the adhesive. Make sure that ALL the water drops evaporate.
6. While the pad is still warm, apply it to the tank per the instructions.
7. Wait a couple of hours to see if the pad sticks without any edges coming up.
8. Rewax the tank.

At this point, the pad and its edges should stick much better. I used a couple of bungees to help hold it down but it didn’t seem like it really needed them. I removed the cords before I went to bed and the pad was still sticking well in the morning as well as throughout the day as the bike sat in the sun.

If you haven't installed this accessory yet, I would do the following to prep the tank and the pad:

1. Use the wet nap to clean the area until it dries out.
2. If you have some, use a pre-wax cleaner to clean the area. Don’t use rubbing compound.
3. Then use some rubbing alcohol on another clean cloth to ensure that all wax (and cleaner) is removed from the area. Remove the protective paper from the adhesive.
4. Warm the adhesive with a hair dryer on high heat for about a minute or two. I don’t know if the heat helps the glue stick or if it allows the pad to flex better, or both.
5. While the pad is still warm, apply it to the tank per the instructions.
6. Wait a couple of hours to see if the pad sticks without any edges coming up.
7. Rewax the tank.

I hope that helps! Although my experience was with a Triumph tank pad, these guidelines should help for any other adhesive accessories.

 

[CarlS]

Good instructions.

 

[hendo01]

that handy good post

 

[coffee]

Hey John.. That's where I bought mine.

 

[Rocky]

Good tutorial
It makes complete sense.

 

[keystiger]

Tigers, Tigers everywhere
Great post and clear instructions.

 

[nkdfun]

Hey John.. That's where I bought mine.

Cool! I see you live close by there and didn't have to go a ways like I did to get there. They made a better deal than anyone else around here though, so it was worth the trip.