metal fuel tank for Breva 750

[Jurgen]

I love my Breva 750 because it fits me, is light, runs well and looks good but it has a problem.  The fuel tank is plastic, changes shape and size with ethanol fuel, and is too small to have adequate range.  At the moment I can't afford a new or newer V7 Stone with 5.8 gal. metal tank, but could swing a metal tank from a V7, if it fits.  Does anyone know if the new tanks would fit a Breva 750, and if I would have to change the seat.  I would welcome any advice. 

Jurgen

[Karl Von]

The guys at Guzzi Classics did a custom 750 breva a while back with a Alumn tank.  They are not cheap.
http://www.motoguzziclassics.com/MGCCustom8.asp

[Jurgen]

Thanks for that info and picture.  Pricy is relative, but aluminum is too soft IMO for a fuel tank since things might drop or bang against it.  And a nice shiny surface shows little dings too well.  Thanks anyway.  Jürgen

[Hugh Straub]

Thanks Jurgen for a question for which I, too, would like an answer.  I love my 750 Breva and I even like the looks of the sculpted nylon tank.  But, having to search high and low for ethanol free gas is a major PITA, and severely limits any distance traveling.  The bike does look good though, sitting in my basement.

[jackson]

Ethanol free gas stations and the grades of fuel that they sell in the USA
www.pure-gas.org/index.jsp

[Muzz]

I love my Breva too,  and we don't have ethanol in our gas.

[Jurgen]

I think moving to New Zealand would be more expensive than buying a new V7 Stone.  But thanks for the info.  Jürgen

[Jurgen]

Info for Hugh,
We are having a MC meet here in Eldorado, NM, this Sunday, last year a fellow with an early V7 came and had a metal tank on the bike.  I'll question him if he comes this year and let you know.  Jürgen

[Irn]

Just sold my Baby Breva with 22k miles and being a California raised Guzzi,  she had a steady diet of 10% high fructose corn syrup, no problems with tank swelling or fueling.  Seems the Ducati tanks of that era had serious issues, not sure I ever came across problems for corn fed Brevas of that age.  Metal tank would be great, but lots of other things I would fix first on the bike like rear shocks before I would replace the tank, besides the stock tank looks great.

[steven c]

 You could seal it with Caswell tank sealer.
 http://www.caswellplating.com/epoxy-gas-tank-sealer.html

[jazzamoto]

You could seal it with Caswell tank sealer.
 http://www.caswellplating.com/epoxy-gas-tank-sealer.html

FYI Three years ago Ducati replaced the tank on my 2006 Multistrada under warranty. Before it was installed I had a double coating of Caswell's applied. No expansion problems since.

[ohiorider]

Just sold my Baby Breva with 22k miles and being a California raised Guzzi,  she had a steady diet of 10% high fructose corn syrup, no problems with tank swelling or fueling.  Seems the Ducati tanks of that era had serious issues, not sure I ever came across problems for corn fed Brevas of that age.  Metal tank would be great, but lots of other things I would fix first on the bike like rear shocks before I would replace the tank, besides the stock tank looks great.

Have to say, I've had similar experience with my 1200 Sport tank.  No sooner had I taken delivery, and put a few thousand miles on the bike, the tank began developing bumps and dimples.  So disappointing! 

Amazingly, once I removed the CA-mandated hoses to the carbon canister, the damned tank did a 'self fix.'  All the bumps simply went away.  I have to think much of my problem was a result of excessive pressure build-up in the fuel tank, due to poor venting of the gas vapor vent system.

I think the Ducati tanks may have been molded using a different material than our Guzzi tanks.  Don't know for sure.  What I do know from personal experience is ..... I'd never pass on a nice 1200 Sport because of a plastic tank.

Does this relate to problems with Breva 750 tanks?  Don't know, but thought I'd relate my experiences with the plastic tank on a different model Guzzi.

Bob

[Jurgen]

Metal fuel tank on Breva 750?  Forget it, too much trouble>  Here is what I found:  The metal tank from a V7 will fit on the Breva attachment points, but.... Fuel pump is different, mounts in a different pace and even though the metal tank is bigger, my friend who did the change-over found that he gets maybe 50 miles of range increase.  Not worth the trouble.  On top of that, you need a new seat because the Breva seat joins the new tank differently.  So, I've decided that even though I like the looks of the Breva better than the V7, it might be prudent to buy a V7 with metal tank where all the problems have been worked out in Italy.  Jurgen

[windsurfed]

I have been using Sta-Bil Marine Formula Fuel Stabilizer for years now.  It eats up the ethanol in the gas. I just add it whenever.  I use it in all my vintage bikes also. 

[Arizona Wayne]

My `04 750 Breva has had no swelling tank issues and it has been ridden in 5 different states.  I just carry and extra 1 gal. tank of gas for when I need it between gas stations.  I also have 3 maxi-scooters that all have plastic gas tanks and they don't have any swelling issues either no matter where I ride them to.  Also a MuZ 660 Tour MC single w/plastic tank ridden all over the place.

I have learned that in the USA there are 49 different fuel blends required by the EPA depending what season(4) or state you live in.  So your results may vary.   No way will I put E15 in any of my vehicles.

[M0T0Geezer]

I have 48,000 miles on my 2004 Breva 750 -- not-metal tank and all.

All but, say, 50 gallons of all the fuel ever used in it is 10% ethanol. The only trouble I've ever had with the tank is a bit of dimensional change (no more than 1/8 inch) in the rear mounting point of the tank.  This caused mis-alignment of the mounting bolt with the threaded frame socket.

That I "fixed"  three years ago by simply removing the metal bushing between the rubber grommet and the mounting bolt.  That provided enough slack so the latter could be properly aligned again.  Just don't overtighten the bushing-free rear mount bolt.

Cheap (free), effective, reversible repair.   

BTW, i have posted many Guzzi 750 tips here:

http://tinyurl.com/pfogezq


 'Geezer

[Perazzimx14]

I have been using Sta-Bil Marine Formula Fuel Stabilizer for years now.  It eats up the ethanol in the gas. I just add it whenever.  I use it in all my vintage bikes also.

So you saying if one were to dispense 10 gallons of 10% ethanol fuel add in a few ounces of Sta-Bil marine in short order you'll have 9 gallons of pure gasoline + whatever Sta-Bil was added?

[Darren Williams]

So you saying if one were to dispense 10 gallons of 10% ethanol fuel add in a few ounces of Sta-Bil marine in short order you'll have 9 gallons of pure gasoline + whatever Sta-Bil was added?

I wouldn't get to hung up on the figurative verses literal, as I think I know what he means. 

We usually kept ethanol free gas on site for our boat fleet but occasionally ethanol would get in there.  You could tell a big difference if one of the RC boats had ethanol and didn't get treated with Sea-Foam (what we used) over the Winter. The smell and poor running the next Spring were a dead give-away. And yes, we would properly winterize the motors but the tanks were, as Roper would say, were a real "front bottom" to drain.

[sign216]

I have 48,000 miles on my 2004 Breva 750 -- not-metal tank and all.

All but, say, 50 gallons of all the fuel ever used in it is 10% ethanol. The only trouble I've ever had with the tank is a bit of dimensional change (no more than 1/8 inch) in the rear mounting point of the tank.  This caused mis-alignment of the mounting bolt with the threaded frame socket.

That I "fixed"  three years ago by simply removing the metal bushing between the rubber grommet and the mounting bolt.  That provided enough slack so the latter could be properly aligned again.  Just don't overtighten the bushing-free rear mount bolt.

Cheap (free), effective, reversible repair.   

BTW, i have posted many Guzzi 750 tips here:

http://tinyurl.com/pfogezq


 'Geezer

Geezer,

A great list of tips you made!  I added it to the Repair Links page on the 750 yahoo group ( https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/MG_750/info )

I also like your idea of removing the metal grommet for more room in mounting the tank.  I shaved the bumpers, but it was still a bear.  Next time I'll take out that metal ring too.

Joe