Fuel tank bolts

[Roymondo]

Moving on from my issues with the bevel box drain plug - can anyone advise please the size and type of tool required to deal with the fuel tank rear mounting bolts on a 2011 GSA?

Replacing the air filter - what is on most other vehicles a fairly simple job - involves removing half a dozen body panels and (according to the Haynes BoL) raising the rear of the tank. I've actually managed to swap the filter without raising the tank, which is just as well as the same gorilla that munged the bevel box plug appears to have been let loose on the tank bolts. Now they certainly look like Torx - but my T30 bits are a sloppy fit while a T40 won't go in at all. The sockets look severely mangled. I'm assuming they're actually T35?

 

[Beemerman59]

They're M8 x 35 and 19Nm if you're into that sort of thing. Much easier to do with tank reasonably empty as there's a lot of weight on them. As you've found out you can change the air filter without touching the tank.

 

[Roymondo]

Thanks - So if I'm reading that correctly, I need a T35 Torx bit to remove the tank, yes?

 

[Beemerman59]

Thanks - So if I'm reading that correctly, I need a T35 Torx bit to remove the tank, yes?

That's to lift the back end up. The front bolts are Torx 40 if you intend removing the tank.

 

[Bendy toy]

The bolts are T35 and mine was an absolute b'stard to get the RHS bolt into place. I ended up having to retap the frame thread and run a die down the bolt.

My mistake was doing the job with the tank 1/2 full. I believe the weight of fuel distorts the tank. On the Adv model anyway.

No need to remove petrol tank to do air filter, but my steering support post is quite rusty so tank needs to come off again to sort that out.

 

[Roymondo]

That's to lift the back end up. The front bolts are Torx 40 if you intend removing the tank.

Gah! So many different fastener/tool sizes! Thanks though