Hi, I know this seems like an obvious question but I just got my hands on a Yl2C tank that I will need to strip and repaint. The rubber knee pads are in good shape but do feel a bit brittle. Before I go prying and damage them is there any tricks to getting them off safely so they can be reused? I did try searching and could not find anything.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

Heat. A heat gun may be overkill but a good blow drier will warm the rubber enough to make it more pliable.

Thank You!, is there any adhesive holding them on or do they just press in to grooves?

Usually the pad has receivers for tabs on the chrome panel, or the pad levers over a ridge. Either way, once the pad softens with heat you'll be able to get a peek underneath to see what you need to do.

Perfect, appreciate the help!

You might want to rejuvenate the rubber before you attempt removal to avoid damage. You can use Rubber Restore or AT-205.

Look on ebay and you can see pictures of the parts.

The tank has a raised rim and the pads have a flap that "hooks over" that raised rim. Pads should slide around a little... slide the pad as far as you can towards where you want to start to try to disengage it... I'd probably try to slide it up towards the gas cap forward rounded edge and then gently get under the pad at that corner... kind of bend the edge up away from the tank to disengage the flap from under the raised rim and then work along the edge towards the rear of the tank peeling the flap out from under the rim.

Sliding down and back and starting at the rear lower corner might work too... just kind of go around... try to slide the pad as far as you can towards where you want to start... and then bend the edge of the pad away from the tank gently to disengage the flap.

I try to slide the pad around and then start wherever I can slide the pad the farthest... the farther you can slide it, the closer you are to having the flap on the pad out from under the tabs or rim on the tank.

Arrows point to opening under rubber flap that hooks over rim or tabs on tank.



Some tanks had a "bolt on" side panel that had more "tab like" retainers... if you have a larger countersunk screw under where the Yamaha emblem bolts on, you have that type. Yours looks more like the solid rim type... principle is the same either way. Arrow points to opening in rim that pad "hooks over"




Hope that helps.

This is exactly the one I have, Thank you!. I figured out that the bottom right corner in your picture has a little notch cut into the rubber, this allowed be to pull that corner off easier and the rest moved along. I appreciate the help.

On another note this is the strangest tank as far as coating process. The chrome was peeling bad so I started to strip it, as you can see I was able to peel the layer off like it was wrapped in a thin layer of tin foil. The entire tank was chromed and the black surface is painted over the chrome. You can clearly see the line where air got under the chrome and where it stops the tank metal is like brand new.