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Post by astroman on Apr 15, 2008 14:44:46 GMT -5
Hi Guys i have a 81 SR500 my question is can i use a different tank other than TT or XT500? i would like something with more square look...
im trying to make a kenny Roberts Cafe Racer
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Post by StewRoss on Apr 15, 2008 16:23:20 GMT -5
If that's the look you're after then try to track down a second hand late TR/TD or early TZ alloy tank. Have it modified to fit, paint to suit and there you go. I fitted one to my Black Cafe Racer many years ago now. See here: sr500forum.bravehost.com/cafeproject.htmlYou are able to get glass replicas as well...not my preference... SR  |
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Post by astroman on Apr 19, 2008 12:01:22 GMT -5
Anyone knows what kind of tank is this one? looks like some kind of Yamaha XS400 or 360 from the late 70s...   |
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Post by canucksr on Apr 19, 2008 15:24:09 GMT -5
Maybe it's a a 70's RD400 tank
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Post by colinjay on Apr 20, 2008 22:40:51 GMT -5
It looks a bit narrow to be from a RD400.
Lots of Yamaha in the late 70's run the "coffin" tanks. From the width and length I would hazard a guess that it was from one of the smaller bikes from the 50/100/125cc range?
CJ
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Post by stevec5000 on Apr 21, 2008 6:41:44 GMT -5
How could anyone ever get a different tank to fit? It would need to have the cutout at the front for the oil tank cap and no other tanks that I've seen have that.
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Post by StewRoss on Apr 21, 2008 7:23:49 GMT -5
Some fit others don't...but most can be made to fit with a bit of cutting and shutting...Suzy 450 tank does fit with no modification I'm pretty sure...others do as well. The TZ tank on the black bike had to be modifed a fair bit before it went on OK...in '82 Bill Byles in Adelaide cut the bottom out and put in a tunnel, cut the front top back to clear the oil filler, welded on the tap mount that I'd made and beat all of the dents out by hand. A skilled guy. Not sure if Bill is still around. Nice chap. SR  |
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raff35
Junior Member
Posts: 32
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Post by raff35 on Apr 21, 2008 7:32:07 GMT -5
I am going to buy myself a cheap honda cb tank and modify it to fit, if I can get away with it without too much drama id be happy to give it a crack for other people. Once I have the tunnel made up the first time it should be a pretty simple job to copy the basic tunnel shape and fit it to other types of tanks I reckon.
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Post by StewRoss on Apr 21, 2008 7:40:09 GMT -5
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raff35
Junior Member
Posts: 32
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Post by raff35 on Apr 21, 2008 8:12:14 GMT -5
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Post by colinjay on Apr 21, 2008 17:29:37 GMT -5
If you (or a friend) are handy with an oxy welding torch any tank will fit. The best way I have found is to get a badly dented std SR tank and cut the bottom from it, you then cut the top off of the tank you like and join them together! And yes it is easier said than done. I have done three tanks this way. The tank on my orange cafe racer has the top from a XS1 650 yamaha and I also two other tanks hanging on the wall, one that the top is from an XS400 (capacity of about 16L), and the other (not quite finished) using the top of a XS850 tank.
Remember half the fun of being a "Special Builder" is making something that everyone says will not / can not fit on your bike fit and look as it it was made for the bike.
CJ
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Post by joneill4 on Apr 22, 2008 6:18:51 GMT -5
Colin, what's your favorite method of explosion avoidance? I would think that even with the tank full of CO2 or argon or exhaust, it's got to be pretty scary to cut into a gas tank...but I'd sure like to try it someday.
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Post by colinjay on Apr 22, 2008 17:45:12 GMT -5
Most of the tanks that I have cut up have not had fuel in them for so long it is not funny. Although before I deside to use (hence cut up a tank) I fill them with a phospuric acid solution that I use to remove any rust/scale from inside the tank and let them soak for a few hours. Since the acid etches into the steel I doubt that there would be any chance of fuel residue or fumes remaining in the tank when I take to it with the grinder.
I obtained the phospuric acid many years ago while working on a naval gunnery range. We used to use it to remove copper build up from inside the barrels of the guns.
CJ
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raff35
Junior Member
Posts: 32
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Post by raff35 on Apr 22, 2008 23:02:12 GMT -5
You can also just fill em with water and cut into em with the angle grinder, you have to be a little creative with the angles you hold the tank at but it can be done.
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Post by therrin on Jul 13, 2008 16:15:38 GMT -5
I used to do some tank welding before.
My method, I'd pop a high pressure garden hose in the fuel cap hole with a rag, and let it come shooting out the petcock hole for a couple mins. Shake well and repeat.
On occasion I'd use a little dishsoap as well to cut down everything else in the tank. Then flush it through for a good 5 to 10 mins to make sure it's all flushed out.
Make sure the wife is either out shopping with friends, or otherwise indisposed at this point.
Turn your kitchen oven to 300*F or so, and set the tank inside (free of any rubber, of course). Leave the oven door cracked open just a tad and let it sit that way for a couple hours and you'll have a nice, clean, dry fuel tank that you can do with as you please!
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