Gas Tank Replacement

[tsalas]

Hey guys,

I'm thinking of switching the gas tank out on my 1980 R65 for something with some smoother lines. I found a great deal on a 1972 R75 toaster style tank, but I'm not sure if it will fit on the R65 frame. Anybody have any experience in this field?

Thanks!

[Bob_Roller]

If you're looking for a tank that will fit without any modifications, the only other tank that will work, is one from an R80ST .

Other than that, you are going to have to modify the tank and most likely the seat as well, to work properly on an R65 .

[tsalas]

Thanks for the insight Bob! I plan to replace the seat as well, so I don't mind modifying that. Would I be able to get away with just modifying the seat?

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

To mount the tank "correctly" or easily, you will need to weld a bracket - an upside-down 'U' to the rear of the frame.  
That will need two studs coming upward, to receive the bracket on the /5 tank.  
Then you use a couple of thumbscrews to tighten it down, Type 247-style.

In this image of a /5 tank, you want something like #s 8 & 9.



For #9 you could use the rubber bumpers for the R65 battery box mounts.

If you can weld, that would really help.
Perhaps one of the other posters that has a 247 will take a picture of it for you.  I am not having any luck on Google.

[tsalas]

Thanks Rob, big help. I'm a pretty novice welder, but my uncle agreed to help me out with this little project and he's very advanced in the art.

I've had my 80' r65 for about a year now and haven't done much to it, I'm really looking forward to adding some personal touches to it. I'll try and get some pictures up when the final product is out!

Thanks again for the help.

[CaptainSlow]

One thing to beware of tsalas, is the front mount - I tried to fit a non ST R80 tank to my R65LS and I've found the front mount to be at a different height, as well as the rear mount being different.

Have a look at my write up here

Of course the mounts are probably different on a toaster anyway, but its something to bear in mind...