Tank is shot!

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Looks like the El Luche Libre project has hit a snag.  I dropped off the tank and other parts at the paint shop on Saturday and got the word today that there was internal corrosion and the tank couldn't be repaired.  The bike probably sat up for several years with fuel in it and the low spots corroded out.  I didn't notice the JB Weld patches that the PO poor boy patched until I took the tank off and began working on it.

Any suggestions?  My first thoughts are that it might be possible to cut out the bad section and braze a patch in, then internally coat the tank with something like POR 15.

Any suggestions?

[Justin B.]

The POR15 kit comes with some fabric and they claim the tank liner can be used to patch holes by soaking the fabric in it lioke you would fiberglass.  I didn't really pay that much attention as mine didn't have any holes.  It also says that it will plug pinholes just by treating the tank with it...

Moving this to the Tech section...

[steve hawkins]

The tank on my Cafe Racer has been braised.  Near the fuel tap.

Finding someone who can/will do such work will be your problem.

Even if you flush the tank with water it will still have fumes in it and will need to be 'flashed over'.  Some prople get a bit nervous about it.

Fortunately I new a fella who could do such things.  It has lasted 6 or 7 years so far.

[drewboid]

I had a seam leak in the gas tank of an old JAWA. My friend cleared the tank with live steam from a boiler and then brazed it. Worked fine.  YMMV - not responsible if your tank goes into orbit and slams into a satellite.

[trolle]

Hi
I repaired my tank five years ago by plugging all the small holes with the heads of galvanized roofingnails and fibre glass putty from the outside and lining the inside with something like POR15 (a Dutch product named Tank Cure which is epoxy based)

greetings from a white and grey north

[Justin B.]

Very interesting fix, trolle!

[Bengt_Phorqs]

That's one thing I love about the people on this site.  There is no shortage of creativity in keeping the little guys running.  I looked at the tank on my R90/6 and it appears to be dimensionally the same as the R65 even though it's a '75.  Does anyone know what other tanks might fit the R65 frame?

Repairing is an option although not the best one.  Right now, I don't want the cheese, I just want out of the trap.  Well, that's a bit of hyperbole, because one of the things about doing a resto is meeting the challenges the little guys throw our way. 8-)

[scotty_b]

That's one thing I love about the people on this site.  There is no shortage of creativity in keeping the little guys running.  I looked at the tank on my R90/6 and it appears to be dimensionally the same as the R65 even though it's a '75.  Does anyone know what other tanks might fit the R65 frame?

Repairing is an option although not the best one.  Right now, I don't want the cheese, I just want out of the trap.  Well, that's a bit of hyperbole, because one of the things about doing a resto is meeting the challenges the little guys throw our way. 8-)

I put a R 90 on my R65. You need to fab a rear mount and weld it to the frame and the front mount needs to be cut shorter and moved up on the frame. As for your current tank, cut out the rusted spots and weld in new sections. Just make damn sure the tank is empty and dry.

[scotty_b]

Front mount after cutting down and moving

[scotty_b]

Tank on bike

[scotty_b]

Oh and if you use a larger tank like the R90 you will have to move your coils, and all of your relays. The larger tanks don't have any clearance under them for the electronics. My coils hjave since been mounted on the side of the frame ( one on each side )  and all relays have been moved to under the seat. 8-)

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Bengt Phorqs,

the only tanks that accept our mounting system are the G/S, ST, and GS models, I believe.

and because the R65 tank is longer than the others, there is a gap in front of the seat...

and now that I think about it, there are differences in the layout of the electrics between '79-'80 & '81-'84, so even our own tanks might conflict.


nice work, scott_b.  thanks for the pics!

[Justin B.]

Scoty, I'd almost bet that phorqs is referring to a /6 tank.  That would look very similar but I wonder if it might be longer?  It's been such a long time since I had a /6 I can't remember - plus I wasn't into making Franken-Bikes at that time...

I like how your /7 tank turned out, I've thought about that at times.  First time I find one on the cheap I'm gonna do it!

[Bengt_Phorqs]

the only tanks that accept our mounting system are the G/S, ST, and GS models, I believe.
 
and because the R65 tank is longer than the others, there is a gap in front of the seat...
 
and now that I think about it, there are differences in the layout of the electrics between '79-'80 & '81-'84, so even our own tanks might conflict.

Rob, I are you referring to the R80 / R100 in the G/S, ST, and GS models?  I'm pretty sure you're correct about relocating the electrics.  Well, to paraphrase Justin, when life gives you lemons, make frankenbikes!

Well, one thing I'm good at is thinking outside of the box so if a patch isn't possible I'll resort to that.  I'm not convinced it's non-repairable yet.  Besides, two things I've always wanted to do are 1) learn to weld, and 2) go to the moon.  Could be I'll get to do both!

[scotty_b]

I only got that one because it was free. Free, as in it had a HOLE in the side from where the R90 had been dropped. I had priced them on E-bay and every one I bid on ended up fetching anywhere from 350.00 on up. Fortunately the guy I got the R65 from had the 90 tank ( he was the one that wrecked the R90 ) and was afraid to fix it himself so he gave it to me with the 65 !