RD350LC Petrol tanks. Repair/replace?

[DuncanB]

Cheers Ken... I bought the fucker I've got now off him, and he didn't mention/show me another tank at the time, and I didn't see one! LOL
Which, if the one he has was worth having, why didn't he flog me the bastard then? He did want to sell the lot complete, so who knows...

[2TInstitute]

A potentialy lifesaving tip for those wanting to weld a tank is purging of the inside of the tank. One cheap and cheerful method is to run a long hose from the car exhaust into the tank. That pushes out any dangerous fumes as well as a fairly inert atmosphere inside the tank.

[sunsetrider02]

makes you wonder why it has been repainted in the first instance!!!

I have a project that has come to a full stop....thanks to the "F####g Tank" issue.

I have been pursuing every shadow of a hope for almost three or more months and getting nowhere fast. The tank was lined some six or so years back, but thanks to a good mate who was supposed to be tyding the bike for me, i found it sitting outside the shed on his property with no fuel cap on. So needless to describe the damage. I am somewhat fortunate that the tank does not have any dents as such...but some pin holes on the underside.

I have a yesterday sent my tank to be cleaned in some Alkaline solution and will need to wait another week or so to see how it comes back. They are well known within the Car restoration circle and dips full cars etc in their tanks. For those in the Sydney area interested, the company is called "Redi Strip" and they are in Blacktown nsw. The cost of cleaning the tank is $150.

I have spoken to many, but a particular Engineering shop is prepared to cut the underneath and replace the bad bits etc...but that will come at a cost. So waiting to see how the tank looks after the cleanning up first.

Again in Sydney, there is a company called "Collideascope" in Asquith near Hornsby that does a lot of Insurance work as well as restoration work and will repair...obviouly cost will be very dependant on the condition of your tank. Tey also work in with "Redi Strip" and need to have to tank clean before they will assess and give you a quote.

Lastly, i spoke to "Yetanother" restorer that actually worked on a hand made tank that his customer bought from the UK. Needed a lot of work getting the lines and edges right before painting. Cost for that piece of work.....$2150. Don't think I will be going there.

I also looked at the site in japan that sell 2nd hand tanks at close to $1000 not including shipping. But I did't get very far as they are strickly non english speaking and apart of the brand name of my japanese bikes, i don't know any Japanese as well and could not fiill their enquiry form....that was of course in Japanese.

So if anyone comes up with any brilliant ideas......PLEASE let us know.

Cheers
Phil

[DuncanB]

Let me know how you go, Phil... I can't believe how hard it is to sort this tank issue! I guess I was a bit naive, having not had an 350LC since 1986, I had no idea tanks were a problem, 20 odd years ago I don't suppose they were. Hence when I bought it I paid no more than passing attention to it.

If I'd looked on here 3 fucking weeks ago I would have been a whole heap wiser! Not to worry, it's just a bit of pressed steel... how hard can it be to fix. LOL

[sunsetrider02]

Not to worry, it's just a bit of pressed steel... how hard can it be to fix. LOL

God, i wished I could press steel.

Maybe we need to get enough interest and maybe some Chinese mob may be able to do somthing about manufacturing some!!!!

Now I am just dreaming away!!!!!!

[DuncanB]

I'm not so sure you're dreaming, Phil. There seem to be more than a few of us in this boat, and the guy at LC crazy in the UK has a list of stuff he has manufactured for LCs... Fingers crossed, this time next year we'll all have new tanks! LOL

[fred99999au]

A potentialy lifesaving tip for those wanting to weld a tank is purging of the inside of the tank. One cheap and cheerful method is to run a long hose from the car exhaust into the tank. That pushes out any dangerous fumes as well as a fairly inert atmosphere inside the tank.

Just be a bit wary of this as I have heard this this could be worse than air in some circumstances, depending on what the car is doing at any point and what concentration of unburned fuel is in the exhaust mix.

[DuncanB]

In which case wouldn't be best to blow it full of argon, which would give the back of the weld a bit of extra shielding.

[OzzyElsie]

Not to worry, it's just a bit of pressed steel... how hard can it be to fix. LOL

God, i wished I could press steel.

Maybe we need to get enough interest and maybe some Chinese mob may be able to do something about manufacturing some!!!!

Now I am just dreaming away!!!!!!

There is an Indian mob regularly selling on ebay a range of reproduction steel tanks (but not particularly cheap ). Maybe someone should alert them to the potential.

Highside (or someone) has fibreglass replicas don't they?

[DuncanB]

Someone like these people:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-YAMAHA-R ... 4ab652fd65

If they get enough enquiries I'm sure they'd be right on it!

[OzzyElsie]

[
God, i wished I could press steel.

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OPTION 1

For £50,000 you can buy yourself the chance of a lifetime.
You can come and work with master tank maker John Williams for up to 6 months.
He will show you the whole tank making process from design to completion.
He will also introduce you to the machinery you require, how to weld and how to finish the tanks.

OPTION 2

For £100,000 you can experience the above and also earn the right to use 'The Tank Shop'® name.
You will be supplied with all the machinery you need to make tanks.
You would need a workshop approximately 10m x 5m to house the equipment and the space is enough for 2 people to work in comfortably.

The difference with 'Option 2' is that John Williams will come to your work shop any where in the world for up to 6 months and train you or your workers to make tanks.

Applicants would be responsible for all transportation costs of equipment, travel and accommodation expenses involved.

Any business agreement will be covered by a document drawn up between the Applicant, John Williams and a Solicitor and will be legally binding.

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[DuncanB]

John could be our saviour!

[DuncanB]

DEAR SIR,Sure i will do something to make this tank. can you send us the pattern of the tank in any condition??many thanksKind regards,

Vintage Connexions

This is what the indians said when I asked after an LC tank.

[sunsetrider02]

I'm not so sure you're dreaming, Phil. There seem to be more than a few of us in this boat, and the guy at LC crazy in the UK has a list of stuff he has manufactured for LCs... Fingers crossed, this time next year we'll all have new tanks! LOL

Boat...My drugs or fumes are wearing out. I yhought we were on Motorcycles!!!I have spoken to Norbo about this....but I don't hink it will happen any time soon. Another guy was building some in the UK ....but as usual people winged as it was costly and not the original item etc....so he got jack ot it and stopped making it. I do have a contact for him....but not sure how good the end product really is. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I spoke to a restorer mob who worked on an imported handmade tank from the UK and spend 9 hrs on panel beating to get the lines on the tank right. At the end of the day after his panel beating and painting etc...the cost to the bike owner was $2100 and that does not include the original purchase and shipping. I must say though that I do not really know if we are talking about the same tank Builder in the UK here. But when all said and done...too bloody expensive in my books.

Cheers
Phil

[sunsetrider02]

[/quote]There is an Indian mob regularly selling on ebay a range of reproduction steel tanks (but not particularly cheap ). Maybe someone should alert them to the potential.

Highside (or someone) has fibreglass replicas don't they?[/quote]

Man I was trying out the Japanese bit .....and got nowhere!!
We talkedto the Poms ....and they are not doing anything real soon
I was suggesting Chinese ....cause it looks like they can be talked about making anything that will sell.


But now you want to really get me confused ....and talk to the Indians.

In so far as the fibreglass goes....I wouldn't tough it in a million years. BTW I almost got burnt by some wally in Hungary that had a full set of Kenny Roberts for sale this week on Ebay UK. He just failed to mentioned that they were fibreglass tanks....which by the way is illegal on the roads in most states here in Australia.

I got a better idea....why don't we take it up with the United Nations Assembly or Human right Commission....surely this tank business must be classified as Sadistic Human Torture!!!!Denial of Natural Justice or something!!!

Ehh.....I think I better go and get some more fumes to inhale