- Joined
- Sep 3, 2007
- Messages
- 169
As I noted in another thread http://accessnorton.com/norton_commando2084.html I have a '79 Bonneville Special that I pulled out of storage yesterday and am working to make it run again after almost twenty years. I'm faced with the following challenge:
I have a European tank which holds more fuel and would like to replace the American "peanut style" tank currently fitted to the Bonny.
Here's what the workshop manual says on page E3:
REMOVING AND REPLACING THE FUEL TANK
..."Remove the rubber grommet from the centre of the fuel tank and unscrew the sleeve nut revealed below."
"The tank can now be pulled away from the frame. Note assembly of rubber sleeve and washers securing the tank. See Fig. E2.
Figure E2 is quite clear and shows a special bolt with a round head. That head fits into a slotted receiver welded to the top of the frame, diagrammed clearly on the opposite page (E2).
The sleeve nut will not turn; the entire special bolt turns. Oil on the sleeve nut didn't help.
I tried lifting the tank to put pressure on the slotted receiver on the frame, hoping it would hold the bolt enough to allow the sleeve nut to turn. No such luck.
Reaching under the tank, I was able to remove a semi-circular rubber fitting which cushions the tank. I installed an old guitar D-string under the tank so I could put pressure on the bolt in a further attempt to hold it fast. Although the bolt/sleeve nut assembly was harder to turn, it did continue to turn.
I just (this moment) had another idea. I'm going to use a larger (perhaps an E) guitar string, loop it around the bolt and use a lever in hopes that by completely encircling the bolt I can exert enough pressure to hold it tightly enough that the bolt won't turn while I loosen the sleeve nut. I'll post the results afterward.
Has anyone else had this problem? Is there a known way to loosen the sleeve nut? I'd appreciate any tips that might reside within y'all's experience.
Al
I have a European tank which holds more fuel and would like to replace the American "peanut style" tank currently fitted to the Bonny.
Here's what the workshop manual says on page E3:
REMOVING AND REPLACING THE FUEL TANK
..."Remove the rubber grommet from the centre of the fuel tank and unscrew the sleeve nut revealed below."
"The tank can now be pulled away from the frame. Note assembly of rubber sleeve and washers securing the tank. See Fig. E2.
Figure E2 is quite clear and shows a special bolt with a round head. That head fits into a slotted receiver welded to the top of the frame, diagrammed clearly on the opposite page (E2).
The sleeve nut will not turn; the entire special bolt turns. Oil on the sleeve nut didn't help.
I tried lifting the tank to put pressure on the slotted receiver on the frame, hoping it would hold the bolt enough to allow the sleeve nut to turn. No such luck.
Reaching under the tank, I was able to remove a semi-circular rubber fitting which cushions the tank. I installed an old guitar D-string under the tank so I could put pressure on the bolt in a further attempt to hold it fast. Although the bolt/sleeve nut assembly was harder to turn, it did continue to turn.
I just (this moment) had another idea. I'm going to use a larger (perhaps an E) guitar string, loop it around the bolt and use a lever in hopes that by completely encircling the bolt I can exert enough pressure to hold it tightly enough that the bolt won't turn while I loosen the sleeve nut. I'll post the results afterward.
Has anyone else had this problem? Is there a known way to loosen the sleeve nut? I'd appreciate any tips that might reside within y'all's experience.
Al