Egli Norton?

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Hi Russ,
Ross has a fixture for making the base of the Comatlas tank, each of which he fabs by hand from 18 gauge sheet. The fixture has a big tube like the commando top tube. Then he welds the new base into the prepared Atlas Top. Nothing magic, just superb tin work. It fits perfectly no drama at all.

Martin
 
rvich said:
Glen,
It sounds to me like you need to find a good aluminum fabricator or become proficient yourself. Then you can make tanks for the rest of us!

I get the idea of reducing weight and making it a thorough approach. After all, I have read Ludwig's threads. Everything is a bit of a compromise in the real world. The extra fuel weighs more than the extra weight of a larger tank to fit it. I noticed in another thread the Madass is not providing fuel tanks any longer. However, he might be a good resource. He does have an aluminum Interstate tank for sale for $1000. Which really isn't that bad. But its a little steep if you are going to cut it up and narrow it!
Click to expand...

I'll probably end up building it, the job is arduous but also fun.
I built the Egli tank in the first post and still have the pattern for that, so it would be less work than some other shape.

I don't mind building a new pattern for some other shape such as a slimmed down Interstate. The pattern making is as much fun as the tank building.

Glen
 
I like flatter profiles to pack stuff on but like the hump back shape. If opening up a tank I'd want a sight glass of some sort and slosh baffles. Maybe sleek embedded hard points to mount a decent travel bag on too.
 
Luggage is going to be easy this time around. Still haven't figured it out for the Egli.

For a twin shock special, no problem, the Triumph quick detachable nylon panniers go right on. That way the weight is carried low and there is no annoying tank bag to deal with.
I've fitted them to the MK 3, the supports went on without any problems.

Glen
 
I sent an email to Ross Thompson to ask about the ComAtlas process. This is what I got in return:

"I made a jig to make the bottom panel in one piece, it is the most time consuming part of the tank construction. Because it is all hand formed over the jig. I actually like building the Comatlas tanks, so I
still plan on making a few tanks a year. I have two to make now and should have them done by June. I originally made these tanks to replace the fibreglass Roadster tanks, they fit the he roadster seats well. I plan on shutting down my business of repairing sheet metal parts completely by June. But it will become a hobby so I can work on my own restorations and do a few Comatlas tanks as they are wanted. Or I would sell the jig if someone wants to take on the work. Since the Indian Commando tanks appeared, the want for my Comatlas tanks died. Over the years I have maybe made 25 tanks, they have been spread around, most are in the states, one is in Australia and the is one in Austria also . They are not cheap, but if you want 4 gallon capacity, they work well. Thanks for your interest.

Ross Thompson "
 
Some pics of the underside of a Factory Interpol tank, made by Homers I believe.

Not a single piece but made from several pieces welded together, the tube reliefs and the headsteady notches are single pieces, the frame U is a single piece and the relief for the front mount is a bent single piece. For some reason I was castigated when I said this was a bodge.

Egli Norton?


another view

Egli Norton?
 
Egli Norton?


There's a guy over on the Norton Commando facebook group that widened a Roadster tank to 3.5 gallons.
 
Is that 3.5 gallons Imperial?
If it's the tank in the photo it looks good from the sideview.

Glen
 


I just looked again and on another post he says 3.1 G or 15 liters.

He's in BC.



Well, crap, won't let me link the post...
 
Yet another difference between English and English. In this neck of the woods, they're "liters". Metric measures are still unusual in the US. Engine capacities are in cubic inches and often used in the motorcycle name. It took me a while after emigrating before I realised a "Harley 61" wasn't 610 ccs.
 
The US doesn't really use the litre unit of measure for much, the US gallon seems to be the preferred unit.
Even though the unit isn't used, for some reason they decided to respell it in a phonetic style, liter.
Rest of the world it's litre.

I sometimes wish we could get the whole world to switch to metric units of measure.
Canada decided to convert all units of measurement to metric in the seventies. We made it halfway then stopped and have been in unit limbo ever since.
 
Glen it looks to me like you did a really great job on the tank in the original post. I'd be interested to learn more about the process you went through to make it. Was it your first attempt at building a tank? It looks quite fair.
 
Yes, that was my first attempt at tank building. I had done a little metal shaping previously, made a few fenders and other bits.
The hardest part was getting my Tig welding skills up to the job of welding .049 Al.

Glen
 
I get that. I have been working on my Tig skills and might be ready for my project by the time I am 80. It kinda puts the welding skills to a real test when you consider that a failure will dump all your gas on to a hot engine and then leave you stranded on the side of the road.
 
That creation is a Colin Taylor tank intended for use on Vincents. If the front were a little more rounded, ala Commando it would be sort of a hybrid roadster-interstate look. How it might look on your bike? I dunno.

I spent a lot of time over the last 24-hours watching videos and reading up on panel beating and creating custom sheet metal. There is a lot of interesting stuff out there. I found the video shared below to be a good inspiration. I think this guy probably forges his own pistons and uses shoe polish on his tires.

 
yeah i found this video a while ago too... it seems like i could manage this, as my unplanned early retirement needs some challenges. i'm going to meet with my welder buddy in a short bit and see the progress on my current underground projects, and than this will be discussed
 
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I have one of madass' Lyta style tanks (but with standard style cap - not aircraft style) - bigger than the Roadster but smaller (and longer) than the Interstate tank.

Egli Norton?

Egli Norton?
 
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