Fuel tank material by year?

I am still a newbie to this forum so I apologize ahead of time for asking questions that may be understood as stupid, I am doing my research but have not acquired every shred of information yet, although I am working on it . My question is about fuel tank material by year, when did norton switch to using steel tanks? I recently picked up a 1973 750 basket case I am planning on reviving it as a roadster. I got a steel tank with it that looks like someone tried to smooth out the seams and failed in their attempt to improve on the looks. I have not decided if i want to restore as close to original as possible or make it my own with modern touches. I have a lead on a fiberglass tank and side covers with fresh paint and sealed with caswell. Before I make a decision on buying them or not I would be very interested to know what a 1973 roadster came with originally for a fuel tank. Thank you fit any help anyone may be able to provide.

Run away as fast as possible from the fiberglass tank.

If you have a steel one n your hands, use it.

My original 1971 Norton Commando roadster, bought in Memphis, TN back then had a fiberglass tank. I know that a friend's original 73 roadster came with a steel tank. So I would ASSUME that the switch had to have occurred in 72 or 73.

I have a FG fastback tank on my bike which has been on it for 3 years now with no issues at all. I got it from Burton Bike Bits and I sealed it with Caswells even though they said it was not necessary. To be honest, I would PREFER a metal a tank but I'd buy a FG tank (as I did) if metal wasn't available, and seal it.

I bought my Interstate in Sept' 72 & it had a fibreglass tank. It was built about 3 months earlier I think. A friend bought an Interstate a month later & it had a steel tank. A '73 bike would have a steel tank.

My fibreglass tank started to be attacked by ethanol & I sealed it but was dubious as to how effective the sealant might be long term. I managed to get a steel tank & so replaced the original fibreglass one. Use steel if you can.

Ian

According to my Commando parts book, if your engine number is 212278 or higher it originally came with a steel fuel tank. They simply do not list any fiberglass fuel tanks in this parts book. However, if your motorcycle is below that number you probably have a 1972 model and they had both steel and fiberglass fuel tanks for that year. Steel or fiberglass side panels were used on 1972 - 1974.

The fiberglass fuel tank is shaped a little differently than the steel tank. In my opinion the fiberglass fuel tank looks nicer. Unfortunately the fiberglass resins are attacked by our modern fuels.

The original fuel tank on my 1973 850 Roadster, produced in July 1973 w/serial # 30-58**, is steel and is pictured in my avatar.

Nortoniggy said:

A '73 bike would have a steel tank.

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Not necessarily, as "Glass fibre" fuel tanks were still listed for '73.
http://www.bigdcycle.com/book%20project ... index.html
(Group 28, p.59)

L.A.B. said:

Not necessarily, as "Glass fibre" fuel tanks were still listed for '73.
http://www.bigdcycle.com/book%20project ... index.html
(Group 28, p.59)

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That is very interesting! My 1973 factory parts book does not make any mention of any fiberglass tank at all, and yet it has the same cover page mentioning the same engine numbers. However all of the Roadster tanks in the 1973 parts book that BigD cycle shows are steel.

As far as documentation is concerned, "Norton has a lot to answer for"!

All original Fastback tanks were Fibreglass

As everyone knows all early Commando tanks were fibreglass. What made them change to steel? Well there was an accident in the UK where a rider on a Norton with a fibreglass tank, hit a van at low speed. The rider fell off and was trapped by the bike falling on top of him. The tank had split in the accident, and dripped petrol onto the still running motor......... The rider was basically unhurt, no broken bones anyway, but he was burned to death. Bob Trigg (NV Director of Design) had to go to the Coroners Inquest and explain why fibreglass was used instead of steel. On his return from the Inquest work was started on changing to steel tanks. This would have been in the second half of 1970.
solemn cheers
wakeup

UK Regulations:
http://www.fbhvc.co.uk/legislation-and- ... formation/

Regulation 39(2)(c) of The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations requires all petrol tanks on vehicles first used after 1 July 1973 to be metal. This applies to all vehicle types. There are no requirements on the material of diesel tanks.

The only exemption from the requirement for road vehicles is for vehicles with fuel tanks approved to Directive 70/221/EEC or ECE Regulation 34. These permit plastic tanks provided they have passed impact resistance, mechanical strength, fuel permeability and fire resistance tests.

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L.A.B. said:

UK Regulations:
http://www.fbhvc.co.uk/legislation-and- ... formation/

Regulation 39(2)(c) of The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations requires all petrol tanks on vehicles first used after 1 July 1973 to be metal. This applies to all vehicle types. There are no requirements on the material of diesel tanks.

The only exemption from the requirement for road vehicles is for vehicles with fuel tanks approved to Directive 70/221/EEC or ECE Regulation 34. These permit plastic tanks provided they have passed impact resistance, mechanical strength, fuel permeability and fire resistance tests.

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Exactly. This shows the official response to a tragic accident. I think its to Bob Triggs credit that he started work on replacing fibreglass with steel straight away (in late 1970). At the time there was considerable concern about the use of fibreglass in after-market tanks as well, for for bikes made earlier than the July 73 date as well.
cheers
wakeup

Alex, Where you live and the availability and "required use" of ethanol in "modern fuel" may dictate the use of a fibreglass tank... Here in Australia the use ethanol is fairly limited, therefore the deteriation of fibreglass petrol tanks due to ethanol is very limited....... Fibreglass/plastic (or whatever its called these days) tanks are used on many vehicles here..

Checkout your local fuel supplies re ethanol use, prior to commiting to a glass tank.........