GRP tank FOC

Is there anyone in the UK with an ethanol damaged Roadster GRP tank which is not usable? Looking for one that can be used to make tools to manufacture new replacements which are completely resistant to all Efuels. In exchange for the damaged tank a new replacement would be provided as soon as moulds had been made.

Carbonfibre said:

Is there anyone in the UK with an ethanol damaged Roadster GRP tank which is not usable?...

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You have PM.


Tim

Hi.
I have a tank sitting on my shelf doing nothing and your quite welcome to it. Have sent you a PM.

Mark.

I hope this project works out for you, it sounds interesting, and looks like there is demand for a decent tank.

I would buy one if the price is a bit more competitive.

Dave
69S

One of the reasons why most of the GRP bike tanks being produced today are very likely to fail when used with Efuels long term, is due to the use of cheap inappropriate materials, and the wrong production methods. Making high quality mouldings which are 100% resistant to attack by Efuels is slightly more costly, and sacrificing quality to reduce unit costs is the main reason for failure, so very unit low cost is not the main thing we will be looking for in relation to this project.

Here are a few photos of my tank. It is exactly the same as the roadster. The only difference between this and the later steel roadster tank is the rear fixing (as shown in photo) which is the 2 button and rubber band and the later steel tank which was secured by a curved steel plate bolted directly to the base of the tank. I'm not sure if the later type fixing was ever used on the GRP tanks





Mark.

Will these tanks be resistant to attack from acetone ?
There is a suggestion that fuel suppliers are adding/using acetone to scavenge/suppress water in fuel systems - which is why fibreglass tanks are suffering.

Fuels are different around the world, may not be the case everywhere.
In theory, ethanol should not affect fibreglass at all ?

Carbonfibre said:

Is there anyone in the UK with an ethanol damaged Roadster GRP tank which is not usable? Looking for one that can be used to make tools to manufacture new replacements which are completely resistant to all Efuels. In exchange for the damaged tank a new replacement would be provided as soon as moulds had been made.

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Burton Bike Bits UK have already started the manufacture of ethanol resistant replica fuel tanks. See their web site. They currently supply a wide range of British tanks and one assumes Commandos are on the E proof list.

Mick

It was not my idea to be critical of the methodology or pricing of making the GRP tanks, I was just commenting on how expensive it was. If it's more than buying a real good used steel tank at $1500, it's just not worth it to me. I'll continue using ethanol free avgas in my F/G tank at $50/10 gallons. There is a point where it's just not worth it, at least to me. I'm sure others will have other opinions.

I'm glad you're considering the project, believe me, I think it's a good thing.

Dave
69S

ML said:

Burton Bike Bits UK have already started the manufacture of ethanol resistant replica fuel tanks. See their web site.

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I don't really think so: Burton Bike Bits are currently developing a new range of ethanol resistant fibreglass tanks. We were initially looking at 15% resistant tanks but with the news that the level could well be increased in the USA and Europe has put a halt on this.

Reads a little bit as if they were looking and then stopped when they realized how difficult it really is. I'm happy to provide a tank to Carbonfibre (parcel will be on its way this evening) but I have to admit that I still have some doubts - but it is a classic case in which I'd love to be proven wrong. :wink:


Tim

Burton bike Bits are seemingly not that confidant of their ethanol resistant tanks, as this disclaimer is to be found on their web site:
http://www.burtonbikebits.net/fibreglass%20tanks.pdf

Seems to me that producing cheaply made tanks in the manner they have always done, and insisting it is the customers responsibility to seal these tanks before use, is a workable method of avoiding any responsibility when they fail.

Its pretty well established that tank sealing products dont actually work, so it seems to me to be very dodgy relying on applying one of these to a brand new tank in order to avoid failure!

All this comes down to unit costs though, and composite producers who have little or no idea of how to go about producing chemically resistant mouldings that are both fit for purpose, and only marginally more costly than those that dont work.

Your leaky tank looks perfect to make tooling from Mark, and I am sure you will be very pleased with the 100% ethanol proof replacement, and will find its entirely trouble free. We aim to offer a 2 year guarantee on these tanks, rather than a disclaimer suggesting customers fill them with snake oil before use, which I hope will suggest that not all GRP being made today is likely to dissolve when Efuel is being used!

How about Interstate tanks, Carbonfibre, Are they in the "pipeline for later"
Seems to me you just can't buy one.
AC.

As no one producing GRP tanks for bikes seems to understand how to go about it, then we shall probably be looking at producing anything where sales seem likely to warrant the cost of producing tooling.

Are these tanks going to be acetone resistant ?

AussieCombat said:

How about Interstate tanks,
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Seems to me you just can't buy one.
AC.

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Someone is gearing up to make alloy and steel Interstate tanks.
Keep an eye on ebay, should be soon.

And cafe tanks in alloy, some out there already.

Good, I'll get the Indian guy to pin stripe it.

We can also make alloy tanks using pretty much the same tooling used for GRP, but cost is obviously a factor, and while its possible to get shoddily made steel tanks manufactured in India and Pakistan at around £75-100 a unit, not completely sure whether or not it would be commercially viable to get proper tooling made to make higher quality ones?

Yeah I think the problem is that, to buy a tank from England and sent to Aust. shipping is
charged by the size of the item, ( according to Norvill ), and not the weight, which becomes expensive.
How many $$$, carbonfibre, do you estimate, roughly, for Steel Interstate tank, if you were to supply them.
Perhaps Fibre glass would be OK. ??
AC.

Overseas shipping is calculated on volumetric, and weight certainly does come into this. Shipping to Australia from UK is costly, and if you are looking for a steel tank then it might be possible to find a supplier closer to you, which would make shipping less expensive.