Interstate Petrol / Gas Tank Woes. Alternatives?

It also changes the gear shift pattern. Sometimes that is desirable sometimes not.
 
Britstuff said:
Hi Mike:

Thank you for the tip regarding Legendary motorcycles. Nice, but I would have to sell the kids for medical experiments to raise that kind of cash.

Tab classics are certainly cheaper, but of course maybe there is a reason why.

Anyone out there had any experience with Tab Classics alloy tanks?

Cheers,

James
Click to expand...
Hi. I bought a TAB lyta style tank for my slimline feather bed frame used on a classic race bike. But it was in 2001 about so the experience may no longer be relevant.

I can say the tank was well shaped and looked very good.

The taps were not well placed for the slimline top frame rails so I had to get them moved by a local engineer.

The tank has internal baffles which is good but unfortunately after a year or so a very small petrol weep started on the base of the tank where the baffle seemed to be attached. It was very easily fixed by the same engineer and since I had not painted it no real problem. If it had been painted it would have been an issue repairing it.

The bike has since been dropped several times while racing and no further leaks have appeared.

In conclusion I can recomend their tank from that time at least but you must use them for a time before painting to make sure the bugs are worked out. Aluminium tanks are a bit more fragile I think so careful foam isolation and attachment is important.

You can see a few dents and scars from the clip-on hitting the tank after a drop in the attached photo. These dents do not leak.
 

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johnm said:
Hi. I bought a TAB lyta style tank for my slimline feather bed frame used on a classic race bike. But it was in 2001 about so the experience may no longer be relevant.

I can say the tank was well shaped and looked very good.

The taps were not well placed for the slimline top frame rails so I had to get them moved by a local engineer.

The tank has internal baffles which is good but unfortunately after a year or so a very small petrol weep started on the base of the tank where the baffle seemed to be attached. It was very easily fixed by the same engineer and since I had not painted it no real problem. If it had been painted it would have been an issue repairing it.

The bike has since been dropped several times while racing and no further leaks have appeared.

In conclusion I can recomend their tank from that time at least but you must use them for a time before painting to make sure the bugs are worked out. Aluminium tanks are a bit more fragile I think so careful foam isolation and attachment is important.

You can see a few dents and scars from the clip-on hitting the tank after a drop in the attached photo. These dents do not leak.
Click to expand...
Loving those long inlet manifolds
Could you post a photo of the whole bike please?
 
baz said:
Loving those long inlet manifolds
Could you post a photo of the whole bike please?
Click to expand...
From memory they are about 13 inches long. Valve to bellmouth opening. Filled in some holes in the hp curve.

That's the bike in action. Not me riding it. That guy is a bit quicker than me. I can take some photos tomorrow but the light in the shed is a bit harsh at the moment
 

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worntorn said:
I suspect that I am about to learn this,
will know for sure on Friday. Temps are forecast to be mid fifties with sunshine.
Usually you know after a minute or two if something is ergonomically wrong for you.
I talked with Roger a few months ago and he sent me this.
I hope it works, it looks good and weighs nothing!

View attachment 104667
Click to expand...
Please update us on how the gear lever operation goes and does it dig into your boot on down changes??
 
johnm said:
From memory they are about 13 inches long. Valve to bellmouth opening. Filled in some holes in the hp curve.

That's the bike in action. Not me riding it. That guy is a bit quicker than me. I can take some photos tomorrow but the light in the shed is a bit harsh at the moment
Click to expand...
The long header pipes were to partially cure exhaust reversion. On petrol it dynoed at 51 rear wheel bhp.

These photos were taken today. Notable changes from the earlier photo when the bike was running in clubmans class include a replica 1963 Manx Norton 4 LS front brake, Bob Newby clutch, TT six speed box. With these changes it ran in NZCMRR open class.

The tangled mess of pipes under the tank are a consequence of tank pipe location and slim line frame rails interfering with long intake manifolds. Plus breather pipes. The petrol pipes are also large diameter because the bike was sometimes run on methanol.

The bike hasn't run for 10 years so it's a bit messy and thrown together but the last time it was out Bill Swallow rode it on one of his visits to NZ. Hence the No 2 number plate.
 

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olympus said:
Please update us on how the gear lever operation goes and does it dig into your boot on down changes??
Click to expand...
This gear lever is a bit too short for my arrangement. My footpegs are probably in a different location than most.

Glen
 
Regarding interstate alternatives, I recently came across an AD in a Canadian buy/sell site for a Commando Fastback Long Range. Had never heard of this variant but came to learn it has and extended tank, slightly less volume than Interstates, takes same seat size and same side covers. Very few made, mainly for export to North America and Australia.

Norton-1-jpg.jpg


I think I came across a mention of these being the same as an Atlas tank, with a modified base to fit the Commando frame.
 
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Tornado said:
Regarding interstate alternatives, I recently came across an AD in a Canadian buy/sell site for a Commando Fastback Long Range. Had never heard of this variant but came to learn it has and extended tank, slightly less volume than Interstates, takes same seat size and same side covers. Very few made, mainly for export to North America and Australia.

View attachment 108726

I think I came across a mention of these being the same as an Atlas tank, with a modified base to fit the Commando frame.
Click to expand...
I had a Long Range aka Interpol tank on my Combat for many years. Compared to both roadsters and interstates that I have owned, it is the perfect all rounder.
 
I have the steel Inter on my 74. It is a whale of a tank. Great for range worries and not so great
for a more local bike. Thinking about putting the Roadster tank back on. If you fill up on returning
home from a ride, it is rather unwieldy in the garage.
...oldster complaint, I know...
 
cliffa said:
I bought a Morini 500 tank in the hope it would fit my Morini Camel. It did fit but the forks hit the tank after a few degrees of turn so I can't use it. I was re-wiring my Commando at the time and popped the tank on it to see what it would look like. It fitted pretty well and looks different. I'm not going to use it, so if you are interested P.M. me and we can work out something.

View attachment 104626
Click to expand...
My Morini had the correct color for your Commando.
Interstate Petrol / Gas Tank Woes. Alternatives?
 
Britstuff said:
Thank you all for your very helpful replies.....

Hi Gortnipper:

Gorgeous looking bike!

Did you get your lyta style tank from Tab Classics? If so does it fit well, are you happy with it, etc? Tab Classics appears to have the best options I have seen so far.

Cheers,

James
Click to expand...
TAB II tank on my featherbed Commando in this thread

www.accessnorton.com

Access Norton High Beech meet?

A few photos from High Beech.
www.accessnorton.com www.accessnorton.com
 
AndyDMC said:
TAB II tank on my featherbed Commando in this thread

www.accessnorton.com

Access Norton High Beech meet?

A few photos from High Beech.
www.accessnorton.com www.accessnorton.com
Click to expand...
Which I am very happy with. No leaks, fits well and very easy to deal with. I have done a few thousand miles on it without issue.

(and yeah, the reversed gear lever isn't ideal. It's simple tho, made from a chopped down RGM reversed lever. But let's keep to tanks!)

Andy
 
Thank you everyone for your replies!

I ended up fixing my steel interstate tank. I fabricated two new threaded inserts from steel spacers using drill's, taps and a lathe. Then had an acquaintance with vastly superior welding skills to mine, let them in. Cleaned up the inside of the tank with nuts and bolts, chain and acetone and then used a POR-15 tank lining kit. Quite time consuming, but definitely worth the effort!

If I ever win the lottery I think I will buy an alloy tank from TAB Classics.
 

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