Interstate time

Seems like the gasket from AN is too soft or gets soft from petrol. End of season I removed gasket (actually it removed itself) and simply laid it on the rim and closed the cap. Worked better!
 
Onder said:
Seems like the gasket from AN is too soft or gets soft from petrol. End of season I removed gasket (actually it removed itself) and simply laid it on the rim and closed the cap. Worked better!
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I did that for years with a seal I got in the 90s.

Several years ago I got two AN seals from a local supplier. One failed badly and warped significantly after a few days. The second I dropped in a jar of patrol and watched it warp as well. Went back to the supplier and they went back to AN, who confirmed that their supplier had used the wrong material. The new replacements I got for those worked fine.
 
My Roadster tank leaked from the tank gasket on a Chinese cap I purchased. I lived with it for too long. The solution was to purchase a new one from AN. I installed it this winter and after a few rides with a full tank I’ve not had a leak yet. Longevity unknown.
 
Fast Eddie said:
Kinda long story… I got stencils from Matt at cNw cos I like the smaller than stock font. They were ‘solid’ stencils, designed to apply silver first, then the stencils, then the top coat, then remove the stencils. But my painter wanted to do it the other way around, so he got ‘negative’ stencils made locally using the cNw ones as a pattern.
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Thanks Nigel,
I think that I will go with your painters method
Mike
 
When I bought my Roadster over 10 years ago, it came with exhaust mount bobbins as front tank mounts.

I’ve continued to use this method without issue.

But the Roadster tanks hold little more than a thimble full of fuel. The weight and stress on an interstate is quite a lot more. I’ve had the mounting points reinforced (in the pic).

I’ve heard the argument that exhaust bobbins allow too much sideways movement, and this can cause the tank to ‘spread’ and ultimately crack.

The argument being that the stock stud and rubber washer design is superior.

What are y’all’s thoughts ?
 
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I like the stock stud n rubber set up personally. I also thought supporting the back bone tunnel of the tank with nice density foam rubber to spread the load a touch off the front and rear mounts could be helpful...just a thought
Nice tank by the way...wish I could find a old rustless dented one apposed to a take your chances on a Indian one.
 
Fast Eddie said:
When I bought my Roadster over 10 years ago, it came with exhaust mount bobbins as front tank mounts.

I’ve continued to use this method without issue.

But the Roadster tanks hold little more than a thimble full of fuel. The weight and stress on an interstate is quite a lot more. He c RJ had the mounting points reinforced (in the pic).

I’ve heard the argument that exhaust bobbins allow too much sideways movement, and this can cause the tank to ‘spread’ and ultimately crack.

The argument being that the stock stud and rubber washer design is superior.

What are y’all’s thoughts ?
Click to expand...
When I aquired my Interstate tank about 18 years ago it was okay for a year or so, then it started to leak from a crack on one of the front mounts. I cut out the original threaded boss's & turned up a couple of top hats, which I then brazed into the tank. The larger diameter flange of the new insert gives more support especially when brazed. I have used exhaust bobbins for quite a few years now & think they are a far superior solution. The original stud set up can come into contact with the frame & is a poor method in my opinion. The other thing you must do to relieve pressure on the front mounts is sit the saddle of the tank on a full length strip of high density foam. The height of this should mean the tank only just sits on the front mounts.
Hope this helps.
 
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Nigel,
I have used the stock method using the stack of rubbers for quite some time now on both my Interstate and Roadster tanks. I always try to use the foam padding on the underside of the tanks to let the tank floating a bit so when the nuts and washers are secured the tank is fully supported.These Interstate tanks weigh a lot loaded up with fuel but I love the extra capacity.
Another question,
Are those steel side covers?If so,did the left side line up without any modifications? I just got a set of factory steel covers for mine and they fit but getting it on the dzus pin can be tricky. They haven’t been bent up in their past life but I think they should be easier to secure.Maybe the grommets just need to settle in.
Your thoughts?
Thanks,Mike
 
Fast Eddie said:
When I bought my Roadster over 10 years ago, it came with exhaust mount bobbins as front tank mounts.

I’ve continued to use this method without issue.

But the Roadster tanks hold little more than a thimble full of fuel. The weight and stress on an interstate is quite a lot more. He c RJ had the mounting points reinforced (in the pic).

I’ve heard the argument that exhaust bobbins allow too much sideways movement, and this can cause the tank to ‘spread’ and ultimately crack.

The argument being that the stock stud and rubber washer design is superior.

What are y’all’s thoughts ?
Click to expand...
My concern with those exhaust mounts is not that they allow too much sideways movement (maybe they do) but rather that they have almost zero axial compressibility, making them very hard on the tank's structure.
I won't use them.
 
YING said:
Nigel,
I have used the stock method using the stack of rubbers for quite some time now on both my Interstate and Roadster tanks. I always try to use the foam padding on the underside of the tanks to let the tank floating a bit so when the nuts and washers are secured the tank is fully supported.These Interstate tanks weigh a lot loaded up with fuel but I love the extra capacity.
Another question,
Are those steel side covers?If so,did the left side line up without any modifications? I just got a set of factory steel covers for mine and they fit but getting it on the dzus pin can be tricky. They haven’t been bent up in their past life but I think they should be easier to secure.Maybe the grommets just need to settle in.
Your thoughts?
Thanks,Mike
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Mike
I have changed over to sticking (double sided tape) the foam pads to the top/rear of the frame tube, instead of in the tank tunnel.
Makes it clear each tank removal if the pads are still in good shape. Makes it easier for replacement too.
Cheers
 
Fast Eddie said:
When I bought my Roadster over 10 years ago, it came with exhaust mount bobbins as front tank mounts.

I’ve continued to use this method without issue.

But the Roadster tanks hold little more than a thimble full of fuel. The weight and stress on an interstate is quite a lot more. He c RJ had the mounting points reinforced (in the pic).

I’ve heard the argument that exhaust bobbins allow too much sideways movement, and this can cause the tank to ‘spread’ and ultimately crack.

The argument being that the stock stud and rubber washer design is superior.

What are y’all’s thoughts ?
Click to expand...
Hi Nigel
The bobbins really don't cope well with the interstate tank way to much wobble. Studs and the rubber washer stack is the way to go with a single rubber washer and a penny washer (mudguard washer) under the mount with a ny-lock nut pinched up
 
Esmerela said:
Hi Nigel
The bobbins really don't cope well with the interstate tank way to much wobble. Studs and the rubber washer stack is the way to go with a single rubber washer and a penny washer (mudguard washer) under the mount with a ny-lock nut pinched up
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Thanks Kate.
 
I've used the exhaust bobbins along with stock closed cell foam pads for many years. My Interstate tank leaked due to a crack around front mounting point and caused the great fire of 1982 but that's another story. I think the studs transmit vibration which caused the failure.
Regarding the side panel being hard to get the Dzus on I have mine set so that there is a bit of tension instead of relying solely on the spring clip to keep it on. I haven't lost a side cover yet 🤞 in 45 years of ownership. YMMV
 
I dont like the exhaust bobbins anywhere. They fail on the exhaust, the other iso bobbins on the oil tank fail. It is like they are designed to fail... oh, wait.
 
gortnipper said:
I dont like the exhaust bobbins anywhere. They fail on the exhaust, the other iso bobbins on the oil tank fail. It is like they are designed to fail... oh, wait.
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Exactly !

Nothing wrong with parts designed to fail. It means that they absorb destructive forces and therefore protect other parts from said forces.

So long as they’re replaced in good time as part of preventative maintenance, all is good.
 
triumph2 said:
I've used the exhaust bobbins along with stock closed cell foam pads for many years. My Interstate tank leaked due to a crack around front mounting point and caused the great fire of 1982 but that's another story. I think the studs transmit vibration which caused the failure.
Regarding the side panel being hard to get the Dzus on I have mine set so that there is a bit of tension instead of relying solely on the spring clip to keep it on. I haven't lost a side cover yet 🤞 in 45 years of ownership. YMMV
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Thanks Triumph,
That’s the way mine fits. I was just checking to see if I was missing something.It fits nicely with just the tension you described.
Mike
 
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