Is my 1970 Fiber glass tank useable??

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Ted Lang

Ted Lang

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My 1970 commando S has the original blue fiberglass tank in great condition, no fuel in it for 25 years. Is it useable with todays fuels?

I had heard that it was not, so I purchased a metal 1971 (?) tank and matching fiberglas side-panels on E-bay last year. These are custom painted in better than showroom condition (although in burgundy -- nice but not original and not my favorite color) The trouble with these is that the side panels apparently mount differently and have a different key location. I think I can modify the new side panels, but maybe I should just use the old tank instead??

If I use the old tank, what is the best way to remove the old decals without harm to the finish?

Thanks

Ted Lang
 
Ted Lang said:
My 1970 commando S has the original blue fiberglass tank in great condition, no fuel in it for 25 years. Is it useable with todays fuels?

I had heard that it was not, so I purchased a metal 1971 (?) tank and matching fiberglas side-panels on E-bay last year. These are custom painted in better than showroom condition (although in burgundy -- nice but not original and not my favorite color) The trouble with these is that the side panels apparently mount differently and have a different key location. I think I can modify the new side panels, but maybe I should just use the old tank instead??

If I use the old tank, what is the best way to remove the old decals without harm to the finish?

Thanks

Ted Lang
Click to expand...

unfortunately I am not able to answer.. but if you decide to sell back your metal tank, here you have a potential buyer!
 
Its usable, but you will need to properly seal it using a modified novalac epoxy resin which is less brittle than the tank sealers as supplied, and more suitable for GRP tanks.
 
Carbonfibre said:
Its usable, but you will need to properly seal it using a modified novalac epoxy resin which is less brittle than the tank sealers as supplied, and more suitable for GRP tanks.
Click to expand...

is Caswell Tank Liner the one you suggest?
 
Are the original decals water slide type? is there a lacquer coat over the top?

If they are water slide straight on the gel coat you could use fine wet and dry (wet) just enough to take off the decal and then polish the gel coat back up as you would for a painted finish.
 
For sure, don't put any ethanol gas in the F/G tank. Some have had luck with the sealers, but are probably living on borrowed time. Since I don't make big trips, I opted to leave it original and use avgas. Why not have the metal tank painted blue to match the panels. Then just replace the tank.

If it's the original stick on decals, Rich probably has best idea. You'll probably find that the paint around the decals has faded and you will have the outline of the decal darker. That would be OK if you're going to replace the decals. After I sanded the black paint off my FF Blue tank, I could see where the decals had been. I ended up having to repaint the whole thing.

Dave
69S
 
These are not the first decals, but I recall getting them from the Norton Dealer in 1974. They are adhesive stickers. My bike (since I bought it in about 1974) has always been garaged away from windows, and it was stickerless when I got it. So I think it will not be faded much. But the stupid stickers never did lay down quite right, and its high time to make it right. I am thinking silver letters. Was that original color with FF blue?

I have a part share in little Citabria that I fly from a non-towered suburban airport about 1 mile from my house. So the 100-LL av-gas might be OK for awhile in the old tank. Of course $5.95 /gal is a little steep, but it'll just be around town and usually I burn it at 7 gal/hr

The jury is out on the metal tank. But this thing is just too beautiful to repaint for a color match.

Ted
1970 "S"
 
Original decals on FF Blue 69/70 was black with gold outline on tank, both sides, and gold with black outline on panels for Commando, 750 'S' or Roadster. It may have changed in 71. You can look at the brochures here. http://www.classicbike.biz/Norton/Broch ... chures.htm I think they used the same on the 69/70 FF Red. The back of the seat cover also had a gold Norton logo. I got some real nice decals from a fella in NZ, they don't have the gummy clear overlap like the ones I got from OB. They seem thicker too, but the gold is a printed gold, not metallic gold. If you get 2 sets, one for spares or mess ups, it was cheaper even with the postage. If you like the name, I'll look it up.

Unless you ride the bike a whole bunch, $5.50 for 110LL isn't going to kill you. It sure runs good, you may not want to go with regular gas after that. They get about 50 mpg anyhow.

Dave
69S
 
I have been using normal fuel in my original, untouched fiberglass tank forever. Don't fret about it. Use it.
 
aceaceca said:
I have been using normal fuel in my original, untouched fiberglass tank forever. Don't fret about it. Use it.
Click to expand...

What passes for "normal fuel" in your area? I put pump gas in my original, untouched fiberglass tank back in 2004 and the carb slides stuck within two weeks from the dissolving resin. Intake manifolds were coated with it too. I coated the tank with Caswell epoxy and have been using it for the last 5 years, but the ethanol is getting through and the gelcoat is starting to blister. A steel tank is going on the bike soon.

Debby
 
Is there a additive to mix (Lucas Oil, Mystery Oil, etc?) with ethanol blended gasoline to negate the destructive effects in a fiberglass tank?

I'm aware of ethanol resistant liners. Which I'm going to do to a NOS Fiberglass Fastback tank in the near future.
 
I suppose you could crack the alcohol out of it somehow. Might be dangerous though.

I'm staying away from it for now or until someone comes out with a reasonable metal/GRP tank that will take the crap.

Dave
69S
 
You could add some water to your gas, shake well, allow to settle, and drain off the pure gas. The water will absorb the ethanol and settle out to the bottom. That's how the ethanol test kits work.

Not sure if you'd get all the ethanol out, or what the effective octane rating of the separated gasoline would be, or what to do with the ethanol-laced water! Would be better to seek out some pure gas, seems to me (and maybe test it to make sure it really is pure gas).

Debby
 
aceaceca said:
I have been using normal fuel in my original, untouched fiberglass tank forever. Don't fret about it. Use it.
Click to expand...

I have three fiberglass tanks and all suffer from the ethanol poisoning.

I have seen countless bike with the same ailment.

Fascinated to hear more about your experiences.
 
my tank is in pretty bad conditions now. used ethanol petrol for a few months. now it's defo leaking.
 
Nothing to tell. Before I pay some $300 for a steel one I would buy another complete bike with one on it. Mine has a life of it's own. Sometimes it gets welts, sometimes a tad soft, but as long as it holds fuel I will run it. I have had carbs and manifolds off and see no residue. On the other hand, I have seen coated tanks that had the coating disappear. You tell me in 20 years or more if your famous Caswell's, or whatever you used is still there. That is if I am still here.

If your tank is leaking, find out where. it may just need a little patching. Do not blame the ethanol gas off the bat. Get a steel one and sell yours to me. My bike is the same color.
 
Interesting. Do you leave ethanol gas in it for any amount of time? I still don't think I'm going to chance it, I'm doing fine with the avgas, plus it smells good, same color as the bike and I get to spend extra money on it which makes it feel special.

Dave
69S
 
aceaceca said:
Sometimes it gets welts, sometimes a tad soft, but as long as it holds fuel I will run it.
Click to expand...

So your tank is suffering from the ethanol, you're just in denial. Gotcha. :mrgreen:
 
The frigging bike is 40yrs old for gods sake. Everything about it suffers when I get on it and go. But, I have no fancy upgrades save for a Boyer, and she has 35k miles on her, never been apart, never let me down. Still pulls hard . These rides are meant to have character, kind of like yours, and be ridden. That is what I prefer to do rather than fret about a lot of unnecessary upgrades. I can buy a lot of gas for the price of a tank. So, until the gas starts dribbling on my leg, ride on.
 
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