Oil Tank, Busted Bracket

hudson29 · Jun 13, 2011

After sitting 12 years waiting for me to "get around to it" my 1972 Commando is finally the active project. I built it up in the 1990s and had a number of issues to resolve when I was called away to more pressing matters. This weekend I began the project again by draining off the oil. Yes, the tank still had oil in it after all this time. I had put in the Nortech reworked oil pump & I guess it worked pretty well.

Much to my surprise, I found the upper rear bracket had sheared off the tank in the 700 miles I had ridden the bike since it was put together:

I'm not really sure why this broke, new rubber mounts were fitted and it was assembled with care. Now what? Should this tank be repaired or exchanged for one from the Colorado Norton Works or what? Also, that lower mount is a real PIA to get at, half the back end of the bike had to come apart. Is there a better mounting system, something like a short pin to hold it rather than the bolt?

Vintage Paul

jeffdavison · Jun 13, 2011

Re: Oil Tank, Busted Braket

CNW is the way to go. Do it once and then be done with it. Exceptional quality of work. Well worth the asking price.

JD

pete.v · Jun 13, 2011

Re: Oil Tank, Busted Braket

Totally common. You will have to crap on that nice paint job.
With mine I tack the broken piece where it broke then placed a piece of steel over it and tacked it around the perimeter leaving the end for remounting. I think the reason other mounts break is because this goes undone.

I never use the stupid little mounting rubbers anymore. Instead I use a 1 1/2" long 1/4" bolt with a piece of 1/4" oil line for the cushion and then bring a lock nut up to snug from the back side. This offers more cushion and will not break.

The $119 wire feed from Harbor Freight strikes again. Get on their mailing list and an additional coupon will bring this to $89. Wire feed can be mastered with little practice. Doing it yourself gets you on the road today. Add little primer a little paint and you have a recipe for a little more independance and pride.

I've used it for many things including upgrading the sidestand mounting lug. It will pay for itself after 1 or 2 uses. If you prefer, a stick welder is also aroungd the same price.

I do not know what CNW charges but it must be close or north of $119 with shipping.

swooshdave · Jun 13, 2011

hudson29 said:
I'm not really sure why this broke, new rubber mounts were fitted and it was assembled with care. Now what? Should this tank be repaired or exchanged for one from the Colorado Norton Works or what? Also, that lower mount is a real PIA to get at, half the back end of the bike had to come apart. Is there a better mounting system, something like a short pin to hold it rather than the bolt?

Vintage Paul

Do not use bottom mount.

hudson29 · Jun 13, 2011

Thanks Guys for the help on this. CNW wants $150 exchange plus shipping and mods the lower mount, cleans & powdercoats the tank so it is ready to install. I'm OK with the price if the tank needs no other work and lives a long time. I used to want to become a machinist & a welder to do fabrication on these various projects. The problem is time, I work more than full time and have many other interests. I decided to play banjo rather than learn welding, possibly a poor choice but I now realize I'm not going to live forever and choices have to be made.

Swooshdave, what do you mean about not using the lower mount? Isn't that the one that bears the weight of the tank? What do you use instead of the lower mount?

Vintage Paul

ntst8 · Jun 14, 2011

If i remember correctly CNW also recommend doing away with the bottom mount, using a foam pad to locate the bottom of the tank.
The tank is known to be prone to fracture around the bottom mount, especially if ridden for any length of time with a broken top mount. An alternative is to weld a doubler plate around he bottom mount, will let you know in 10 years time whether that has been a good long term answer :mrgreen:

gtsun · Jun 14, 2011

Hey Paul. I'll come over after work Tuesday and have a look. I did my own tank last year much like what CNW does. If you search oil tank mods you'll see how many people have done it & get ideas. As learned from others here, I wrapped & welded a 1/2" wide plate around the top spout to make a new stronger top mount, added a thickner plate to the bottom, glued on rubber pads & got rid of the bolt. I streangthend the rear mount & all has been well for many hard miles. Of coarse I only did all this because I had Wilson's shop & help. Frankly if Not for that I would have sent it off to CNW which is most likely the best idea for you. Matt can do a much better job than I did and it is WELL worth thier price. Glenn, ps. Sorry to hear about your rear wheel but all can be fixed.

hudson29 · Jun 14, 2011

Thanks guys, I would like to do this properly and your words are helpful. This Norton has been a labor of love ever since I bought it as a rolling basket twenty years ago. If reenforcing the bottom and eliminating the bottom bolt make it better, I'm good with that.

Vintage Paul

Tim_S · Jun 15, 2011

Have your bracket tig welded back on and rattle can it black. No one will ever see it with the seat down. As for getting to the bottom mounting bolt. Use a quarter inch drive long extension with your socket and you won't have to remove anything from the bikee to get at it. If this project is really a labor of love take your time and think it through and save your money. :mrgreen:

If your going to pitch your old broken down oil tank send it to me........

Tim_S

no offense intended

gtsun · Jun 16, 2011

WTF.?
W

batrider · Jun 16, 2011

CNW takes your old tank as a core if you go that route. It can have a broken rear bracket. They remove and replace the rear bracket with a stronger and better welded one as part of the deal. Tank is not hanging by the top mounts. They supply a thick rubber sticky backed pad for the bottom of the tank which it rests on - also a thin pad so it doesn't rub on the battery box.

I was happy with the work and their bargain price which has gone up a bit since I had mine done by them.

I requested that they didn't block off the chain oiler which they normally do. (I have a small brass fish tank valve which regulates the chain drippage. This was from an old Norton News tip way back.)

hudson29 · Jun 16, 2011

Thanks for the help, I just UPSed the tank off to Colorado Norton Works after talking to Gary there on the phone and hearing a few more details about what they do. I have hopes that the tank will returned functionally repaired and attractive to the eye which is important as this old motorbike is the apple of my eye. The price seems reasonable considering the work that has to be done and the thought that went into the redesign. The only downside is the delay - two to three weeks for the next batch of tanks to assemble. The time can be spent working on the back hub/brake issues and other places. That front brake was pretty horrible as I recall but that is another thread . . .

Vintage Paul

batrider · Jun 17, 2011

It came back with a very nice powdercoat job. Better looking than the rest of the bike!

MelloYellow · Jun 17, 2011

"I decided to play banjo rather than learn welding"

now THERE'S a decision!

You can pick away while CNW gets your tank in shape! :mrgreen:

MelloYellow

hudson29 · Jun 17, 2011

MelloYellow said:
"I decided to play banjo rather than learn welding"

now THERE'S a decision!

You can pick away while CNW gets your tank in shape! :mrgreen:

MelloYellow

Yup, life is a matter of choices. The opportunity cost of doing X is forgoing Y. I will get the pleasure of bolting it back together and seeing the tank done correctly. I did the same thing with the bottom end BTW. I sent it to Phil Radford at Fair Spares to set up the super blends and weld up the breather. I'm very glad I did as he spotted the cracked crank I had missed. A man's gotta know his limitations . . .

Vintage Paul

MelloYellow · Jun 17, 2011

In all seriousness, I totally agree. I'm working on a Triumph pre-unit project, and could rebuild the engine and tranny myself (although I'm far from an expert) after studying up and doing my homework, developing resources, etc., with the danger of overlooking something because of my specific inexperience with the techniques involved, as well as recognizing the personal time investment involved. Or, I could spend the money and get it done (relatively :wink: ) quickly by one schooled in the art, with greatly reduced risks and in a much shorter timeframe. For me, this was the "best" decision; I am sure for others, it would not be..... :roll:
It's good to know what you don't know...
Mello

snare1998 · Jun 17, 2011

"I decided to play banjo rather than learn welding,"

^ Best quote ever! :mrgreen:

gtsun · Jun 17, 2011

+ 1 on the quote, Hey Paul are you going to the Johnny Cash festival in Ventura (Ventucky) Saturday? I'm thinking of ridding the Commando up myself. The Blasters, X , my pal Deke Dickerson and a bunch of other great people are playing. Nice ride up the coast & sounds like good weather. Care for a ride?

hudson29 · Jun 18, 2011

I'm on to another gig Saturday, I'm taking my mother to the ragtime music festival, not by motorbike as she does not care to try riding. She is 84 and has her preferences too! I'm playing banjo Sunday so no work on the Commando at all this weekend. The rear hub has to come apart so the bearings can be inspected and then a replacement parts list can be drawn up. I want to get this beast going ASAP, so I hope to get at it this coming week.

Vintage Paul

fredful · Jun 19, 2011

Before you install your repaired oil tank check that there is some clearance between the tank and the seat base when you are seated on the bike, as I found when the rubber buttons on the seat base have worn or gone missing the full weight of the rider bears against that tiny bracket with the predictable result.
Freddy.

Oil Tank, Busted Bracket

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