Pressure Testing a New Tank

date of CS add is May 24, 2012

Is there a way to tell where a tank is from?

Joy or Dawn suds up best, although neither do as well as Snoop from auto parts. I used the stuff to check tubes, shells, valve caps on gas compressors, & all the good stuff not requiring hydro in the plants. Works good on reefer systems also.
Snoop catches slow leaks well because the substance holds up well as the bubble slowly grows making it top choice. Not expensive either with decent shelf life when capped off.

Regarding my previous post on where the CS tank was made, have since heard direct from Duane at CS that they are now made in Pakistan. But as per their eBay listing detail, each tank is tested for fitment on a. Commando and leak tested in house prior to shipping.

mine must have fallen between a crack

Always leak check every tank, new or old, prior to painting. Always.

alan hodge said:

mine must have fallen between a crack

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Yours was also from another owner prior to you receiving it, correct?
Pretty hard to fault the builder when the tank has unknown history.

BTW, mine is also from a previous /forum member, so I'm taking a risk as well.

brand new coated with Paki-grease and cellophane

Later 90's. There were no aftermarket tanks.
I bought a used Interstate tank from Baxter Cycle in Iowa for $600.oo. When it arrived I opened the box. It was exactly as described, dented and rusty. I put it back in the box and set it on a shelf. Two weeks later I heard that a guy that I knew had a barn fresh Commando in his warehouse that I could by for $300.00. When he and I were rolling the
Commando out towards the door of his warehouse, he stopped and pointed up to some pallet racking and said, " hey, you might as well take that along with you. I have no use for it."
It was a brand new (never painted) Interstate tank. I said, "yea sure, I'll get that out of your way."
Baxter took the used tank back for a 20% restocking fee. I think they treated me well.

In the late 60's and early 70's dealers were forced to take the slow selling Interstates in order to get the hot selling roadsters. Dealers would mount new Roadster tanks and modify the seat mounts to get them sold. Many Interstate tanks went right into the dumpster.

Tornado said:

Nope...Commando Specialties makes them in USA....see their announcement blurb on their site:
https://commandospecialties.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/need-a-new-norton-commando-roadster-gas-tank/

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That says Made in the USA in the future not in the present.
If a tank is liquid tight and of good quality it probably matters little where it is made.

Smoke and mirrors and not viable to compete against EMGO unless there is more to that story to retail a tank as good as the EMGO for a good deal less to attract customers.
Making a steel Fastback tank as good as EMGO quality and I would buy one and most likely 1000 other Fastback owners with fibreglass fuel tanks, making a Roadster tank to compete with the EMGO Roadster tank ? ... It would need to be equal quality and US$80 to $100 (AU$150 to $200) cheaper.

My Made in India Interstate tank has gone to its new owner (Thanks Tony) and fly home on Tuesday.
There was some drama when I got a phone call from Qantas when I was in the departure lounge relating to a fuel tank in my check in, some paper work delivered to a service desk saw things all good, the two sets of PHF 32 mm Dellorto's in my return check in will be declared this time !

Tank tested ok with improved soapy spray (raided a child's supply of bubble liquid...just like taking candy from a baby). Take n it to a painter today. Looking for a few examples of proper pinstriping for the mkii '74 roadster. Need a shot from side and another from above showing the convergence etc.

Here's what have so far: