TANK STRAP FOR ALLOY GAS TANK

me109e · Jul 19, 2012

TRITON/MANX/SPECIALS owners..
Im building a '62 Slimline with an alloy gas tank (Lyta) How did you Strap your alloy tank to the frame?? Im looking for ideas.. 80 bucks for a tank buckle from unity seems a bit high..
Thought of talking a leather smith into making something for me but I need some ideas
Anyone??
Thanks
JW

ashman · Jul 20, 2012

Do you realy need to strap your tank down on the frame, I have been running my Wideline Featherbed frame with the tank just sitting on the frame rubbers for 32 years now un bolted or unstraped, I had a major fire on this bike over 30 years ago the best thing was I was able to pull the tank off the bike before it completely went up, the paint was burned off the tank but I did save the bike, if the tank sits on the tank rubbers and frame snugly and the weight of the fuel in the tank it shouldn't move at all, well mine doesn't.

Ashley

Webby03 · Jul 21, 2012

The standard Manx set up is a stainless strap bolted to the same attachment as the head steady and then held in place with a clamp (called a toggle) and a hook at the rear of the tank.
If you want to be able to remove the tank easily just fab up a stainless strap with a hook at each end and attach it using a couple of O rings, you will also need to fab up something to protect the tank, a strip of leather, rubber or flexible plastic should work.

Have a look here http://www.dresda.co.uk/development2.asp?CAR=43 (5th pic from top)

Webby

me109e · Jul 24, 2012

ashman said:
Do you realy need to strap your tank down on the frame, I have been running my Wideline Featherbed frame with the tank just sitting on the frame rubbers for 32 years now un bolted or unstraped, I had a major fire on this bike over 30 years ago the best thing was I was able to pull the tank off the bike before it completely went up, the paint was burned off the tank but I did save the bike, if the tank sits on the tank rubbers and frame snugly and the weight of the fuel in the tank it shouldn't move at all, well mine doesn't.

Ashley

hi Ashley, i never thought the weight of the bike would be enough to keep it in place but I fear that it will move around and im kinda paranoid about that but It does explain how a ¨strap¨ would be just about enough to keep the tank on the bike with out movement. My Production racer alloy tank has two front mounts and the rubber strap at the rear to keep it in place. always thought that it wasnt enough but then again never moved from the frame,it now makes sense..thanks for clearing that thought.
JW

me109e · Jul 24, 2012

Webby03 said:
The standard Manx set up is a stainless strap bolted to the same attachment as the head steady and then held in place with a clamp (called a toggle) and a hook at the rear of the tank.
If you want to be able to remove the tank easily just fab up a stainless strap with a hook at each end and attach it using a couple of O rings, you will also need to fab up something to protect the tank, a strip of leather, rubber or flexible plastic should work.

Have a look here http://www.dresda.co.uk/development2.asp?CAR=43 (5th pic from top)

Webby

Thank you webby! thats a good idea!

JW

Rohan · Jul 27, 2012

A loose tank has ended many a race bikes chances - sounds like an accident waiting to happen ?
Maybe Ash has just been lucky - or never met a big enough bump !
Wouldn't pass an MOT like that either ?

ashman · Jul 28, 2012

My tank is the standard tank for this 57 Wideline frame and is the same shape as the frame on the bottom, with the rubbers in place the tank overlaps the frame nicely and doen't move at all, the seat fit at the back of the tank as well nice and snug, I have been down on the road 4 times over the 32 years with it this way and the tank has stayed in its position, as with the major fire I had 30 years ago if I would not been able to get the tank away from the bike I would have lost the whole bike, I do a lot of high speed runs on this hot 850 and have never had any problems with my tank the way it is at all, but the tank fits the wIldline frame perfect.

Ashley

Bernhard · Jul 30, 2012

me109e said:
Webby03 said:

The standard Manx set up is a stainless strap bolted to the same attachment as the head steady and then held in place with a clamp (called a toggle) and a hook at the rear of the tank.
If you want to be able to remove the tank easily just fab up a stainless strap with a hook at each end and attach it using a couple of O rings, you will also need to fab up something to protect the tank, a strip of leather, rubber or flexible plastic should work.

Have a look here http://www.dresda.co.uk/development2.asp?CAR=43 (5th pic from top)

Webby

Click to expand...

The sharp eyed amongst you will have noticed that the gas tank has a strap grove running amongst the top to keep the strap in place.

Webby03 · Aug 2, 2012

Bernhard said:
me109e said:

Webby03 said:

The standard Manx set up is a stainless strap bolted to the same attachment as the head steady and then held in place with a clamp (called a toggle) and a hook at the rear of the tank.
If you want to be able to remove the tank easily just fab up a stainless strap with a hook at each end and attach it using a couple of O rings, you will also need to fab up something to protect the tank, a strip of leather, rubber or flexible plastic should work.

Have a look here http://www.dresda.co.uk/development2.asp?CAR=43 (5th pic from top)

Webby

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

The sharp eyed amongst you will have noticed that the gas tank has a strap grove running amongst the top to keep the strap in place.

The Lyta tank is the similar (I've got one), the tank in the pic is fiberglass so the groove runs the entire length of the tank. On the alloy Lyta tanks there is a groove at the front of the tank to help keep the strap in place. The idea is to allow a little movement to help prevent the tank from fracturing because of vibration.