Early Atlas fuel tank.

Gilesy

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I visited the National motorcycle museum in Birmingham (UK) last week and they had a 1962 export model Atlas that had a small 2 1/2 gallon tank, it looked great, apart from the high bars. I have a '62 Atlas that was exported to South Africa which has the standard tank. I was however quite taken with the smaller version and I wondered if anyone knew if they are available. I've searched the interweb but not found anything. Any ideas?
Thanks, Giles.
 
By small, I suppose you mean the 2 1/2 gallon size. This was the tank fitted to my '62 Atlas, and that on my '63 Atlas.

The early versions had the filler cap left of center ..... This was moved right of center in later (post 64?) years.

They can be found on eBay occasionally, and bring a high price if in good shape.

I too, like the look of the 2 1/2 gal. tank, but it means frequent fuel stops on a long run.

Slick
 
I have always wondered if the early tank (which was also used on the US Manxman 650cc model) was a straight swap with the later tank. It always seemed to me from photos and a seat base that I saw once, that the seat on bikes that used the smaller tank was longer than the big tank seat. I also wonder if the Dzus opening on the rear mud guard is in the same place. Does anyone know?
 
I have always wondered if the early tank (which was also used on the US Manxman 650cc model) was a straight swap with the later tank. It always seemed to me from photos and a seat base that I saw once, that the seat on bikes that used the smaller tank was longer than the big tank seat. I also wonder if the Dzus opening on the rear mud guard is in the same place. Does anyone know?

I do not know for sure, but I would guess the larger tank is not longer, but more "bulburous". The seat fits into prongs welded onto the frame crosstube .... a longer tank would make the prongs inaccessible to the mating lugs on the seat. If so, the Dzus fastener must be in the same place for both tank sizes.

Slick
 
The small slimline tank is necessarily part of a set. Critical examination of freinds genuine manxman in my shop show this quite well.
Manxman, 62 88SS and 62 atlas used the short tank.
1. small short tank
2. The seat with repositioned mounts to move it forward. It is NOT a longer seat.
3. Rear mud guard with DZUS seat mounting hole moved forward.
Not sure if the small tanks were officially used after 62 because in 63 the rear fender changed due to a different tail light housing with different repositioned mounting holes on the fender. It would have required two differrent part # for the 63-on part for the different DZUS holes.
 
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The small slimline tank is necessarily part of a set. Critical examination of freinds genuine manxman in my shop show this quite well.
Manxman, 62 88SS and 62 atlas used the short tank.
1. small short tank
2. The seat with repositioned mounts to move it forward.
3. Rear mud guard with DZUS seat mounting hole moved forward.
Not sure if the small tanks were officially used after 62 because in 63 the rear fender changed due to a different tail light housing with different repositioned mounting holes on the fender. It would have required two differrent part # for the 63-on part for the different DZUS holes.
 
That's a shame, it looks so good. In the museum it is labelled as an Atlas 750 SS. I am trying to work out how to post a photo.
Cheers
 
TS
The prongs are positioned for the full size tank(not the short tank) and by mounting a short tank, the resultant gap is fixed with a seat mount adjustment as stated AND a repositioned fender DZUS hole.
 
Broken link removed
I'll keep looking then.
Cheers
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The small slimline tank is necessarily part of a set. Critical examination of freinds genuine manxman in my shop show this quite well.
Manxman, 62 88SS and 62 atlas used the short tank.
1. small short tank
2. The seat with repositioned mounts to move it forward. It is NOT a longer seat.
3. Rear mud guard with DZUS seat mounting hole moved forward.
Not sure if the small tanks were officially used after 62 because in 63 the rear fender changed due to a different tail light housing with different repositioned mounting holes on the fender. It would have required two differrent part # for the 63-on part for the different DZUS holes.

In reply #2 above, I said my '63 had the small tank. To be consistent with dynodave, I should point out my '63 is a '62 build, titled as '63.

Slick
 
Any photos showing this tank on the bike?

Ed

Will this one do?

Early Atlas fuel tank.


Slick
 
TS sez
"In reply #2 above, I said my '63 had the small tank. To be consistent with dynodave, I should point out my '63 is a '62 build, titled as '63."

Looking at the 62 closed sided tail light housing.
What the government put on the title (IMO) is almost worthless...except as revenue creation for them.
If I was in your shoes, I would say/claim I have a 62 atlas...not a 63
 
That makes sense because the seat base that I remember seeing had the semi tubular fittings for the two rearward facing prongs moved back from the front of the seat, which would have the effect of moving the seat forward.
 
That makes sense because the seat base that I remember seeing had the semi tubular fittings for the two rearward facing prongs moved back from the front of the seat, which would have the effect of moving the seat forward.

All this information has long been known and I've posted pix and descriptions on the web though I can't recall where.
In the case of the seat, you will also see the seat perches that mount at the rear shock towers have ALSO been moved back by the same amount. Only the rear Dzus tab has not been moved. In that case the fender dzus hole was modified instead.

I went through this exercise a few years ago while trying to come up with a plan to turn my 63 Atlas into a small tank 62 88SS. My freinds manxman, that I was working on, was invaluable for genuine information and showed me how many parts I would have to modify or make. I would modify a seat base but not butcher a good fender since tht bike will eventually become a 650SS then eventually revert to a "combat" Atlas hot rod. Some day it might go back to pure stock too.
 
Perhaps some more pics will enhance dynodave's explanation.

Early Atlas fuel tank.


The female lugs are set back about 3 inches from the front edge, the support posts are located about 19 inches from the from the front edge, while the Dzus fastener is about 26 inches from the front edge.

Here is a look at the rear tank mounting, and its relationship to the seat prongs.

Early Atlas fuel tank.


Another look at the tank on the bike. This is the same bike as that in
Reply #12 above, but 54 years later.

Early Atlas fuel tank.


Slick
 
I visited the National motorcycle museum in Birmingham (UK) last week and they had a 1962 export model Atlas that had a small 2 1/2 gallon tank, it looked great, apart from the high bars. I have a '62 Atlas that was exported to South Africa which has the standard tank. I was however quite taken with the smaller version and I wondered if anyone knew if they are available. I've searched the interweb but not found anything. Any ideas?
Thanks, Giles.

@Gilesy

Did you happen to note if the '62 model in the museum had dual carbs? Does your '62 model have a single carb?

All the data I have found, says '62 models had single carbs, but mine (a '62 build titled '63) has dual monoblocs.

Slick
 
@Gilesy

Did you happen to note if the '62 model in the museum had dual carbs? Does your '62 model have a single carb?

All the data I have found, says '62 models had single carbs, but mine (a '62 build titled '63) has dual monoblocs.

Slick
Hi there,
The bike in the museum had a single monobloc, high bars, speedo in the headlamp shell, no tacho, the drive had a blanking plate. Tank was silver.
My Atlas was according to the factory records, dispatched to South Africa in November 1962. It gives no information on the carbs but lists high bars, chrome mudguards, chaincase and guard, along with large tank as 'Ancillary extras'. It had twin monoblocs when I fist got it, now has single Mikuni. It also has a 'hump' on the back of the saddle similar to bike in the recent post regarding an Atlas, it has the same fittings on the underside as the one on your bike. Speedo is in the shell but I have a tacho with bronze sloping drive. Engine and frame number is 104664 20.
Hope that helps,
Cheers
Giles
 
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