650SS gas tank same as Atlas?

milfordite

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I just picked up a 1966 650SS. The bike is missing most of the sheet metal, except oil tank and battery box. Is the gas tank the same as Atlas? A friend has an Atkas tank I can get, but was wondering if it is the same. The bike was taken to a scrap yard to be scrapped and luckily it was saved by an employee there. It's a rolling bike, engine has good compression and it's numbers matching.
 
Is your friend local? If so, try in on for size.

The Atlas tank has two mounts, one on each side, near the front. The frame has "ears" to accept rubber bushings that are sandwiched top and bottom on the ears with the mounting bolt. The rear mount is simply a loop for an elastic band that holds the tank snug against two rubber bumpers bonded to the frame loops.

It would seem likely, both the SS and Atlas having a common frame, any tank made for one could be fitted to the other with minimum fuss.

Slick
 
I just picked up a 1966 650SS. The bike is missing most of the sheet metal, except oil tank and battery box. Is the gas tank the same as Atlas? A friend has an Atkas tank I can get, but was wondering if it is the same. The bike was taken to a scrap yard to be scrapped and luckily it was saved by an employee there. It's a rolling bike, engine has good compression and it's numbers matching.
There were two Atlas tanks. The early US market bikes had the same smaller/shorter tank used on the Manxman. Both tanks will fit on a 1966 frame, but the smaller tank will leave a gap between the back of the tank and the seat unless used with the correct, more forward placed, seat which, I believe (and will defer to Dynodave), requires its own fender with a more forward mounted Dzus hole. All tanks mount with a pair of front bolts with cups and sandwiched rubbers and a rear rubber strap. It's worth getting this right so that you dont't damage the tank. A sectioned doubled over inner tube works well for the rear strap. If you are a stickler for originality the earlier full size tanks had the filler on the left while the later were on the right. (Maybe someone was concerned about gas leaking from the tank when the bike was on the side stand.)
 
Thanks Bodger..Since I am not sure where I headed with this one, I'll probably use the Atlas tank from my pal. Thinking that tank, Commando SS fenders, flanged alum. rims. I have a real nice 90% original Atlas, and if I restore the 650, they will be almost identical looking. We'll see.
 
Good luck with the 650SS. Very nice bike - definitely different character than the Atlas. Original valanced fenders are rare and expensive. The Indian copies are "iffy." Most that I've seen have the wrong radius. Probably good move to go with Commando items.
 
Yes the slimline featherbed had 2 (factory) tank sizes.
Regular/large that was used for the majority of models and years.
The smaller tank for manxman, early atlas, some early 88ss and are much less common.
Either tank require their matching rear fender and seat to accomodate the different tank length.
 
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I just picked up a 1966 650SS. The bike is missing most of the sheet metal, except oil tank and battery box. Is the gas tank the same as Atlas? A friend has an Atkas tank I can get, but was wondering if it is the same. The bike was taken to a scrap yard to be scrapped and luckily it was saved by an employee there. It's a rolling bike, engine has good compression and it's numbers matching.

Goodness. Does the person who sent it for scrap now know how much $ he/she was throwing away ?

If it was in good condition the head alone in NZ is worth $500 to $1000.
 
I just picked up a 1966 650SS. The bike is missing most of the sheet metal, except oil tank and battery box. Is the gas tank the same as Atlas? A friend has an Atkas tank I can get, but was wondering if it is the same. The bike was taken to a scrap yard to be scrapped and luckily it was saved by an employee there. It's a rolling bike, engine has good compression and it's numbers matching.
 
Petrol ( gas ) filler may be opposite side but will fit a slimline featherbed frame. I have one of each and used both on my 650ss.
 
In the UK the tanks were identical. The only differences are between early and late tanks ie cap position and possibly the rear hook for the rubber tie which I have seen welded differently.
 
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