Classic Triumph Bonneville

[JackyJoll]

A 1938 Aerial

Bound to be a bit of interference on one that old.

A down to earth comment!

[Mr. Dazzle]

Got the bike back in my garage now.

The fuel tank hole isn't as bad as I thought but it's deffo there...



I'm genuinely not sure how much of the problem is in the fluid retaining part of the tank and how much is just in the flange around the seam. It's already rusty though so it's just gonna get worse.

I'm also not sure what tank this actually is. I thought it was a T120 "General Export Market" fuel tank but I'm wondering if its actually a TR6R from looking around the owner's forum. The owners forum reckon its maybe OE Triumph based on the welds too.

If it IS an OE Triumph TR6R tank it'd probably make more sense to repair it.

The badges don't fit correctly, which is one of the reasons I thought it was a repro, but of course it could be the badges which are the repros.

[JackyJoll]

People are buying new tanks from India.

Then they’re welding up the leaks and repainting their new tanks from India.

That’s after altering the new tanks to fit the bikes.

[KungFooBob]

POR-15 it, whats the worse that could happen?

[Mr. Dazzle]

The bike I've spent faaashands fixing goes up in flames.

I'm not even sure that'd be a bad thing. But I'd hate to do you out of a potential job.

The tank fucking rattles anyway, so the inside needs something doing!

[KungFooBob]

Seriously tho' if its a leak seam the POR-15 kit will seal it good for £50.

Sorted my Ducati tank out a treat.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Seriously tho' if its a leak seam the POR-15 kit will seal it good for £50.

Sorted my Ducati tank out a treat.

Yeah you're probably right.

As above, it rattles anyway....flakey rusty kinda sound. Might fudge it for now and then get it sent off to be properly cleaned out and resealed over the winter.

[JackyJoll]

If it has cracks, they’ll probably get longer if not welded.

Rust in the tank isn’t usually a serious matter. Shake it out, remove the gauze on the taps and fit inline filters.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Aye that was my thinking.

Get the fault chopped out and replaced, then get the whole thing recoated on the inside, then paint.

Or get a new one

[Count Steer]

I've just arranged to go and see it on Tuesday. He's gonna run of off a bottle of petrol so that we can also look at the damage/leak in the tank. Then he just need to deliver it back to me.

By a happy coincidence I've also got a skip coming this week....

Let's not be hasty about this.

[Mr. Dazzle]

I've just had a closer look at it and wiped away some of the dirt. I'm not convinced it is leaking...but with exposed steel like this its not far off starting.

[crust]

Get a silver solder kit, a MAPP gas torch and repair it yourself.

Wash the tank out a few times with soapy water and away you go.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Latter part of that advice seems pretty key.

[David]

Yes...he will go away, accompanied by a loud bang....be not putting nekkid flame near a petrol container be the whole of the law.


At least not until it has been thoroughly flushed....preferably with an inert gas. CO is a good choice....attach petrol car exhaust to tank...leave to idle for several hours.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Don't use a tank sealer, they last a few years, then start breaking up and block your pilot jets, get the tank repaired properly, or buy a new one. Your in Milton Keynes, one of the best tank repair companies is nearby, Bletchley I think.

[Mr. Dazzle]

looks like its already been bent out of the way to clear something. Can you get someone to gut that seam off and weld braze on a patch.
That seams only ever going to be a water trap at the bottom of the tank.

I thought the folded seams were a bodge too, but they all came like that from the factory. So if it's bent to clear something, it's supposed to be.

[mangocrazy]

Don't use a tank sealer, they last a few years, then start breaking up and block your pilot jets, get the tank repaired properly, or buy a new one. Your in Milton Keynes, one of the best tank repair companies is nearby, Bletchley I think.

I'd beg to differ on tank sealing; on a vintage bike like Mr D's Trumpet that has a steel tank, internal rusting is completely unavoidable with Ethanol fuel and an uncoated interior. I was horrified to see how badly my VFR's tank had rusted since Ethanol in fuel was introduced. I'm not saying do it yourself, but I'd definitely find someone who does that kind of stuff for a living and get them to do it.

I used RTT Moto in Hoyland (near Barnsley) and they are proper old skool bike dealers. They thoroughly clean the tank, then neutralise all the rust, then apply the coating. The whole service including materials cost me £70 as I recall.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

How many years has it lasted?

[KungFooBob]

There's a difference betwix something like old skool petseal and the POR-15.

I've still not got the POR-15 out of my jeans.

The POR-15 kit cleans, etches and then coats in what appears to be a very durable coating that looks to the human eye like galvo. I only got it because of all the glowing reviews.

[mangocrazy]

How many years has it lasted?

The question you should be asking is 'how long will it survive Ethanol' ?