TOPIC: FIBERGLASS TANKS

That is good news. I would still love to run a Fastback tank, but will not use my original due to the ethanol. It's the reason I picked up a steel Interstate tank, and am going to run it.

Hi I have a 73 with a fiberglass tank and side covers . It also has early tail light. Tank had a leak at seam on bottom and was soft. bought an e-bay tank in nice shape and used Caswel sealer. I think this year should have a steel tank ? and side covers ? but I like the look of the glass tank. Am I going the wrong way with Caswel sealer ? Have not finished tank paint or used it yet.Are any of the steel tanks (roadster ) worth the trouble ?

For the most part all 73 had steel tanks. The caswell lining may be the most popular and successful for coating polyester resin tanks. However that is exactly what I am trying to get away from by making a new tank using the right stuff.

Regarding Caswell, I used it on the fiberglass tank on my 72. It worked very well for over 10 years, then two summers ago it gunked up fairly suddenly, which I noticed when the carb slides stopped sliding (along with the piston rings). This all led to a complete rebuild but that's another topic. What I did do was purchase one of the new India made steel tanks. Pretty good replica, but uses the steel type rear mounting strap rather then the rubber "O Ring" attachment. So it's not 100% original, but I'm ok with it. Note of caution - if you get one of the India made tanks expect to have to clean out some internal surface rust and do some surface prep/filling prior to painting. And the gas cap flange may need some adjustment as the hinge pin holes on mine were just a bit off - nothing that a larger drill and a brass sleeve couldn't fix. On the gas cap subject, the hinged pot metal locking piece as I'm sure every Norton owner knows tends to be fragile as the hinge pin is right at the weakest place. I made a few new ones out of steel and had them chromed. They look great and will never break, but a lot of work to fabricate using mostly hand tools. Anyway, that's my experience with Caswell. Had I drained the tank each winter it would probably still be ok, but I didn't so here I am. Upon disassembly the engine would have needed a rebuild in a year or two anyway, so this just accelerated my timetable a bit.

I just saw an ad for Nylon gas tanks in Cafe' Racer magazine, they were for rice rocket frames. No mention of replacements for Nortons. company is out of Australia: Twig TT is the companies name. WWW.trx850caferacer.com
Has anyone heard of using nylon fuel tanks? They claim that they are made to accept ethanol gas.
Speaking of cafe' racers, I was at Bob Colemans house last week and he has a Honda 500/4 for sale. Extra motor. 2 tanks and other bits.

Also in the mag was a nice write up, with photos, of the Norton Carolina rally. The author wrote about John Flavill, The Norton Commando engineer who led the design team on the Harley Evolution motor that saved the Motor Company from extinction. He was manager of engine design. The motor had rubber mounts and a diaphragm clutch, sound familiar?

A follow up call to the sales VP with the vendor of the E-10 proof novalac epoxy vinylester resin has yielded a possible 5 gallon pail engineering sample. It may take a few month for the manufacturer to be making the next production run of this resin.
It would be great for me, since my Dunstall atlas will not be assembled and road worthy until I can make an E-10 proof tank.