Slimline Oil tank fitting

Johnnymac · Jan 26, 2015

Hi Guys,

I'm working to fit this oil tank on my atlas. I am not really keen about cutting frame tabs and such but there is a tab in the way of fitting this tank. As you can see from the picture, there is about a 1/4 inch space between the tank and this tab. When I add the oil tank table and pad underneath the tank for support, the tank rubs against this tab. This tab also serves as the wiring grounding point.

Any ideas? I guess I could bend the tab upwards? Or "trim: the tab slightly?

wilkey113 · Jan 26, 2015

Hey John,
I'd go with a foam pad between the tank and the tab. Easy enough to affix, and doesn't cause any irreversible damage to the frame.
Jeff

Johnnymac · Jan 26, 2015

wilkey113 said:
Hey John,
I'd go with a foam pad between the tank and the tab. Easy enough to affix, and doesn't cause any irreversible damage to the frame.
Jeff

Thanks Jeff. The problem is that in the picture, I don't even have the table or pad under the tank yet. (It's resting on the motor mounts.) If I lift up at all to get the table & Pad under the tank, the tab is in the way. The Tab either has to go or be "adjusted". I don't even know what was originally mounted to this tab. I made a mistake earlier, this isn't where my ground is usually, this is where the previous owner mounted a Podtronics unit (which I still don't know where I'm putting yet.)

daveh · Jan 26, 2015

I take it that the platform for the tank cannot be lowered and the foam cannot be trimmed? Apart from being used as an earth (ground) point, what other purpose does this little bracket serve?

It can't be the only place for your ground connection, so why not cut it off neatly and keep it safe, so that you can weld it back on at a later date if you want. Put a dab of black enamel on the wound and you're done. I've done this and subsequently re-welded various brackets. A decent welder will weld that back on and it will look as good as the original.

Bending it or trimming it would probably not look as good as a clean, surgical cut!

It's not ideal, and takes it away from standard, but if this is the only thing that's stopping you from getting the non-standard oil tank fitted and riding the thing….

Johnnymac · Jan 26, 2015

daveh said:
I take it that the platform for the tank cannot be lowered and the foam cannot be trimmed? Apart from being used as an earth (ground) point, what other purpose does this little bracket serve?

It can't be the only place for your ground connection, so why not cut it off neatly and keep it safe, so that you can weld it back on at a later date if you want. Put a dab of black enamel on the wound and you're done. I've done this and subsequently re-welded various brackets. A decent welder will weld that back on and it will look as good as the original.

Bending it or trimming it would probably not look as good as a clean, surgical cut!

It's not ideal, and takes it away from standard, but if this is the only thing that's stopping you from getting the non-standard oil tank fitted and riding the thing….

Thanks Dave, I think that the tab will be straightened and moved upwards. After talking to a buddy we determined that this is the front mounting point for the tool tray. I may even cut it off and save it in case I return the bike to stock. -which will never happen in my lifetime but you never know).

wilkey113 · Jan 26, 2015

That tab should be the top mount for the battery box actually.
Personally, I'd cut or pound a relief in the oil tank before I cut the frame. I know most will disagree with me, and I certainly wouldn't tell anyone what to do with their own bike, but the tank isn't original, and the frame is.
Plus, if you cut the tab off, you'll have bare metal that'll need to be touched up.
Totally your call, but obviously something has to give.
Such is the problem with any custom fitment. Too bad the maker of your tank didn't take into account the original frame bracket.

texasSlick · Jan 26, 2015

Johnny

That tab is the front mount for the tool tray. The proper ground point is the top mount of the battery box.

I agree with willkey, I do not like to make irreversible mods to my Norton. I would try to put a dent in the oil tank before cutting off or bending the tab (you will probably find the tab breaks off if you try to bend it without heat.).
If you try to fit a tool tray, you will have to find room for a nut and washer under the tab.

In the end, it is your call how to proceed. I would follow daveh's suggestions if you decide to cut off the tab.

Slick

kernel65 · Jan 26, 2015

If one was to cleanly remove such a tab, what would be the best way? Was there different welding materials used based on the function of the tab or joint?

Scott

Mark Savage · Jan 27, 2015

If it was mine it would be gone, no question. It wouldn't be "irreversible " it's only a bit of weld. The tab would look shite redundant anyway. I'd not even contemplate denting the tank, firstly it would look shite and secondly it might compromise the tank's welded joint as it's very close to it. ALL just my OPINION.

ashman · Jan 27, 2015

Cut it off, if you bend it, it could cause problems later on if it rubs or vibrates on the oil tank, you not running the orginal battery box or oil tank or tool tray so get rid of it, if it needs to be put back on later then its no big deal, a good welder would only take a few minutes to reweld it back on, putting on a good looking central oil tank to have a small braket get in the way, my Slimline frame has a central oil tank I have to have a look tomorrow and see if that bracket is on there or not, (1960 Manxman but not orginal and was raced a long time ago)

Well just looked in my photo album and mine has that bracket still on and its is the battery box top mount as my Wideline has the same bracket that the orginal battery box was mounted too.

Ashley

Johnnymac · Jan 27, 2015

ashman said:
Cut it off, if you bend it, it could cause problems later on if it rubs or vibrates on the oil tank, you not running the orginal battery box or oil tank or tool tray so get rid of it, if it needs to be put back on later then its no big deal, a good welder would only take a few minutes to reweld it back on, putting on a good looking central oil tank to have a small braket get in the way, my Slimline frame has a central oil tank I have to have a look tomorrow and see if that bracket is on there or not, (1960 Manxman but not orginal and was raced a long time ago)

Well just looked in my photo album and mine has that bracket still on and its is the battery box top mount as my Wideline has the same bracket that the orginal battery box was mounted too.

Ashley

Thanks Ash, from your picture it looks like you just bent that tab downwards on yours.

ashman · Jan 27, 2015

Hi Johnny

That pic is when I first got this project bike a few years ago so still putting it together, it was pulled down 20 years ago and never put back together, so I have never touched that bracket or had the central oil tank on it, I started to build it the frame is painted black and have the frontend and rear end on then other things came up so haven't done much in the last 2 years but that will change very soon, if I get the time tomorrow I will put the oil tank on and take some more pics, the oil tank that came with this bike looks a bit bigger than yours, not sure was 3 years ago when I picked it up and the oil tank has been sitting under my work bench since.

Ashley

Johnnymac · Jan 27, 2015

Hi guys,

Just thought I post how I actually am going to mount this tank. I got lucky at the hardware store and picked up a rubber bushing with brass threaded insert. Fits like it was made specifically for this application. It allows me to rubber mount the tank, is easy, and looks great. The part number for the rubber bushing is "Well Nut E51618" (I did have to open up the tool mount tray holes slightly to allow me to fit a 5/16th shouldered chrome bolt. In looking at these pictures it reminds me that I need to clean this up before my wife gets home and see that's I've been polishing aluminum on her kitchen tablecloth.

ashman · Jan 27, 2015

Your in trouble Johnny if she finds out she will never let you down what you did with her table cloth, those rubber bungs look like the trick, I have used the same things on my round oil tank on my Wideline but it mounts from under my tool tray at the top of the tank and one bracket from the bottom to the bracket that mounts the bottom of the rear guard mount, the good thing with these rubber bungs is they look like the way they should have been done.

Ashley

bwolfie · Jan 27, 2015

Ohhh, carb cleaner in the kitchen, better open a window or two before she gets home.

Slimline Oil tank fitting

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