Steel Interstate Tank

The tank does look good.
I've read that a coat of dilute Phosphoric acid works a treat on bare metal, and neutralises rust.
Apparently it's the active ingredient in Jenolite (used by the MoD), and er... Coca Cola :?

A friend showed me a chunk of iron he'd dug out of his farmyard a while ago - he soaked it in dilute molasses for a week which got rid of all the rust, and he then soaked it in dilute PA for a while.
The result is a perfectly clean lump of iron that looks like it was sandblasted clean, and ready for paint.

I have the acid, just not the opportunity to try it myself yet.
With regard to the sidepanel/oil tank bolts being difficult to line up, I don't think the original panels were any better in this respect - in my experience.

My go to for rusty tank is Navel Jelly, blow air to dry ,then 90% or higher alcohol to absorb water that's left in tank. Put tank in sun rotate often. After doing this rust doesn't flash and stays rust free until painting. It has Phosphoric Acid but because its in a jelly form it sticks to all the sides, just easy for me.

That isn't rust on the filler neck but red primer . There is slight rust inside but its not as bad as it might appear . I've included some shots of the inside of the tank . I will coat the inside with KBS . The outside I have already coated in primer for protection , and will post photos when I can .

Do you have a painter in mind or are you doing it yourself. If considering a painter, I hope you will consider me, Brent @ The Vintage Vendor. If you are doing it yourself, I'd be happy to answer questions regarding the process if you are not familiar with it.
Thanks,
Brent Budgor
www.vintage-vendor.com

I am looking for a painter , but I think postage to USA from Australia might be a prohibitive .

Just for giggles I plugged in some general info into the USPS website, from you to me, based on 25lbs and $1500 insurance: I would love the chance to speak with you or go over the details of your job further. I've done a number of jobs for several people in Hawaii, about 6000 miles away and for a gent in England. I understand if you have no desire to take the chance, but I can assure you I will do everything I can to give you the results you want. Have you gotten any local quotes?
Feel free to contact me direct at brent@vintage-vendor.com. I have well over 100 testimonials here on Access Norton, including Jerry Doe himself.
Cheers,
Brent
802 839-9439
www.vintage-vendor.com

Priority Mail Express International, Package, weight 25 lb 0 oz (11.340 kg) to Australia
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OK, all the talk and pictures of these tanks got me hooked. I ordered mine last night from the same guy. I'd like a 2nd set of clothes for my Roadster.
Maybe run a low cafe seat with the Interstate tank. I need another winter project. $200 is crazy cheap and the quality looks decent.
I've wanted another big tank since I sold my Interback but prices were just obscene and Emgo doesn't seem interested in making one.

My Interstate tank arrived from India in fine condition.
Very well packed. Box was wrapped in muslin and hand stitched.
Tank looks really good. Bottom is primed but sides and top appear to be washed in some weird phosphate coating or maybe lacquer that gives it a blotchy appearance
but the tank's sides and top are smooth free of any little dents and the edges are clean and crisp. I plan on rinsing out the insides really well and leak testing it and then probably coating it with Caswell epoxy just for good measure. I'm having my friend paint it for me, probably basic black with gold pinstripes. Here are a few pics I snapped yesterday. Sorry for the poor flash quality.

http://s646.photobucket.com/user/mschmi ... t=3&page=1

I would suggest , mounting it on the bike to check for clearances( frame, underside ,headsteady,handlebars, upper triple tree,seat )installing the petcocks and studs/rubbers to check for proper thread engagement & interferences, and mount the flip cap to make sure it fits/seals good before painting.

Are these tanks the smaller or larger Interstate tanks? I like the smaller size tank unlike the NOS tank that I have that is the size of a super tanker.

I agree. You should test fit in place with all the components installed. Even the filler cap as it is a little sloppy on mine.

Madnorton, the tank is a tiny bit smaller (narrower by 1/4 to 1/2 inch) then my original 1972 fibreglass interstate tank.

Finally got the tank painted and fitted . I had to slightly extend the front mounting holes in the frame to clear the angle of the front mounting studs in the tank .It was painted by " A1anyspray" in Ringwood , Melbourne ( and no I didn't want the pin stripes ). It needed only a very fine layer of bondo to smooth out the ripples . Very happy with the result .
Just need it to stop raining so I can go for a ride . 8)

Looks good. What did you do to the inside? Did you clean and/or seal it?

The Tank looks good and the brakes look great :mrgreen:

That deal seemed to have worked out well. I have my own paint spraying equipment, so I should have jumped on that deal myself while it was available. I've looked at ebay for this tank a few times, and the prices are nowhere near the $200. (shipped) for a raw metal interstate tank currently. I fill up my bike at a local gas station that has non-ethanol fuel only, and a larger fuel tank on the bike would increase my traveling range without having to put pisswater fuel into my gastank... Anyone see this tank on ebay for $200??? because I can't find it....

Is this the Tank by the same seller ? , its off Ebay UK not Ebay US

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NORTON-COMMAN ... Swr81UN5qW

Yep Kommando that is the seller I got the tank from .
The inside I KBS coated , which is a type of sealer . I'm not sure if they sell overseas or only in Australia , but its probably similar to Casswells .
luckily we still get all types of fuel here ( except leaded ) . I even managed to find somewhere that had 100 RON ,10% ethanol fuel, and it made the van run superb !

Thanks for confirming, ooNortonoo you can use the link to get your tank as long as the seller has allowed shipments to US, or find him on ebay.com and ask him to add a US listing.

I got my interstate tank today via USPS. It looks really nice. I haven't checked the fit yet, because it's a really nice day and I'm home early from working so I am going for a ride instead of disassembling my bike... (right!) Anyway, the only thing I wondered about was that the inside of the tank looks like it has red primer paint on it. I think the other pictures I looked at on this thread also looked like the inside of thier tanks were red primer too....

If I have the tank pressure tested and it's solid could I just leave the tank as it is with primer inside it (and run non-ethanol gas), or can I just redcoat on top of the primer without stripping it off the inside... Needless to say, I'm a little confused seeing a primer coat on the inside of the tank... Comments please.... thanks...

I bought one of those tanks also at the beginning of summer and noticed the interior was lined or primed in a coarse material that looked the color of and near the consistency of crushed red brick. I simply left it as I found it and rattle can sprayed the outside and have been using not quite weekly all summer until now and so far no issues. I am using the dreaded plastic lawn mower fuel filters and fuel line to see and catch any detritus, but none yet. Also my filters have not softened or any of that stuff either. Typical California gasoline premium grade that has EtOH and whatever else they throw in there. I got tired of making my own alcohol-free gas (limited range you know) in using my original Dunstall tank. So far so good, but still only about 5-7 tank-fulls. A pretty limited smile size.
Lance