sticky gunk on amal slides

Rod R · Nov 2, 2020

dynodave said:
Even at $60/hr shop rate, any idea the cost of my dunstall tank to:
1. make the multi section mold, dress and prep it for production of a single repop
2. manufacture the metal BSP inserts(2) and molded in steel mounting studs(3)
3. make new copies with novalac/vinylester resin.
4. Join the tanks halves, dress, install new gascap, finish decals

I'd be shocked if the first copy came in under $2000.
I would not even consider a volume production tank for making a fiberglass copy.
I do already have molds for the fastback tank, decal version, but otherwise only the custom Dunstall commando tanks would I consider doing from scratch.

Yes, I'd say that the first one would be a solid $2,000, or more. My thinking was that a new, off-the-shelf steel tank plus prep, paint, decals, incidentals would be an easy $1000...... and maybe more depending on your painter. And if a new tank would drive you to apply paint and decals to the side covers...... brace yourself.

Maybe a "tank liner" is the wrong rabbit to pursue...... How about a tank "bladder" with appropriate provisions for the petcocks and filler cap? I'm sure the chemical processing industry is already using something not far removed from a tank bladder. And it need not be a permanent solution, it could be replaced every 3-5 years.....

cliffa · Nov 2, 2020

dynodave said:
cliffa
I have a Morini with a fibre glass tank and lined it with this a year ago. So far so good.
from the quoted page:
Armour coat product "A"
so we went back to development and created the 100% ethanol-proof Flowliner Armour Coat that we provide today.

Good luck,
hope it works. Be nice to know what the chemical brew is. Would like to see some actual test results and data.

Thanks Dave. Unfortunately I didn't have much choice as tanks for these ( the Camel ) are as rarer than a rare thing, being made only for about 2 years in the early 80's. before using it I asked around and got several recommendations for this product.

dynodave · Nov 2, 2020

cliffa said:
Thanks Dave. Unfortunately I didn't have much choice as tanks for these ( the Camel ) are as rarer than a rare thing, being made only for about 2 years in the early 80's. before using it I asked around and got several recommendations for this product.

Very similar in the USA with some late model ducati tanks. Friend (nneno.org club too) got exact same OEM warranty ducati replacement tank. But now SOL ( s++t out of luck) will be junk in a few years from E-10. No more warranty and no more replacement stock inventory.
side note...my S4 monster ducati totaled metal tanks cost $1600 when the bike fell out of the lift....due to the old style tire clamps...

NickZ · Nov 2, 2020

Ron Callison said:
All gas in California has ethanol!!!

I had a similar experience when I revived my 71 Roadster after it endured 38 years as a basket case. I was unaware of the ethanol vs fiberglass problem as well. After less than 100 miles on pump gas

my carb slides were sticking. Also had the goo in the intake ports and on the valves.

I cleaned it all up with denatured alcohol and went the Caswell route to line the tank (2 coats). Since then I have been running mainly Sunoco 260 GTX 98 octane, which is ethanol free, and it has been less than 2 years. All good, but not much of a data point for Caswell yet. I can buy that fuel in California in drums, but its not cheap.

When I restored a 72 Interstate this year I decided to have GTL (as referenced in a post #27 above) line the tank. Also looks like good result but too soon to form conclusions.

rocketman71 · Nov 4, 2020

I have no problem getting ethanol free fuel in Roanoke, VA. There are several places that sell it in 87, 89, and 93 octane. More that sell only 87 octane. Cost is about $.75 higher per gallon than E10. My Commando sat for 30 years before I bought it. The previous owner decided to try to start it before selling. They put E10 in the glass tank and got it to run briefly. That destroyed the tank. I gave it away. When I stripped the engine, it had considerable grit (felt like fine sand) in the intake, head and cylinders.

ILLF8ED · Nov 6, 2020

lazyeye6 said:
NEW vehicles sold by 2035. This will not ban used fossil fuel vehicles being sold nor will it eliminate gasoline being sold as a fuel for
our museum pieces.

Yes, what do you think will happen to cost and quality of fossil fuel?

chaztuna · Nov 6, 2020

illf8ed said:
Yes, what do you think will happen to cost and quality of fossil fuel?

This thread reminds me of Rush's song Red Barcheta. A veritable theme song!

lazyeye6 · Nov 7, 2020

illf8ed said:
Yes, what do you think will happen to cost and quality of fossil fuel?

Oil refineries won't deliberately stop using the capabilities of their multi billion dollars of refining equipment. Would you think
the aviation industry would allow budget AV fuel in airplanes? Cost of gasoline could go up as the economy of scale goes down.
No one ever said that owning/riding a vintage British motorcycle would be cheap.

ILLF8ED · Nov 7, 2020

lazyeye6 said:
No one ever said that owning/riding a vintage British motorcycle would be cheap.

ILLF8ED · Nov 7, 2020

The reason I stuck with Nortons in the 70s and 80s is they were cheap.

ILLF8ED · Nov 7, 2020

lazyeye6 said:
Oil refineries won't deliberately stop using the capabilities of their multi billion dollars of refining equipment. Would you think
the aviation industry would allow budget AV fuel in airplanes? Cost of gasoline could go up as the economy of scale goes down.
No one ever said that owning/riding a vintage British motorcycle would be cheap.

Or there is a point at which diminishing returns of sales will make fossil fuel to expensive to produce commercially. Not likely in the remainder of my lifetime, but gives pause to consider how much longer to hold on to these toys.

lazyeye6 · Nov 7, 2020

illf8ed said:
Or there is a point at which diminishing returns of sales will make fossil fuel to expensive to produce commercially. Not likely in the remainder of my lifetime, but gives pause to consider how much longer to hold on to these toys.

If it is a deal breaker to hang onto your Commando with the thought that you might lose $10,000, then I'd advise
selling now and getting a new HD Livewire. As you said, "remainder of my lifetime". It will be 20 years at least before
fossil fuel is phased out. Look at how Cubans have kept 1950's cars on the road due to our embargo against them.
Saudi Arabia is awash in oil and sells gasoline to it's citizens for $1.60 US per gallon.

ILLF8ED · Nov 7, 2020

lazyeye6 said:
If it is a deal breaker to hang onto your Commando with the thought that you might lose $10,000, then I'd advise
selling now and getting a new HD Livewire. As you said, "remainder of my lifetime". It will be 20 years at least before
fossil fuel is phased out. Look at how Cubans have kept 1950's cars on the road due to our embargo against them.
Saudi Arabia is awash in oil and sells gasoline to it's citizens for $1.60 US per gallon.

Yeah, in 20 years I’ll be getting too close to 90. Speaking for myself I told my wife the Commandos are the last motorcycles I’ll own. Once I’m done with them I’m done riding.

sticky gunk on amal slides

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