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Kenny Dreer told me that his system held 2 1/2 US quarts. The stock tank system holds 3 US quarts.
Will's '75 Commando custom restoration
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grandpaul
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Okay, back off "high-center" and out in the shop where the 'skeeters are buzzin' and it's 105 in the shade!
The crosswise-mounted oil tank came out unbelievably clean and neat, can't understand why I didn't think of this for my Combat! Nice straightforward oil line routing, too.
The 3-point mounting is more substantial than original, so there should be no fatigue damage issues, and it gives a great "clear-through" presentation. All that's left to decide is if the client wants the tank painted in Black or Silver?
The custom made seat mouting bracket is also nice and stout, and pops on and off very easily. Gas tank hold-down strap should be complete by the weekend, as should the painted oil tank. Small AGM/Gel cell battery & polished tail light mounting will get done in between, and THAT'S IT!
The crosswise-mounted oil tank came out unbelievably clean and neat, can't understand why I didn't think of this for my Combat! Nice straightforward oil line routing, too.
The 3-point mounting is more substantial than original, so there should be no fatigue damage issues, and it gives a great "clear-through" presentation. All that's left to decide is if the client wants the tank painted in Black or Silver?
The custom made seat mouting bracket is also nice and stout, and pops on and off very easily. Gas tank hold-down strap should be complete by the weekend, as should the painted oil tank. Small AGM/Gel cell battery & polished tail light mounting will get done in between, and THAT'S IT!
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Where will the battery go? Can you get more close up shots of the oil tank installation?
grandpaul
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A small AGM battery will be strapped in just above the tranny on a foam pad (about where the e-starter used to be).
I'll take good close-ups after the final lower bracketry is installed and the oil lines are attached.
Basically, you just bend the front tang upwards and curl it over the frame rail with a rubber isolation strip, then drill and bolt there; you can plainly see the rubber isolated clamp-on strap on the right side, and a lower strap hangs from the opposite top rear Z-plate mounting bolts with a rubber isolated bolt into the bottom oil tank boss.
Clean, simple, minimal mounting strap fabrication, no possibility of incorrect connections as it uses all the original stuff.
I'll take good close-ups after the final lower bracketry is installed and the oil lines are attached.
Basically, you just bend the front tang upwards and curl it over the frame rail with a rubber isolation strip, then drill and bolt there; you can plainly see the rubber isolated clamp-on strap on the right side, and a lower strap hangs from the opposite top rear Z-plate mounting bolts with a rubber isolated bolt into the bottom oil tank boss.
Clean, simple, minimal mounting strap fabrication, no possibility of incorrect connections as it uses all the original stuff.
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hi gp,bike looks great, but im not sure about the oil tank,it does,nt look quite right(ie it does,nt come up to the standard of the rest of the bike ,it looks like an afterthought)do you have any other options
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chris plant said:
99% sure the side covers will take care of the "non-stock" look.
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i dont think gp is fitting side panels he said he was going for a clear see through space behind the carbs,and as the rest of the bike is "non stock" i cant see side panels making it look "stock"swooshdave said:
grandpaul
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This is a CLIENT build; he wanted the "see through" look, so I came up with the idea of the transverse mounted oil tank. All of the proposals for an aftermarket or custom tank that could contain adequate oil supply involved removing the rear end or engine to install after the fact.
As far as the "afterthought" comment, it WAS an afterthought, but produced the desired effect for the client. All of the mounts and the tank itself will be professionally mounted and as stated, will be much more secure than the original setup.
As far as the "afterthought" comment, it WAS an afterthought, but produced the desired effect for the client. All of the mounts and the tank itself will be professionally mounted and as stated, will be much more secure than the original setup.
grandpaul
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Opened up the OEM harness and stripped out all the unneccessary wires (e-start, assimilator, power jack, points & condensers) to reduce the size of the main lump and eliminate a couple of pigtails. That allowed me to re-route the battery and alternator runs to hide them (much better). Installed the tail light, horn/dip switch & turn signals, just need to install the horn, headlight "W" clips & socket and flasher relay, and the wiring will be complete.
Finished the simplified oil line routing and breather with in-line check valve, then nipped everything up. I used a Triumph points cover to blank off the e-start hole in the backside of the primary, nifty.
I've got a little tray setup and black strap laid out for the battery, will do that and a few other things tomorrow.
Just for grins, I gave it a shot of starting spray (dry gas tank), turned on the key, and it fired with a half-kick. Should be good to go by the weekend!
Finished the simplified oil line routing and breather with in-line check valve, then nipped everything up. I used a Triumph points cover to blank off the e-start hole in the backside of the primary, nifty.
I've got a little tray setup and black strap laid out for the battery, will do that and a few other things tomorrow.
Just for grins, I gave it a shot of starting spray (dry gas tank), turned on the key, and it fired with a half-kick. Should be good to go by the weekend!
grandpaul
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Beauty shots (nearly done)...
Looking sharp! I think it's an excellent looking bike; previous discussion relating to color choice and overall flow of light color with shiny alloys seems to be a total non-issue to me. Since the tail light has a Red lens, the Red piping on the seat seems to be a complimentary contrasting feature.
Had it out for a blast around the neighborhood (started first kick); and all I can say is WOW! Very plush suspension, perfect for my 136#; Will may need to stiffen the rear shocks depending on his weight (maybe not).
It's definitely got the arm-straightening pull you'd expect, and that's at very moderate revs! Shifting is a bit stiff, but that's due to the multitude of linkages with the rearsets and left-to-right crossover; as long as you are deliberate, it's not bad. Finding neutral while idling (hot) was no big deal, that's welcomed.
It's looking pretty good for me to deliver the bike in person, something I've been hoping for. We'll call it a 52nd birthday trip for me, and maybe do some diving and other stuff.
Looking sharp! I think it's an excellent looking bike; previous discussion relating to color choice and overall flow of light color with shiny alloys seems to be a total non-issue to me. Since the tail light has a Red lens, the Red piping on the seat seems to be a complimentary contrasting feature.
Had it out for a blast around the neighborhood (started first kick); and all I can say is WOW! Very plush suspension, perfect for my 136#; Will may need to stiffen the rear shocks depending on his weight (maybe not).
It's definitely got the arm-straightening pull you'd expect, and that's at very moderate revs! Shifting is a bit stiff, but that's due to the multitude of linkages with the rearsets and left-to-right crossover; as long as you are deliberate, it's not bad. Finding neutral while idling (hot) was no big deal, that's welcomed.
It's looking pretty good for me to deliver the bike in person, something I've been hoping for. We'll call it a 52nd birthday trip for me, and maybe do some diving and other stuff.
Can I ask a few questions?
How do you stiffen up the shocks?
Is the back end lower than the front from standard? The seat rail seems to slope back.
The bike looks great, but the frame colour is not for my personal taste. I think the tank is overpolished...I like that slightly less than mirror, but that will come with age...But polished alloy is set off best contrasting with black, to me (or red on a caff racer).
I like the light you have put on at the rear, a friend is using one on a Triumph project right now, but I don't like the way it points down. Mind you I don't like my standard light setup on my 850, it all seems a bit too 'long'..and far down.
How do you stiffen up the shocks?
Is the back end lower than the front from standard? The seat rail seems to slope back.
The bike looks great, but the frame colour is not for my personal taste. I think the tank is overpolished...I like that slightly less than mirror, but that will come with age...But polished alloy is set off best contrasting with black, to me (or red on a caff racer).
I like the light you have put on at the rear, a friend is using one on a Triumph project right now, but I don't like the way it points down. Mind you I don't like my standard light setup on my 850, it all seems a bit too 'long'..and far down.
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