Making Gas Tank

[rock hopper]

Has anyone come across any info on making a fiberglass gas tank.I was thinking of making one if I can find some info?

[toofasttim]

Guys used to do it to make super longe range tanks for the "Roof". They used to cut polystyrene to the right shape and coat it with f/glass, when finished they used to poor petrol into the tank which dissolved the polystyrene.

[eric23]

I was contemplating a gas tank project for my TY. However, I came across an article on fiberglass gas tank fabrication in a homebuilt airplane site that changed my mind. The basic jist of the article was that standard fiberglass resins do not hold up to gasoline with anti-emissions additives like ethenyl (sp?) etc. On the other hand, the fiberglass tanks for being sold for the TY's through Sammy Miller seem to hold up quite well. I'd do some thorough research on resins before starting.

[jtt]

HERE is a bit of info to have a look at.

[t-shock 250]

It may be alot easier to fabricate a tank from alloy, and then make a cover from fibreglass to hide your poor quality welding!

[dixie]

That swm looks to good to ride,Is it going into a collection or into the mud?

[t-shock 250]

That SWM gets a good thrashing don't worry, pity i don't have the time to ride it more often these days

[t-shock 250]

Yes the old man's responsible for this one, used the original SWM tank as a starting point to make a fibreglass mould from.

Then bent/cut/welded/swore at sheet alloy to fabricate the tank.

Best thing about fibreglass tank covers is no painting required, those blue side panels are just sticky vinyl from the local sign bloke, when your boots wear them you just peel 'em off and stick new ones on. And if you scratch the cover, it's the same colour throughout so still looks good!

Edited June 1, 2005 by t-shock 250

[eric23]

Fine looking bike you've got there.

[marky g]

Very tidy bike there T/S, fair play mate, you know how to make a bike look good

[t-shock 250]

Wonder what made you opt for a separate alloy tank rather than making the whole thing out of fibreglass>

Easier to make a tank out of alloy, you can cut and weld and go back and modify if you get it wrong, also stronger and no leaks.

[t-shock 250]

No way, definately much easier to fabricate in alloy.

[t-shock 250]

Let's put it another way:

it's easy to make a one off tank from alloy because you don't have to go to the hassle of making two moulds and trying to join them together to hold fuel without leaking and trying to mount it accurately on the frame and getting a petrol tap and cap to fit and stinking of resin for days.

The tank itself is a very simple design which is hidden and i only wanted to make once, can be easily modified and/or repaired and is much stronger and safer the fibreglass.

Bit of a no brainer to me......