Help Needed Identifying Tank

[tomkatohio]

I recently purchased a tank with the hopes that it would fit my '78 XS 650 Special. The tank was being sold by the guy who painted it and was unsure what model/year it came from. He was told it was from an '83 XS650 and he painted it with '75 graphics. The tank won't work on my '78 but now I'm not sure what it would fit. The tank will fit in the front and rear mounting point on my '78, but has a couple of issues. The single petcock is way forward from the stock Special tank and comes down on the head of the engine. The tank is much larger overall and doesn't have enough room in the rear for the seat to fit. The tunnel and the rear part of the tank are much wider overall. Any suggestions on what this tank might be from would be welcomed. A few photos are included shown with my '78 Special tank. Thank you!

 

[jetmechmarty]

I'm not positive on the ID, but my best guess is XS850 Special. The XS850 has a double backbone frame. The XS1100 has left and right petcocks and I sure about that, so XS1100 is out. XS750 has a narrow tunnel, so that is also eliminated.

 

[tomkatohio]

Thanks for the reply. I checked photos of tanks on ebay and those listed as XS850 Specials seem to have a slimmer back end and the rear mounting tab sticks out more. The XS850 doesn't seem to match either and it has the cup front mounts rather than the rubber bumpers. Petcock position looks different also. Here are a couple photos from a tank listed as a '80-'81 XS850 from ebay also showing an OEM part number.

 

[jetmechmarty]

Could the tongue have been moved?

 

[nj1639]

That is an odd tank.
If the mounting points align and you remove two inches off the front end of your seat pan.........

 

[jetmechmarty]

The part number says that is an XS850 tank. So, that’s what it is.

 

[gggGary]

seen on fleabay "

1980 YAMAHA XS400S GAS TANK FUEL TANK PETROL TANK RESERVOIR​

notice this ones labeled wrong underneath too.

 

[tomkatohio]

The part number says that is an XS850 tank. So, that’s what it is.

To clarify - That photo with the part number attached is from a listing I found on ebay advertised as a '80-'81 XS850. I was pointing out the differences from the tank I'm trying to identify.

 

[tomkatohio]

That is an odd tank.
If the mounting points align and you remove two inches off the front end of your seat pan.........

I'd also ned to relocate the petcock!

 

[gggGary]

Another 80 XS400 special tank here
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2028740037...uid=tW1migcmQPO&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

[jpdevol]

Hard to tell for certain from pics - XS400 would be a candidate - 32 models shared that cap style, some were single petcock (other dimensions unknown without on-hand):
RD400 1979 USA
SR500 1978 USA
SR500 1979 USA CANADA
SR500 1980 OCEANIA
SR500 1981 USA
XS1100L MIDNIGHT SPECIAL 1980 (A) USA
XS1100L MIDNIGHT SPECIAL 1981 (B) USA
XS1100S 1979 USA
XS1100S 1980 (A) USA
XS1100S 1981 (B) USA
XS400 1978 USA
XS400 1979 USA
XS400 1981 USA
XS400-2 1979 USA
XS400-2 SPECIAL 1980 (A) USA
XS400S 1980 USA
XS400S 1981 USA
XS400S 1982 HERITAGE USA
XS650 1980 (A) USA
XS650 1981 (B) USA
XS650-2 1979 USA
XS650S 1978 USA
XS650S 1979 USA
XS650S 1980 (A) USA
XS650S 1981 (B) USA
XS650S HERITAGE 1982 (C) USA
XS650S HERITAGE SPECIAL 1983 (D) USA
XS750S 1978 USA CANADA
XS750S 1979 USA
XS750S-311211 1979 USA
XS850S 1980 (A) USA
XS850S 1981 (B) USA

 

[tomkatohio]

Thanks gggGary and jpdevol - I think we're closing in on the identity. Certainly looks like the underside matches the photos of the XS400 Special tank including the mounting tongue! That is a very extensive and useful list jpdevol Thank you!

 

[jpdevol]

On the chance it may be an XS400, perhaps visit http://www.xs400.com/forums/
and see if one of the members there has one layin' around to get measurements from

 

[gggGary]

On the chance it may be an XS400, perhaps visit http://www.xs400.com/forums/
and see if one of the members there has one layin' around to get measurements from

Yer a hard sell JP!
I'd lay $50 on the 80 XS400 special being the exact match.
There might be other years that use the same tank, but per partzilla 1980, that could be just a paint color thing.

 

[jpdevol]

I think you're right. If I were listing it for sale, I'd like to have measurements to be sure....

Besides - it was a good opportunity to get clicks on xs400.com

 

[tomkatohio]

FYI - I checked the capacity yesterday and it's 14+ liters - almost 15 liters to overflow it. The XS400 tank specs I found show 14 liters.