Remind me, I know the tanks are different , but how so? ( other than the lettering )
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Painting Tins. No really...
- Thread starter Jim
- Start date
Remind me, I know the tanks are different , but how so? ( other than the lettering )
Mounted and no fuel leaks. That looks fine, fine, fine.
The Special tank has an upsweep stern to stem to follow the sidecover/seatbottom line which simulates a Sportster peanut and makes the bike look chopperesque. It was a big selling cue in the late 70s/80s. The standard tank gets ~1 extra gallon. Part of that volume is from not having an upsweep with the base of the tank flatter moving forward matching the standard seat base and part comes from a little wider and rounder. Different stroke for different folks, I like the standard look better. Further, later Standard tanks had mountable lettering while earlier tanks had decal lettering. I would have been happy with either, the white Yamaha lettering is a very retro touch I do like though a chrome (Plastic) emblem would be equally nice. This project was to assemble a "retro XS650". In later years they had chrome and gold chrome emblems depending on trim level and I suspect those emblems were used on a variety of models (economy of scale).
Jim showed this tank and a Blue tank for Madness in late April or early May. I felt that Jim should see that his efforts and talent are not wasting away in a box (till now) unappreciated.
It looks great! 
I don't know if this belongs in a different thread. I fitted non vacuum petcocks. The barbs/nipples seem to be 6mm/1/4inch. VM carbs (not standard BS series) seem to be 8mm barbs. The hose barbs on the non OEM petcocks are threaded M8. I had M6 barbs on hand, Shit.... I tightly wired safety/seizing wire on the petcock end to eliminate/limit fuel leaks. Desperate measures to mount this tank until the new petcock outlets arrive. Cheers to all.
Looks like the petcock that I fitted to one of my 650 Specials.
Made in China/Taiwan ?
Looks like alloy casting from a distance but they're actually made from a ferrous material ?
Mine works OK, but it weeps fuel when you move the lever, or press on it.
Let go of the lever and the leakage stops, so it's obviously 100% safe !
Made in China/Taiwan ?
Looks like alloy casting from a distance but they're actually made from a ferrous material ?
Mine works OK, but it weeps fuel when you move the lever, or press on it.
Let go of the lever and the leakage stops, so it's obviously 100% safe !
Any more progress on the Norton?These mutherfuckinsnakes on a.... Norton.....
Been well over 24hrs, so I took some wet 320 to it. Looks like the solvents almost made it to the surface... almost, before it flashed over. The bubbles are basically jus' sittin on the top. A few swipes and they come right out/off.... whew. We might have dodged one here. I'm gonna let it cure for another 24-48hrs, buzz 'em off and go from there. If I don't bust through the sealer, might still be in some tall cotton.
With my luck, what are the odds?
View attachment 329476
Not on the tank. Waiting for the new (old) primer to show so that if I'm not happy with the way this current stuff acts when I go to sand it.... well, I can buzz it all off and shoot with the new. Don't want to do that, but worst case....
I am prepping the covers for decals as we speak, but mostly been winding coils today.
I am prepping the covers for decals as we speak, but mostly been winding coils today.
I don't blame you for waiting. Similar story here. Have an unopened gallon of Tamco 2k primer, but I forgot to date the catalyst when I opened it. Been a long time and I can't afford to take the chance. New catalyst arrived a few minutes ago from the FedEx man. Be makin' bad smells tomorrow.
I'm about 90% sure this primer I shot took just fine, still....
You know how it goes...
You know how it goes...
Was debating on shootin' the clear today... supposed to wait 24hrs for the glue to set..... although I've "cheated" that in the past. These were a bit finicky though. Think I'll wait.
Lookin' good Jim.
Thanks.
An Ebay order arriving a day early. Whoda thunk it.... Since I could only find this primer there, I'm guessin' it's availability days are numbered. But I'll cross that bridge when I get there.
At any rate, my ol' faithful primer's on hand... back to work. Well, finish winding some coils first, but here we go...
At any rate, my ol' faithful primer's on hand... back to work. Well, finish winding some coils first, but here we go...
Bodywork is (hopefully) done on the XS2 tank. Sealer tomorrow... fingers crossed.
Found a few more minor spots on the Snortin tank. I'll shoot another sealer on it in the morning also.
Found a few more minor spots on the Snortin tank. I'll shoot another sealer on it in the morning also.
Tanks Jim!
These mutherfuckinsnakes on a.... Norton..... 
Shot the sealer coat this morning. All looks good except for just aft and outboard of the filler. And not near as bad as last time... but there's bubbles.... again. Since this is the new primer I think we can safely say it's not the paint. Best I can figure, the cap leaked for years and years and this is gas residue imbedded in the original paint. Seen it before. But I took the silver repaint job all the way down to the original red finish. Since the silver looked acceptable... as in it took just fine over the red, I figured the red was OK. Guess I'm wrong. Amazing what a little FEE can do huh? Crap. So, looks like I'll be goin' down to bare metal around the filler, blending it all back in and trying for another sealer.
Btw... I'm open to other suggestions?
The XS2 tank on the other hand, turned out fine. Haven't gone over it closely yet, but I think it'll see some color tomorrow. Currently sittin' in my easy bake oven.
Shot the sealer coat this morning. All looks good except for just aft and outboard of the filler. And not near as bad as last time... but there's bubbles.... again. Since this is the new primer I think we can safely say it's not the paint. Best I can figure, the cap leaked for years and years and this is gas residue imbedded in the original paint. Seen it before. But I took the silver repaint job all the way down to the original red finish. Since the silver looked acceptable... as in it took just fine over the red, I figured the red was OK. Guess I'm wrong. Amazing what a little FEE can do huh? Crap. So, looks like I'll be goin' down to bare metal around the filler, blending it all back in and trying for another sealer.
Btw... I'm open to other suggestions?
The XS2 tank on the other hand, turned out fine. Haven't gone over it closely yet, but I think it'll see some color tomorrow. Currently sittin' in my easy bake oven.
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Shame about the Norton tank……frustrating. 
How long do you have to bake Snickerdoodles?These mutherfuckinsnakes on a.... Norton.....
Shot the sealer coat this morning. All looks good except for just aft and outboard of the filler. And not near as bad as last time... but there's bubbles.... again. Since this is the new primer I think we can safely say it's not the paint. Best I can figure, the cap leaked for years and years and this is gas residue imbedded in the original paint. Seen it before. But I took the silver repaint job all the way down to the original red finish. Since the silver looked acceptable... as in it took just fine over the red, I figured the red was OK. Guess I'm wrong. Amazing what a little FEE can do huh? Crap. So, looks like I'll be goin' down to bare metal around the filler, blending it all back in and trying for another sealer.
Btw... I'm open to other suggestions?
View attachment 330298
The XS2 tank on the other hand, turned out fine. Haven't gone over it closely yet, but I think it'll see some color tomorrow. Currently sittin' in my easy bake oven.
View attachment 330299
View attachment 330300
