BSA Spitfire tank

[hotrodder]

Nice bit of tin bashing

Yes good point what sort of dye? I was thinking of gun wash with a paint colour rather than water, not petrol

Petrol can find leaks that are water tight due to the difference in surface tension, obviously gun wash would fix that but whatever you use to dye it will probably mess things up from a viscosity and/surface tension POV. The dye penetrant Drains mentioned are purpose made for the job, more detail here... http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/wiki/Dye_Penetrant the basic kits aren't spendy but are very good at dying everything in the vicinity bright red

Obviously only of use once the tank is complete but 1psi of air, a paintbrush and some soapy water will find tiny leaks

 

[markyb]

Great work ,just read thread through ..I have never had alot of joy with tucking forks but with a bit of patience it's amazing how much you can pull the metal where you need it .

 

[Shox Dr]

Nice bit of tin bashing

The dye penetrant Drains mentioned are purpose made for the job... the basic kits aren't spendy but are very good at dying everything in the vicinity bright red

Doesn't it just, I find spraying a small amount into the top of the cap and apply with an arty type brush works the best when you don't want to look like you have murdered the whole street

 

[mac53]

Ha Ha like it, I think the neighbours will want to kill me the amount of hammering and now grinding Ive done

 

[norlander]

nice work, just catching up on here after a lay off, looking good.

Ha Ha like it, I think the neighbours will want to kill me the amount of hammering and now grinding Ive done

then leave ya missus alone and get back to doing the tank.

 

[RichardM]

Nice bit of bashing, have you decided on the filler yet?

Must admit - still miss my Thunderbolt, but that is probably just rose tinted glasses

 

[mac53]

Hi all been full of cold for a couple of weeks and on call so no garage time ,but this week managed to fit some bashing time in
Decided to start the recess for the filler

started to knock down into a 2" tube

Then kept on knocking,eventually knocked this down even more

Welded the old filler neck in looking good went better than expected
Next on the list was the bottom, had already made this so just a simple task of offering it up to the top ,well not bad but a bit of adjusting to do

About 1/2" out at the bottom so nothing for it but to cut it out and make a new section

new section done and the bushes welded in place.Now the task of filling in the ends.so far a right pain trying to flang a c section to a flat bottom

also fitted a brace across the tank to stop it flexing while fitting gussets
bit late but starting to get the hang of this welding lark,well I think I am or could be your rose tinted glasses RichardM, what year was the thunderbolt?

 

[eSCHEn]

Cracking job! Really looking forwards to the finished article. You painting or just laquering over polished metal?

 

[Migmac]

The talent on this site is never ending, looking good. Can't wait to see the whole bike

 

[mac53]

If it wasn't for the article's on this site I would never of tackled this job it gives you the inspiration to try for that I thank you all
The car restos and art creations I have see on here leave my tank well in the shadows

 

[norlander]

smashin bashin mac. I reckon on leaving the tank bare metal to show off your work-shame to hide it behind paint.
Maybe a touch of red background in the star? or leave it bare metal as well and try to cut out BSA in tin work as well? cut three/four sets of letters in thin sheet then spot weld/tack em together??
Top job that man.

 

[markyb]

Great job, very nice.

 

[mac53]

I have tried before to do something different just can't, Going to paint the tank just love the bright red finish such a sexy tank
Had a hour in the garage tonight bashing metal, working on closing the end of the tank, flanging, shrinking ,forming ending up with a bashed flanged unrecognisable twisted lump! I have a plan for tomorrow!!

 

[norlander]

ending up with a bashed flanged unrecognisable twisted lump

swot I used to wake up next to after a night on the pull in Aldershot.

Yeah, gotta agree on the bright red for Beezas, ditto the RE Continental.

 

[mark williams]

Nice job. Were did you learn to wheel like that! I was doing a job in work last week, a aircraft belly fairing and that was curved like a banana in two opposite directions and I just could not get it. If both curves went the same way in cool to do that, but opposite ways I could not get my head round! Any tips welcome!

 

[hotrodder]

Nice job. Were did you learn to wheel like that! I was doing a job in work last week, a aircraft belly fairing and that was curved like a banana in two opposite directions and I just could not get it. If both curves went the same way in cool to do that, but opposite ways I could not get my head round! Any tips welcome!

You're talking about a reverse curve? Not a particularly heavy reverse but Geoff Moss explains the explains the principle at the start of this series of vids

Reverse curves especially are one of those two steps forwards, one back unless you're really talented as stretching the edges to put the return in tends to pull the curve out in the other direction

 

[lchris21]

tremendous work...top skills

 

[mac53]

Hi all made some progress
In Between working on call and another cold! Thanks for the likes but I could not give any advice as this is my first effort and i would do so much differently. Like the vid
Managed to fit the end closure plates! as i said what a pain

This is the template for the front closure plate.What do every one else use to make templates? Not a cereal box left in the house!

Also decided to fit a stiffener plate attached it to the center tube seen a lot of tanks split at the front and back caused by I think poor support and flexing hopefully this will help

getting very close to ziping the whole thing up.
As this has taken so long and the tank was taken off the bike in a field in yorkshire I can't find the tank supports! looks like a day tidying the garage!!

 

[eSCHEn]

Cracking job Mac well done

 

[norlander]

nice job again mate, looking forward to seein the bike on the road, good luck with finding the supports-I can't find a pair of 1584cc cylinders I put in a safe place