Indian Tanks ?

[ferretjuggler]

I'm thinking about buying one for my A65.
Specifically the OIF small export type.
Anyone on here bought one ?
Was the quality acceptable ?
I've heard some real horror stories about Indian tanks, but I've also known people who have had no problems.
I'll be quite happy if I get something that is solid, doesn't leak, and everything fits.
Is that being too hopeful ?

[ducati2242]

I initially  bought one for my gold star , since got a uk made aluminium one made , the indian tank was as good as ive seen . fitted perfect and didn't have any issues . Good chrome and silver paint . I will see if I can find the supplier .

It was "royalchoppers" from their ebay account . here it is with indian tank and uk made tank .

[idie]

I have had 5 Indian tanks they were all ok.

[Mark Parker]

I have an alloy Indian tank on my Firebird, it's big Spitfire shape with Monza cap. It seems well made. I only just fitted it and haven't used it for very long.

[ferretjuggler]

Many thanks for the replies !
I'll have a good look online later on.
I bought some Yamaha bits from a guy a few miles away from me.
He reckoned that he "had to destroy" a Trident tank that he had bought from India.
Seemed a very strange outcome to me but still.

[idie]

I have found that if you have a problem with a tank and you notify them they will just send another tank. They don;t ask for the old one back, to much trouble.

[ferretjuggler]

That's possible.
Maybe he wanted to send them a photo of the tank destroyed just to prove he wasn't trying to scam them.
Or maybe he was just nuts - and felt that the tank needed to be put down humanely - like a sick animal beyond saving

[MGI]

My B33 was identified as possessing an 'Indian' tank when I was purchasing an electric starter kit (Nothing to do with the proposed starter kit, just an observation from a Guru) I enquired as to how this fact could be detected purely on a casual basis, with little inspection, I was informed that the quality of the Indian welding underneath the tank was superior to the original factory welding!

[idie]

I'll go along with that observation. How did you get on with the fitting of the electric start? I fitted one to my B33 in 2016, best thing I ever did.

[ferretjuggler]

Wow !
I'm so glad that I made this post.
The last time I bothered to read up on Indian Tanks the reports were simply disgusting.
I understand that it's common to use a system of "outworkers" in India.
It would seem that they've tightened up their quality standards a great deal.
One tank that I can spot straight away is an Indian Triumph T140 export tank.
When viewed from underneath the UK tanks are slighty "wasp waisted" but the Indian versions just look sort of teardrop shaped.

[MGI]

Idie... At the time it was fitted I was so pleased because I was waiting for a replacement knee and I literally could not kick the bike over. It transformed my riding experience. Nothing has changed since! It also removes the dreadful potential nightmare of stalling the bike when queueing and being unable to start it, causing mayhem and embarrassment. Costly but good value! Next on the list is a 5 speed gearbox! I am just about finishing converting the front brake to TLS. Not as simple as I had envisaged! Actually I have quite a long list of improvements I wish to make to what was/is a really good bike when it left the factory! Progress I suppose...

[idie]

I find that my B33 is a lovely machine to ride. I converted my front brake to two leading shoe some years ago. Upgraded to LED lights, at least I can see better. Unlike all my other bikes I still have the 6 spring clutch. For some reason it doesn't slip or drag and is light in operation. I have fitted an electric start to my 1949 M33 that was hard work, never again.

[MGI]

Yes, my dynamo has been converted to 12 volts too with LED lights - far superior beam. I had some difficulty with the TLS mainly because the original lower mudguard bracket fouled the pivot point for rear section of the brake shoe. I increased the length of the securing bolts and introduced a pair of SS spacers to relocate the bracket over the top of pivot point, not ideal but as an interim measure it's acceptable. I have looked at several machines with these TLS brakes and some of them have the mudguard stay curving horizontally over the pivot and down to the bolt hole and some coming over above the bolt and then bending vertically to the bolt hole, both methods allowing the original bolts to be employed and lessening the problems with the other fixing points being slightly misaligned! I suppose the correct option is to change the lower mudguard stay to one with either of the two examples viewed!

[idie]

I converted my 8 inch half width brake to twin leading I did the same on my Shooting Star.

[Rob Neal]

The new tank for my A65L arrived from India yesterday.  After ordering the tank I'd subsequently read all sorts of horror stories concerning their quality.  Well mine looks to be very good indeed.  First of all there's some decent weight to it suggesting a reasonable gauge of steel has been used.  The seams are all nicely finished and the Chrome work looks good too. The paint finish is very nice and equally well applied to the underside of the tank as well.  At £250 I think it's a good buy. Do watch out for the import charges though. HMRC (bless 'em) stung me for a further £74.  Still good value I think and at least I know the inside is rust free and clean.  I'll apply some ethanol resistant tank sealer.  Just need to source some BSA badges and knee grips.  The teardrop badges seem expensive at £45+ for a pair. Anyone know of anywhere selling at a better price?  Cheers. Rob