I have a 1952 Golden Flash and have never really liked the shap of the petrol tank - it just seems to be a bit 'bloated'. I have chance of an A7 plunger tank but note that the mountings are quite different. The GF one has rubber cushioned mountings with the rear ones being under the tank. The A7, from what i can see has the two lugs at the front and similar lugs at the rear. Are the frames of the two plunger models so different and does anyone know if the prettier A7 tank will fit over the A10 top tube..
Im asking the question as I would be having the A7 tank posted to me so cant compare them myself. Thanks.
Steve
Hi Steve,
the frames are identical for A7 and a10, I've just checked the 1951/52 all models parts list. Actually I'd even think your frame number starts with "A7S". Mine does, and it's definitely an A10 from 1952 (with an A7 Tank, I bought it this way). The A10 tank is somewhat larger, so that the rear lugs are hidden by the tank itself. As for all the parts listed in connection with fixing the tank to the frame I couldn't spot any difference between A7 and A10, so I'm wondering about the rubber stuff on your bike. It seems that has been introduced for the 1953 model year. So are you quite sure your tank is a 1952 item?
Cheers
Carsten
Hi,
I think that the first A10 ones had no rubber mounting then it was introduced at the rear and finally the front as well, although it may been front and back a the same time. I suspect that it was to overcome a problem with the tank seams splitting at or near the plates used for attachment to the frame. The front ones consisted of a rubber bush in the frame and tank plates tightened up on them and the rear ones fitted on the tank.
Dave.
Thanks for taking the time to reply, chaps, its been really useful.
Carsten, your observation on the A10 tank being large enough to hide the rear fixings makes sense now - and perhaps contributes to what I think is an ungainly sort of shape (when i restored my M120 Panther I replaced the tank with a mid-1950s style rather than put up with the shapeless blob it should have)
I can only assume that my tank is the correct one, but who knows after 70 years. It may not even be British :o
Ive asked the chap with the tank to measure the width between the mounting lugs and also the front to back distance between them. At least that should give me an indication as to whether the frame drillings are the same.
I agree the parts books do suggest that the only variation in parts is that the rear stud is longer on the A10 tank to take account of the additional rubberware.
Thanks again. Steve
This bulletin from July 1952 shows the changes in tank mounting, it might shed some light.
Thanks, Julian. That would seem to confirm that the tanks should be pretty much interchangeable without too much difficulty :)
Steve