Just bought this.
Badge screw inserts and raised welded seams suggest a '72 tank to me as I believe that the original OIF P39 tanks didn't have screwed on badges, just stuck on decals.
Badge holes are 36mm C/C, and I think I can just make out the outline of the cast alloy BSA badges that once decorated this tank.
Not sure about the fuel tap holes.
Don't some tanks have tap locations which are OK with a single carb head, but foul twin carbs ?
I learned all this stuff once, but my memory has faded now.
Any knowledge would be much appreciated.
I think this is off a late Triumph T140 or TR7 although I'm not sure about the badge holes. The T140 was clearly a twin carb bike with the TR7 being the single carb version but they both used the same tank which meant the fuel taps were far enough back to clear the carbs.
Quote from: Spaceman on 19 Jun, 2023, 18:53
I think this is off a late Triumph T140 or TR7 although I'm not sure about the badge holes. The T140 was clearly a twin carb bike with the TR7 being the single carb version but they both used the same tank which meant the fuel taps were far enough back to clear the carbs.
It's early 70s and NOT T140 or TR7 as it has the tabs for securing the tank centre strap, the later triumph tanks didn't have the centre seam. I don't have access to my tanks at present but if the centres for the badge screws are correct for a bsa badge then it'll be a 72 tank. If they are wider then look towards it being a triumph tank.
Got to work with the paint stripper about an hour ago.
Contrary to what some people swear by I'm finding that Bartoline stripper bought cheaply off eBay is giving me the most bang for my buck.
This thing seems to have about ten coats of paint most of which have been applied by brush by the looks of it.
Looks like the outline of a BSA badge showing up on the LH side, and the original paint colour is the red you can see peeking through.
So it looks like my gamble has paid off (seller listed it as Triumph)
The good news is that I haven't found any filler yet.
The bad news is that the rust around the lower seems is pretty bad, it can't be far off penetrating right through.
I stand corrected: a 1972 A65L:
Looks like possible 72 Lightning if that red was the original colour. Those badge screws definitely look right for it. My tank (which I filled the holes in) was triumph and they are much further apart.
There looks to have been a weld repair to the top section of the tank where the tube is centre to it. It would normally have a recess around the centre tube which would support the O'ring for the badge centre piece. If your putting all the chrome trim back it shouldn't post much of an issue, if your not.. One of the deep BSA rubber bungs will fill the hole ok.
I'm not exactly sure what has been going on around that fixing tube top seam.
There's a ring of filler been built up, I'm not sure what it's hiding yet.
Various layers of paint would seem to suggest that it's been used on a TR7 Tiger at some point with a sort of mist green and white two tone paint scheme.
Wherever it's been, I'm quite happy with my buy it now bargain so far. Nothing has presented itself that I can't find a solution to.
I think that stopping the rust is going to be the biggest challenge.
It's too far gone to just clean up and paint over, it's going to need a quality etch primer at the very least
The rust on the lower seam should be easy to sort out - just use a rotary wire brush to remove it. Etch primer contains a rust inhibitor but, if you are worried that you haven't removed all the rust, just use some Krust rust converter on it although this shouldn't be necessary. Normally, with tanks of this sort, it is internal rust that presents the biggest challenge because, if this is not removed, it can rot the tank from the inside.
I always line the tank with Flowliner or similar. Hard work but well worth it!