3003 Ally Tank T500 (Complete!)

[oldskool]

Re: 3003 Ally Tank T500 (need brazing help)

I also try to form as much out of one piece as possible,like this 2010 Thruxton tail I'm building for Replica 66. It's all from a solid piece with a small flange welded to the front.

 

[rockcitycafe]

Re: 3003 Ally Tank T500 (need brazing help)

you can really do that with one piece, save yourself some headache and shrink more

 

[johnu]

Re: 3003 Ally Tank T500 (bottom made)

Well I got the bottom of the tank made and it fits really well, I am pleased with how it looks so far. I had to build the tank like this with the flange around the edge because I don't want to see the frame rails. Now I have to source a petcock and aluminum bung to braze in the bottom before I weld it to the tank top. Lots of practicing with edge welding first anyway!!

 

[johnu]

Re: 3003 Ally Tank T500 (progress)

Filler installed. Tried the edge welding today and it seems to be pretty easy. Also tried doing fillet welds with the o/a and that is more or less impossible! I will have to pay someone to tig on my mounting brackets on the underside of the tank.

 

[oldskool]

Re: 3003 Ally Tank T500 (progress)

Lookin good man!!!

 

[rockcitycafe]

Re: 3003 Ally Tank T500 (progress)

I dig it, let me know if and when you want a job doing it

 

[johnu]

Re: 3003 Ally Tank T500 (progress)

I dig it, let me know if and when you want a job doing it

Haha, you wouldn't make much money with me working for you, I'm too slow! Seriously when people say $800 is to much to pay for a custom made aluminium tank they don't realize the amount of work that is involved. I doubt that there is much profit margin on an alloy tank. For me it is all about the sense of achievement.

 

[johnu]

Re: 3003 Ally Tank T500 (progress)

I got the bottom welded in the tank today which went pretty smoothly. As you can see in the pic my welds with the o/a are getting better. Next job is the tunnel and mounting brackets.

 

[oldskool]

Re: 3003 Ally Tank T500 (progress)

Nice welds,are you sure you want to paint that thing? Its looking pretty good.

 

[oldskool]

Re: 3003 Ally Tank T500 (progress)

Would look sick if you brushed it and put a polished racing stripe down the middle.

 

[johnu]

Re: 3003 Ally Tank T500 (progress)

I am thinking about not painting it now! It has turned out better than I expected. Do you have a picture of what you described with the polished stripe?

 

[oldskool]

Re: 3003 Ally Tank T500 (progress)

I've seen it on the Shelby Cobras and fell in love with it.

 

[johnu]

Re: 3003 Ally Tank T500 (progress)

I like that! I could see something like that but maybe a pinstripe to outline the polished stripe.

 

[oldskool]

Re: 3003 Ally Tank T500 (progress)

Now you're talking, that would look sick on a race bike.

 

[cyclefreak]

Re: 3003 Ally Tank T500 (progress)

Yep, that looks pretty sweet.

 

[johnu]

Re: 3003 Ally Tank T500 (progress)

Tunnel ready for welding.

 

[oldskool]

Re: 3003 Ally Tank T500 (progress)

What did you decide to use as far as welding?

 

[johnu]

Re: 3003 Ally Tank T500 (progress)

I am welding it with oxy/acetylene using 1100 tig rod. I think I will probably pay someone to tig the mounting ears and rear mounting bracket along with the petcock bung. I have tried doing fillet welds with the o/a and its near impossible. Corner joints, butt welds and edge welds are no problem. Wish I had access to tig to do the fillets though!

 

[rockcitycafe]

Re: 3003 Ally Tank T500 (progress)

for fillet welds, try taking a deburring tool and getting the edge you're trying to weld shiny before applying flux, and use a bigger filler rod, for fillets on 14ga I use a full 1/16th rod, works pretty well, I keep the torch angle really low too, like 20 degrees above horizontal

 

[johnu]

Re: 3003 Ally Tank T500 (progress)

I will give your method a try.... I don't give up easily!