| Author | Message | ||
     Ralph |
I was looking around on Ebay and found these two auctions; http://www.ebay.com/itm/361385537369?_trksid=p2055 119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT And more to the point; http://www.ebay.com/itm/361385537415?_trksid=p2055 119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Apparently, he took a page out of the Buell factory design book and cut the bottom out of a Manta tank and turned it into a cover. Silly to say, I'd never considered it. Since it wasn't designed for that, I would think the fit would be pretty crappy. Anybody seen this done before? | ||
| Brother_in_buells |
The seller is a salvaged yard ,so it probably came from a wrecked bike. I have seen something done before with a tuber tank ,but it was for some kind of street fighter build. | ||
| S1owner |
It is not a cut down tank it would never fit over itself here is what was most likely done this BAdwebber did 2 versions one fiberglass and this one carbon fiber alot of work  | ||
| Ralph |
Hey Ken, Now that I went back and took a better look I can see the carbon fiber twill on the "inside" shots of the cover. (Message edited by Ralph on September 17, 2015) | ||
| S1owner |
he is the only one I have known to do it but it is a great fix. If someone had the gumption they could make a reverse mold and gel coat it then lay fiberglass. would be easy enough once a mold was done. I thought about making a vacuum forming table and doing that to make the covers. again once the mold was there it would be quick and somewhat cost affective. http://makezine.com/2011/09/08/how-to-large-homema de-vacuum-forming-machine/ | ||
| Ralph |
Vacuum form would be brilliant. Once everything was worked out the actual labor for making a cover would be very little. I wonder about using a tank for a form? If a complete tank is not workable, maybe fill one with expanding foam to keep it rigid and then cut it down to a functional size. It really comes down to how precise the tanks are formed. I would think that the roto forming should give a very repeatable shape. But, it also seems that there is a certain amount of collapse because the plastic used is fairly flexible. I've popped my gas filler on a hot day and watched the tank drop two cup sizes  Looks like I have to do some reading on vacuum forming now.....and find a toasted Manta. | ||
| 1313 |
SWEET!!! I owe a BIG thanks to Ralph for posting this! Once I realized the origins of the tank cover, I knew that it had to be rescued for use on my 1998 S3-T Defender. So I used buy it now and got the tank cover late last week. Interestingly it fit pretty well on my Defenders tank, even though the tank on my Defender has 3D decals on it. Today I won the auction for the tank that the tank cover was made off of, so it will definitely fit like a glove when my Defender restoration picks up speed. The backstory of the tank cover: The final solution for blistered tank paint. Another mention. I like it: "My solution. Carbon fiber cover. The end." And, finally, the bike in the classifieds: What a DEAL! Interesting that Ratbuell had the same thoughts that I did, although I don't think I had even received my Defender at the point this bike went on the market: "If it was in worse shape, I'd pick it up as a donor to restore my S3 Defender..." So now I can be sure that any decals I put on the tank (cover) - whether they be the reflective Defender markings or OE style flat tank decals - will NEVER bubble! 1313 | ||
| Ralph |
I'm really glad you got it! | ||
| S1owner |
Here is my tank fix  | ||
| Dave |
Saaaaa-weeeeet! DAve |
