Basket Cases

[Jools]

Here's the other side.
(Thanks for all that useful info David).

[David Lahey]

I see it's still got the original u-bolt type handlebar clamps. They are not the most secure design and for trials use many of these were replaced with either an aftermarket top triple clamp or with later-model Bultaco top triple clamp.
Matador style front guard mounts.
Thanks for the photos. The patina looks great to me. It's good that it is so complete too.

[Greg Harding]

Hi Everyone,

Greg I hope it works but I have tried something similar previously. It was either a TY250A or TY175B fuel tank cap that shrank a lot when it was kept away from petrol fumes for a while, in the 1990s. It shrank so much it was a loose (drop-in) fit in the threaded hole in the tank. I left it in a sealed jar of petrol for months but it didn't grow back at all.

David, we went through this once before and I think the early caps had no gasket, all of them in my collection have shrunk to a drop in fit. The later type had a gasket and all of them in my collection fit fine so I am inclined to think they were made from different materials.
Isn't the Sun a common enemy for all plastic along with Time?
For some reason, paint and stickers don't like sticking to plastic fuel tanks, my thoughts are that the tank changes size perhaps quicker than paint or stickers causing delamination.
There is another theory that fuel actually escapes through the plastic and lifts off paint and stickers, this sounds feasible to me and is part of the reason why I have decided to soak the tank with fuel inside and out. Some secondhand Stainless that has been sitting in my offcut rack for years worked out pretty good for this purpose:

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For the top, I am thinking of using some Viton sheet rubber, then ply with weights on top, all of which sitting on the floor of my KABOOM ROOM.

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Will this Work?
Am I wasting my Time?
Will the tank gain mass after soaking for a While?
Is the tank going to grow gradually without Cracking?
Will this prolong the life of the Tank?
Should I be looking for Super Petrol?
Will unleaded Suffice?
Should I store the tank like this when not being Used?
Will anyone be able to answer any of these Questions?

Check out this beauty. It was fine when I got it 5yrs or so ago but has sat around with no fuel in it for that period of time and this is the result.

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Rod, that is depressing!

You cant plastic weld it?
My Crazy idea would be to clean it out really well with soap, then as slowly as you dare with thinners and acetone and put a layer of epoxy inside the tank. I wouldn't recommend that to a friend though.

Kurt, I have some experience plastic welding guards but none of it I would call successful. So I am trying to prevent the problem as my cure was an abomination!

[Jools]

Got my TY250B pretty close to finished now, a few jobs like fork seals, new chain, better bars, and she'll be pretty well right.
Goes well. I've made a MUCH lighter seat unit for it (see the photo), blew the budget (what budget!) on NJB shocks. I have all the lights, speedo and original seat unit etc, so it's a nice original thing.



This is how I got it.



Now next project... (take a deep breath... do I go for the Sherpa T or not? Eeek!)

[Bully fanatic]

Hi Jools. Yes, go for the Sherpa T. They are a great bike and also very easy to get parts for. I know I might be a little bit biased but not much really. . Graham.

[David Lahey]

Anyone would think the riding season was about to start.
It should be easy to tell which bikes I'm just about to ride

[Guy53]

TY (2 ) KT, Bultaco.
Guy

[Bully fanatic]

Is the In Motion one a, excuse the swearing, Montesa ?

[David Lahey]

Is the In Motion one a, excuse the swearing, Montesa ?

Nah. In Motion is TY175 Graham.
The 348 filter looks something like a primitive version of a filter. Being the sensitive sort of guy I am, I thought of you and didn't put up a photo of the filter (today)

[Greg Harding]

Hi Everyone,

Got my TY250B pretty close to finished now, a few jobs like fork seals, new chain, better bars, and she'll be pretty well right.
Now next project... (take a deep breath... do I go for the Sherpa T or not? Eeek!)

Jools, Your TY looks really Good! It is always good to get a Basket Case back into one piece and ride them.

Yes , I have to agree with Graham, do the M49 Next! It might motivate me to get my M49 back into one Piece?
It would be nice to line up David's beautiful series 1, your series 2 and my series 3! Jump in here Graham if I am wrong but I think they have the most chrome out of all the Sherpa T Models!

So back to the tank,:

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It is a little bizarre pouring fuel in the general direction of the filler without worrying about spilling any.

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For some reason I thought the plastic tank would be buoyant but I was wro, wrong!
3 mm thick insertion rubber,

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Stainless Steel lid,

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Plywood and weights.

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Waiting.........................
Anyone got any theories?