Restored Petrol Tank

[Keith.owen]

Hi all,
I have been searching to no avail but perhaps the person who posted the blog remembers..........

Sometime last year one of our forum members posted a blog on the restoration of his machine. I don't recall what machine it was save that it had a panel tank.

The point is that he had the tank restored here in the UK and whoever did the work did a wonderful job; they cut out the bottom and refurbished it to the point at which it was even re-chromed.

Mine is a story of impending doom.

I sent my tank to a company in Hartlepool who supposedly specialise in fixing tanks - even increasing their capacity.

Well, it looked alright except there were tell-tale signs that the holes in the bottom, at the very back, had been patched up with gunge and the rear fixing were bolts immersed into this.........I'll not go into further detail save to say now there are signs of rusting and there is a small blister under the paint. I feel that it is pretty certain that I have been 'ripped off' and fear it is only a matter of time before it begins to leak.

I dread the reaction from management if/when I have to go through the tank restoration process again, especially after what it cost (and the accountant always finds out somehow/eventually)!

Anyone know who the non-cowboy tank restorer was?

Keith

[tony.barnett]

Name and shame the `tank restorer'? Save others from having the same problem...

[keith.mettam]

Hi Keith,
I, too, can't find the particular thread you refer to but I suddenly remembered that I may have book-marked the firm that was referred to (and did such a good job). Looking through my bookmarks I have found the following company which I am pretty sure was the firm that did the work (as I seem to remember it was in Essex).
http://www.cwclassic.co.uk/
Good luck with it !
All the best,
Keith.

[simon.holyfield]

If its any help, I remember that CW Classic company in connection with that story as well.

Let us know how it goes? I have one to do as well.

[Keith.owen]

Hi all,
Naming and shaming............

Hartlepool Radiator Company, Unit 3F, Parkview Industrial Estate, Hartlepool, TS25 1PE
Telephone; (01429) 236300 Mobile; (07836) 596132 e-mail; enquiries@fueltanks.co.uk


If it had been done for a song, oh well s**t happens, but If I told you what they charged me.............

You can see the tank on my blog my 1950 VH (members bikes). It looks great on the outside, but.............

now signs of rust and a blister!

Keith

[brenton.roy]

I think Jerry Mortimore had his cammy tank restored by someone / a firm called Lewis Templeton. See thread 'Jerry's Cammy''.

[paul.jameson]

Lewis and Templeton do a good job - if they do it. A friend of mine was asked to restore a 1931 Colt to a deadline when it had to appear on display at the opening of a new store. (The founder of the store used to go to work on the Colt). So he sent the tank to Lewis and Templeton as the first job and rang regularly to check on progress. They told him that they had done this, were working on that, etc, etc. As the deadline loomed, he eventually asked for the tank back in whatever its current condition was. His tank came back completely untouched from when he sent it, 4 months earlier.

For removal of dents and patching of holes, use Ray Pettet in Nottingham (0115 920 0254). He lives close to the foreman of Derby Chrome Plating (01332 382 408) who do a brilliant job of copper, nickel and chrome plating. Turnaround time is reasonable. Ray's costs are pretty fair but Derby Plating are expensive. That said, I don't know of another plater who will triple plate to their standard. This combination have done the tanks on the MKII I used to have, my KH, RH500 and the 1936 4G. I did the subsequent painting and lining myself. Both RH500 and 4G tanks were pretty rough. The bill from Derby Plating for them was the wrong side of £1000. See the RH500 back on the road thread for how the tank turned out.

[MICHAEL.GOULDING]

Morning.
Hartlepool Radiators did my tank 3 years ago for £400, had to send it straight back for repainting - it had runs, scratches, lumps + bumps. Started to blister after 2 1/2years + is now lifting off the seams - sent it back to them for examination only to be told "What do you expect after 3 years"!!!!

I've never had a tank fail before in 20 odd years even when I've done it myself.
Also their "lifetime warranty" doesn't apply to motorbike tanks. Didn't see that in the glossy leaflet.
Certainly wouldn't recommend.

[Keith.owen]

Michael,
Unfortunately, being a gullable type I believed their w b page, all that about how they take it apart, repair it, treat it both inside and out and pressure test. They want me to send the tank back to them, but, frankly I just don't trust them. If I have to pay to send the tank there and then to get it back it will simply be adding insult to injury.

I really am upset. I am reduced to riding short distances - putting in a pint of petrol at a time to avoid leakage. When it did leak, the petrol took some paint off of my nicely painted oil tank, oh, and that was another story.

Worse, I don't know what to do- fix it myself - surely I couldn't do a much worse job?!

At the moment I'm trying to come up with an interim arrangement so that I can continue to ride my bike!

Keith

[MICHAEL.GOULDING]

Morning.
I did send mine back, but regretted it as soon as I spoke to Stan whose attitude was appalling. I was only too pleased to get it back intact.
I'm thinking about one of tbe Indian tanks on Ebay, but nobody seems to know if they're good or bad.
Might even try painting it myself .
Regards. Mike