Hey all you 550 aficionados

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Wed May 19, 2010 5:59 pm

Those of you that pay attetion to the want ads might remember I was looking for a 550 tank. I bought one off fellow board member tlram. Something is different to me here. I have had over a half dozen of these tanks over the years but I have never seen one with a sleeve between the front gas cap ears. Was this stock on some very early models or was this a PO pipe dream? Terry would like to know too. It doesn't seem to intefere with anything, but at the same time seems pointless.

jkevinlilly · Post by **jkevinlilly** » Wed May 19, 2010 7:41 pm

Chris,
Checked the three tanks I have, two are definately 76 GT550, the third definately GT550, but year unknown. Got it from Gordon Lamb 2-3 years ago. None of them have the "sleeve" you have a picture of. Just the two ears sticking out that the "crossbar" passes through them, that the gas tank latch hooks onto.

My guess would be that a PO forced the cap off, and damaged the original latch pin assembly. Then they did a very good job of fabricating a replacement latch. This one does not look anything like the ones on my tanks. Come to think of it, probubly two different people, since someone who would tear a gas cap off probubly could not do that good of a job fabricating a replacement.:^)

Kevin

jkevinlilly · Post by **jkevinlilly** » Wed May 19, 2010 7:55 pm

But then again, I could be totally wrong.

Kevin

Rustygt550 · Post by **Rustygt550** » Thu May 20, 2010 1:40 am

I have a nos 73 lime green gt550 tank it has the spacer between ears. Looking at the your picture it looks like the paint underneath is green too
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Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Thu May 20, 2010 12:51 pm

Yes Rusty! I cleaned the paint off the face of the filler neck with some acetone. Sure enough, it exposed green.

advant63 · Post by **advant63** » Thu May 20, 2010 3:17 pm

i bought a 74 380 tank from gttim a few years ago. it has that collar.

Post by **Suzsmokeyallan** » Thu May 20, 2010 4:04 pm

It would not hurt to ask Uncle Rick to have a look at his 76 tank to see if he has a collar on his tank mount as well.

H2RICK · Post by **H2RICK** » Fri May 21, 2010 8:44 am

Hmmm....my "A" tank doesn't have that "support/spacer" tube and neither does my Burnt Orange "M" tank. I wonder if maybe the first lot of tanks covering the J/K production run had this tube......but then the "time and motion" experts and the accounting wonks took a look at the cost of that first
batch of tanks and they probably figured out they could get away with just a pin to hook the latch on rather than a brazed-in-place tube. Strictly an economy measure that also incidentally allowed easier repairs in the field should the tube become damged/bent. It's a lot easier to replace a pin and bend the ears back into shape rather than try to replace a brazed tube. I'll bet the J/K replacement tanks didn't have the tube but rather the later style "tubeless" arrangement.
My .02 worth....

Cliff · Post by **Cliff** » Fri May 21, 2010 8:18 pm

The '72/'73 tanks I have do have the tube. The '74 and later tanks don't.
The '72/'73 tanks are also missing the rear mounts on the underside for the tank cushion.

jkevinlilly · Post by **jkevinlilly** » Fri May 21, 2010 8:38 pm

Seeee...

But then again, I could be totally wrong.

Always nice to learn something new.

Kevin

jeff g · Post by **jeff g** » Sat May 22, 2010 10:54 pm

It's a j/k tank. It might not work on your later bike. I know that the late tanks won't work on the J/K, but I'm not sure about the other way around.

Jeff

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Sun May 23, 2010 5:11 pm

Anybody want to trade a later tank for this J/K tank? Tank is in great condition with only one small dent just ahead of the filler neck. Probably repairable with just glazing putty. Pics available if interested.

jkevinlilly · Post by **jkevinlilly** » Sun May 23, 2010 5:59 pm

Chris.
If you can't find anything else, I've got a 76 with peeling paint, and a dent on the right side. I'll send it to you for postage if you want it. I'll need to keep the emblems and gas cap.

I'll email pictures.

Kevin

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Fri Jun 04, 2010 5:20 pm

Hey Jeff. WHY wont' they interchange?? What's different?