Suzuki 2 Strokes

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.

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

But then again, I could be totally wrong.

Kevin

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

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

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.

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....

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.

Seeee...

But then again, I could be totally wrong.

Always nice to learn something new.

Kevin

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

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.

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

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