Horseless Carriages and Iron Ponies.

[J.D. Yellowhammer]

Them leaky gas tanks are a real pain.

I tell you, TL, I'm almost afraid to put gas in it.  If it still leaks I'm gonna be tempted to just put a match to it! 

[Texas Lawdog]

We fixed gas tanks once in a while at the shop. Dad used a big soldering iron instead of a torch. He used copper to patch holes. I've seen him use a penny for the patch.

[Leo Tanner]

I had a solid mount tank on a chopper once that ended up cracked.  I ended up chucking it and used rubber grommets on the new one and a red rubber ball shoved under the tunnel.  That one lasted me til the motor blew.  I rattle canned everything back then so paint was no concern.  
Yer right about all the snakes and rats JD.  Handed over an engine to a shop once and was told I'd have it back in a week.  I called every week fer 6 months and got excuses.  I finaly used the money I had ta pay for it an bought another bike.  No sooner than I did that, the shop calls me an says it done, come an get it.  I tolt em ta sell it ta someone else.  Boy did they cry an cry.

[Texas Lawdog]

Leo, Ain't that always the way it happens.

[J.D. Yellowhammer]

I finaly used the money I had ta pay for it an bought another bike.  No sooner than I did that, the shop calls me an says it done, come an get it.  I tolt em ta sell it ta someone else.  Boy did they cry an cry.

That's a good one, Leo.    If I didn't already have so much money sunk in my tank (and sentimental value), I wish I coulda done the same. 

TL, that's a darn handy tip.  If I find a crack I may try that.  It wouldn't have worked on the present problem, tho. They hadta cut off the entire rear mounting bracket and re-weld it on.  If my back ain't hurtin' as much tomorrow (threw it out a coupla days ago) I'm gonna bolt it back on and fire up the Beast.   

[Leo Tanner]

Late September in Tennesee you havn't got much time left til spring.  Hope yer back heals up.
The other bike I bought with the engine money was a 1974 Moto Guzzi Police Special El Derado.  I sold that bile years ago but there are still some folks left around that only know me as Guzzi Tom.  Ownin an ridin that thing was just plain cool.

[J.D. Yellowhammer]

A Guzzi--now that's a class ride!  Way back in high school, a teacher of mine had a one cylinder bike, think it was an old Guzzi.  One big-@ss cylinder, went Ka-Punk Ka-Punk Ka-PunkaPunkaPunka...   

[Texas Lawdog]

I can remember back in about 74, Irving PD bought a bunch of the Guzzis. I don't think they kept them very long. Then just about everybody startin' ridin' Kaws when CHiPs was on.  Now most folks went back to HD.

[Leo Tanner]

I've seen some PDs usin those space aged lookin BMWs lately.  My Guzzi had the transverse vee engine in it and a shaft drive.  It always attracted a lot of attention when ever I went ta a bike event.  Very reliable too and quick once you dumped the stock exhaust.  I found a company that made fishtails that fit it, they sounded great, looked great and increased the bikes performance.

[Texas Lawdog]

I've only seen one of those Beemer Cop bikes. That one was a personal one that the owner bought to do escorts on his days off.

[J.D. Yellowhammer]

Here in Nashville, the police used to ride Harleys, then they went to the 4 cyl Honda 750's, and now they have modified...Road King HD's (I think they're RK's).  I was cruisin' downtown on one of my harleys a few years back and a motorcycle cop waved me over with a scowl on his face. I thought "oh sheeyut, what now?" He looked up and down my bike as I was wondering what modified part might earn me a ticket.  Then he said "you need to wash yer bike." 

Well, I mounted the tank today.  It was a pain in the butt--the painter painted over the rear bolts so I had to take some paint off to get the nut to fit.  Then I installed the new petcock.  Had to run to the Home Depot to get some washers because the new mounting hardware's a little different than the old.  Tinkered around with the tank trying to get everything lined up, bolted it down.  Went to hook up the fuel line and realized the petcock I have is a straight outlet, and I need a 90 degree!!!!!   

[Texas Lawdog]

I hate that when it happens. I always end up having to go back to the parts store a couple of times when I'm tinkering.

[Ozark Tracker]

as far as I am away from town,  if there's a chance in hell it might be different than what I think,  I get every configuration,  straight, 90, 45,  wound in a circle if they got one. I'll buy one,  one size bigger, one size smaller, 6 inches longer, 6 inches shorter,  just allmost every size, length, diameter,   everythihng,   you'd be surprised at the amount of extra parts you can accumulate over a lifetime of living away from town. 
but there's no tellin how many times buying everything has saved me a trip back to town and  a lot of times I'll need the other configuration sooner or later anyway. 

[Leo Tanner]

I'm with you OT.  I used ta have a parts stash that filled an entire garage.  At least one of everything.

JD, did ya get a Pingle?  They are pricey but very much worth it.  My S&S wouldn't run right without one.

[Texas Lawdog]

With number of things that OT has to keep running, an extensive parts inventory is essential.

[J.D. Yellowhammer]

The petcock I put in was from my parts stash.  Useta have more junk saved up but when we moved back from AZ I had to dump every extra pound I could find.  Man, there's so much junk I miss...    I've got some pack rat in me fer sure.

Leo, I might have to get somethin' like you suggested.  This monster engine breathes through a 48mm Mikuni carb, and it takes a lot of gas to keep that thing runnin'.  Just hope I can afford it... 

[Leo Tanner]

Last Pingle I bought was about a C note.  Sounds like a bit much but wait until you have it feedin that Mikuni.  Other companies offer high flow valves fer lower prices, but I swear by the Pingle.  They come in different gas line configurations so you can get just what you need.  Trust me, it is a worthy investment for a big carb and a big motor.

They look cool too.

[Texas Lawdog]

It's getting about time to get the oil changed in the GMC before I go to Nebraska in a couple of weeks. I need to wash it to get all the fallout from our pecan trees off it. Other than that it should be good to go.

[Leo Tanner]

If yer goin ta see Del don't bother with the washin.  Rumor has it that he looks down on such activity.

[J.D. Yellowhammer]

If yer goin ta see Del don't bother with the washin.  Rumor has it that he looks down on such activity.

I bet that's true!    Might want ta splash some extra mud on yer truck, too, TL!

That Pingle sounds pretty good.  I doubt they have one at the harley haberdashery store.  May just get a cheap one there and order a Pingle.  Need to find out first whether the tank still leaks.  If it does, probly gonna have to retire it and get a new one.

[Texas Lawdog]

I'm gonna start out with a clean truck, especially the inside. It's almost 800 miles up there one way. It won't stay clean on the outside for very long.

[J.D. Yellowhammer]

Well, I drove out to a shop that said they could get a Pingle, and there wasn't anybody there. Me and the dogs waited, drove around, called an' got the answering machine, went back... No luck. So I called and went to the tank fabricators. Turns out he had my old petcock (and never bothered to call to return it).  I drove over there and got it--it's a Pingle.

Put everything together and put in some gas. No leaks. But it won't start. When I hit it with the ether it'll crank up and go off like a bomb (scared the hell outta the dogs), run a few seconds, then die.  So it isn't getting gas.  The battery ain't great, either. Got it jumped off the truck. Need to go get some more gas in the can to get the level in the tank up.  Maybe I'll pull the plugs and change em'.  What a PITA. 

[Texas Lawdog]

I never minded workin' on other people's stuff when we had the garage, I just hated to have to work on my own stuff.

[Leo Tanner]

Well JD, the positive side is you already had a Pingle and were blessed by the other guy not being open when you were ready ta give him money. (after years of workin on them things I learned ta find the positive side)
If your tank was in fer welding, there could be some slag in there.  I would drain the thing an disassemble the petcock.  Replace the fuel line too.  If you are getting ignition with the starting fluid but not with gas from the tank the next step would be ta check the float valve on the carb.  If you do drop the bowl, blow out the jets while yer in there.  Nothin wrong with changin the plugs, but if it's igniting I'd lean toward a fuel problem.

Another thought...are you using the same gas cap since the repair?  A non vented cap will give you simalar problems.

[J.D. Yellowhammer]

Great suggestions, Leo.  Thanks.  That's an interestin' thought about the gas cap.  I'll see if it's vented.  I agree with you--it's a gas problem, I'm pretty sure.

I got the plugs cause the old ones were crapped out with carbon and needed changin', anyway.  And I figured that even though the problem ain't the spark, anything I could to do get it to fire better would help.  Plus, I want to do the easy stuff before I get into carb surgery.

Earlier, I coulda sworn I saw gas shooting outta one of the jets, but this afternoon it was looking kinda dry in the barrel and I didn't see anything spraying when I opened the throttle.  I'll take another look tomorrow.  Could be the jets're clogged from sittin' so long.  Also, the way the gas feeds from the tank (the petcock is in a bad place), I might need to put another gallon or 2 in. 

Since yer such an optimistic, sunny-side-a-life guy, Leo  I should mention that there ain't no gas leakin' from the tank.  That's a downright blessing!