torsdag 12 januari 2012

1947 Knucklehead Tanks

This Chevy is short of a Chase. But chasing threads on these tanks sometimes might require quite a bit of concentration, something that I'm not always too good at.

"Now we've all had this problem"...

...Rusty boogered up threads sure are more of a rule than an exception when it comes to the handshift gas tanks. Since this is an honest uncut 1947 Knucklehead tank I found it even more important to restore the original thread and not cut them out and replace them. Cutting out and replacing the threads is a process that takes like 15 minutes - if you’re LeBeef that is ...if you’re me it takes like a week.

So to start out with I got a super solid, Made In Sweden, fuel shut-off valve alignment tool from Paulie Paul, the high priest of Magneto Zoo. This is the perfect thing to use when properly setting up your gas valve, well - if you’re not into gas leaks...

But as usual I just couldn't prevent myself so here's how I did it. The thread in the early Harley gas tanks is 3/4-18 NS, and those taps are all kinda hard to get, high priced special orders, so milling slits seemed like a sober idea.

If you don’t have a milling machine you could always use a file to make slits in the side of the threads to create a perfect thread chaser.

Now this thread is brought right back up to perfect Griswold Status.
And if you don’t own a fuel shut-off valve alignment tool you can just locate an old gas valve to mill or file slits in.

Now the original thread ain't a Chevy short of a Chase no more.
And thanx to the Mag Zoo alignment tool the gas valve sits just as straight as Ian MacKaye on a Saturday night. I only wish I could understand or remember why I’m restoring an original Knucklehead tank all of a sudden..?

11 kommentarer:

  1. This got me wondering, what are you building now?

    SvaraRadera
  2. I got a feeling this will be good! It's already good, I wish I had your energy.

    SvaraRadera
  3. it's going to be so awesome when you finish a bike

    SvaraRadera
    Svar
    1. Milo, pretty big words coming from someone who doesn’t even seem to do much of his own work. Yes I checked your blog, you’re that guy who bought a complete running WR Daytona of eBay and got the cover of GKM.

      Radera
  4. Lethal blog comment predator seeking its prey.

    SvaraRadera
  5. yeah sorry Nicke I wasn't sure whether that sounded rude or lighthearted, i meant for the latter.

    SvaraRadera
    Svar
    1. Hey buddy don't even mention it, it's all good, all in the name of fun.

      Radera
  6. you could sell them to me !!!!!!!!!!! ha ha

    SvaraRadera