Tank sealing

[RonH]

I have a brand new set of tanks that I got from Iron horse corral and I am wondering if I need to seal them. I have had many new tanks for my HD's and had a set from my old 46 that was not sealed. I do have an in line filter on the bike and I wonder if I really need to do this? Any answers would be appreciated! Thanks in advance!

[exeric]

Don't seal it, just keep gas in it, and drain the gas if you're going to park it for a season. Current gas is unstable, and will foul in short order. Just for peace of mind, you might want to pressure test those tanks before you paint them. IHC makes great stuff but why take the chance.

[cdf6333]

Exeric is 100% right. Pressure test the tanks. Probably minor chance of a leak, but better to find now and return them. Also screw on your OIL cap and make sure the letters line up straight, not crooked. New, welded tanks are a very smart move.

[RonH]

They have been pressure tested and are okay, the oil cap is right on! I wasn't sure of the sealing though. Thank you!

[Yellow53Chief]

Hi,
I agree with exeric's comment about draining the gasoline if the bike is going to sit for an extended period of time. An empty dry tank is very unlikely to condense moisture if temperature changes occur. I have sealed original tanks, but have had trouble with the bladder failing. IHC tanks are some of the best out there. With a little care, they will last a life-time. If you start to see brownish powder in the carburetor float bowl, there is likely some light rust occurring in the tank. A fine mesh copper/brass wire screen filter soldered into the petcock inlet will stop anything in the tank before it could cause a problem at the carburetor.

[RonH]

Hi,
I agree with exeric's comment about draining the gasoline if the bike is going to sit for an extended period of time. An empty dry tank is very unlikely to condense moisture if temperature changes occur. I have sealed original tanks, but have had trouble with the bladder failing. IHC tanks are some of the best out there. With a little care, they will last a life-time. If you start to see brownish powder in the carburetor float bowl, there is likely some light rust occurring in the tank. A fine mesh copper/brass wire screen filter soldered into the petcock inlet will stop anything in the tank before it could cause a problem at the carburetor.

I have the stock gas filter on the bike, the brass one that is in the line before the carb.

[Yellow53Chief]

Hi,
The original type fuel filter for a 1946 Chief is O.K. If you see that some rust is still getting through to the carburetor, I think there are paper replacement filter elements that might do a slightly better job than the original stacked brass sheet type. Jerry Greer is one of the vendors that sells the paper type element.

[fillibuster]

My new (in 2002) welded tanks leaked after about 5 years of service, had to have them sealed.
An acquaintance consoled me about it at a road run, explaining that only rubber-mounted tanks will survive the shock and vibration. Any hard-mounted tank will eventually fatigue and leak.
That's my luck.

[Yellow53Chief]

Hi,
fillibuster; do you happen to know where the actual leak(s) occured in your welded tank? Was it a crack in a weld near a mounting flange? Maybe a flex crack right in the middle of one of the sheetmetal flat areas? Maybe a leak where the petcock fitting was welded to the tank skin? Maybe it was even a rust hole? A weld could crack causing a leak or the sheetmetal could crack causing a leak. I haven't seen that many welded tanks leak, so I'm curious what happened. Thanks.

[indian301]

I have owned and ridden my 1948 Chief for the last 25 years; 62,000 miles. The tanks are original and soldered. They have never given me any trouble. Maybe just luck, but I have cork washers under the mounting brackets and I use nylock nuts and never over tighten them.

Dave

[RonH]

Indian 301, Very smart move!