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741 NOS Fuel Tanks JW REF 2.jpg I have a set of NOS 741 fuel tanks on the way, thanks to fellow member, Joe Wensell. This was a valuable opportunity to compare original tank traits with what could possibly be reproduction fuel tank traits. There are many sellers and manufacturers out there selling reproduction 741 fuel tanks and sometimes those tanks are re-sold after use. This makes it very difficult to identify one versus the other. I was hoping to post a couple photos and open the discussion to the group in case any of you have had experience with this before. Indian was known to slightly modify parts from time to time, so I have learned just because you see a different trait on a part, doesn't mean it is reproduction. Sometimes this indicates a different year model or sometimes a running change in the same year production.
Here are my photos. 741 Fuel Tank Reproduction Traits.jpg
Above this text is an online set which has 8 grooves and five round spaces. Originals have 7 grooves and four round spaces. On originals however, there is typically one groove which is filled in with added metal or some unknown material. There is also another groove or channel between the front rounded spaces as pointed out by PaulCDF in another similar post when he was helping me identify tank halves. This example found online has no channel between the rounded spaces. However, looking at the NOS set, you can't see one either, but I have often noticed in photographic comparison of original tanks, this feature is sometimes also filed in!
The trait I think which gives the above tanks away is the rectangular cut in the foremost liner edge (for lack of terminology) which is only something I have seen in reproduction tanks. The NOS sets posted online or in shared photos do not have any cuts in the inner edge material, only the half circle next to the saddle bolt area. For this set, there is also no space in the left side for the wiring slack. However, there only appear to be six grooves. It is also difficult to see in this photo the upper scooped void in the foremost part of the left side of the inner panel.
Also posted for sale by the same seller, are a less expensive, though apparently original set, though the front bolt mounts have been clipped open for some reason. All other traits in the photos posted by the seller match the NOS set in comparison. Here are some photos of that set.
741 Fuel Tank Original OH 1.jpg
Here are my photos. 741 Fuel Tank Reproduction Traits.jpg
Above this text is an online set which has 8 grooves and five round spaces. Originals have 7 grooves and four round spaces. On originals however, there is typically one groove which is filled in with added metal or some unknown material. There is also another groove or channel between the front rounded spaces as pointed out by PaulCDF in another similar post when he was helping me identify tank halves. This example found online has no channel between the rounded spaces. However, looking at the NOS set, you can't see one either, but I have often noticed in photographic comparison of original tanks, this feature is sometimes also filed in!
The trait I think which gives the above tanks away is the rectangular cut in the foremost liner edge (for lack of terminology) which is only something I have seen in reproduction tanks. The NOS sets posted online or in shared photos do not have any cuts in the inner edge material, only the half circle next to the saddle bolt area. For this set, there is also no space in the left side for the wiring slack. However, there only appear to be six grooves. It is also difficult to see in this photo the upper scooped void in the foremost part of the left side of the inner panel.
Also posted for sale by the same seller, are a less expensive, though apparently original set, though the front bolt mounts have been clipped open for some reason. All other traits in the photos posted by the seller match the NOS set in comparison. Here are some photos of that set.
741 Fuel Tank Original OH 1.jpg
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