I've already repaired two pinholes but now it's rubbed through the weld at the front. The PO was t-boned and the tank took a hefty knock that distorted it and pushed the weld up against the front right frame leg. I've patched it once (and glued a piece of rubber against the frame leg for further protection), but it's rubbed through again and although I patched it for a second time this weekend and took a BFM to the damage to try and relieve where it pushes against the frame, I don't think it's going to last. ebay at the moment only has £200 tanks from James Sherlock and I'm not sure I'm that desperate - yet.

You'll want to steer clear of an '86 tank since they're the later style mount, not screwed down. But you knew that.

Fat fingers ... title changed.

I have it in mind to see if it's possible to make an adaptor plate, late tank > early fixings. Yeah, I know - different fuel level sensors! That's not insurmountable; add a fuel gauge to the fairing for the later tank, add pigtails for both types of tank pickup into the wiring loom and fit a toggle switch to connect/disconnect the early type feed to the instrument panel. Downside? No low-level warning light if using a late tank. It should be possible to add a low-level light into the fairing - I just haven't researched that far yet. Of course, it's all moot if it's not possible to make an adaptor plate.

I love fiddling and LFB is due a new wiring loom soon. It's starting to get a bit manky after that last 60,000 miles.

[Edit] Corrected the fuel gauge comment

I built an electronic circuit as a proof of concept that reads the latter-type fuel sender and converts the fuel level reading into an indication on an RGB LED. The prototype ran off of an Arduino embedded computer. Between 100% - 25% full tank, the LED lit up solid Green. Between 25% and 12% full, the LED lit up solid Red. Between 12% and empty, the LED blinked Red. The thresholds were programmable. I never finished that project beyond proving it was possible because there wan't really a need as far as I could tell, but this would be an application for it.

Which Arduino Rob? They look cheap enough here to consider that. However, it really depends on whether I can make that adaptor plate. I have a later fuel tank up in the garage roof which I bought in error as a K newbie and at the time didn't know about the different tanks. If I fail to locate an Alaska Blue tank (and I can make that adaptor!) I'll probably rattlecan that tank. Motorworks were telling me this morning that the 83-85 tanks in reasonable condidtion are getting rarer, so it would be worth my while making a Frankenloom later this year.

I changed my 85 tank to the later style tank because the sender cracked (like so many do), the tank was still in good shape just poor paint on it. You can have the tank for postage. BTW I just cut the rear mounting lugs off an old frame and welded them on the 85 frame but can't remember what I did to get the low fuel light to work (the red 4L light the 7L yellow one is dead).

Hello Dai 

Still have the tank will and happy to send it  

What condition is your latter model tank in ?   Happy to do a straight swap  if you don't want have a need for it 

I'm looking for a good  latter model  tank

@Matthew-Brisbane: Yes please Matt. You might have seen that I've picked up a full set of Alaska Blue bodywork for a song, but no tank. Do you want to go to PM to discuss shipping charges etc.? I'm pretty sure you don't want my spare tank; it's silver, been in an engine fire and so needs a complete strip and respray. No dents, surprisingly enough. Actually, you might want my spare tank as a p/x with most of the cash going your way - pics in a PM.

@caveman: Damn. I cracked this morning and bought one from Motorworks. Time was getting critical as I use the bike daily and I really don't expect the patch I applied this weekend to last as it's on a weld. That was a really generous offer; someone else may need it but I'd just be being greedy to take it off you now.

Dai wrote:Which Arduino Rob? They look cheap enough here to consider that.

I chose a Digispark by Digistump which is super small.  This is a photo of the adapter board:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/BXiLkNet66ZZSQWT9

The board is tiny as well, 24mm x 30mm  You can see the connections for the Bi-colour LED at the top.  The bottom connector is exactly the size of the K-bike connector on the harness and is designed to plug right into the harness. The circuit grabs power in and fuel level in from that connector.

Argh!!! Digistump aren't selling ATM and the link gives a 404. I'm definately interested though; left me see if I can make that tank adaptor first. Yes, I could weld new mounts on as caveman did, but I don't want to go that route.

Hello Dai 

PM you

Hello Dai  


Big box in the mail let us know if it get there  in one piece  

My shed looks like a winter wonderland  when trying to cut up the foam for packaging

Matt

Hi Matt

You have PM. I was lucky in that I can re-use Motorworks' packaging. Lots and lots of polyurethane....

Matthew-Brisbane wrote:

My shed looks like a winter wonderland  

 My backyard (garden to the Brits among us) looks like a winter wonderland mostly because it is, well, a winter wonderland.  It has warmed up to -17 C. today which is not nearly as cold as some of the Krowd around the world but enough to keep the K under her blanky.

I did wonder how you guys were suffering. So far as the news is concerned, there's no polar vortex north of the US.

It was 58f here in the Pacific North Wet yesterday, today, rain and 50. It's a bloody big continent.