I have a Series C Rapide tank which is leaking badly and am wondering about buying an Indian made tank - are they well enough made to give a go?
I have fitted two Indian made tanks.
The first was on a friends bike after he had an accident. The new tank fitted the bike straight out of the box apart from we had to adjust the angle of the timing side fuel tap threaded boss slightly as the tap was initially hitting the rocker oil pipe. The problem with this tank was the general upper shape was wrong and the top was lower and when measured it was nearly 1/3 gallon less in size to a factory tank.
The 2nd was a tank we fitted was to a Comet and the upper shape was spot on and the tank held the correct amount of fuel but I don't know where this tank came from exactly as it just came with the bike and the owner said it was Indian sourced. The problem was the underside was lower in the area where the bolt goes through the rear of the UFM and F106. The nuts on the end of this bolt/stud were hitting the underside of the tank and on an original tank the nuts are just below the underside and so some quite serious cutting adjusting and welding of that area was needed. I don't know if the tank would have fitted a 1000cc twin though.
If buying an Indian made tank, get one unpainted and be prepared to have to work on it.
Simon