Topic: Best replacement tank for my 550

[benjamin550]

Ok, so I have searched, and searched and looked elswhere on the internet and I have asked a similar question here before BUT I now know more specifically what im looking for. Kinda.

I like the shape of my 550f tank, but I like the look of the chrome gas cap. If I replace it with a 550k tank that has the chrome gas cap, the shape changes to the one with the rounded front- which I dont like. I have seen some (750, 400) that keep the more squared off shape, but also use the exposed gas cap. Of the models that use this which would be the best fit for my bike (least amount of cutting and grinding). The other issue is the side the petcock is located on. SO far in the 750's the only year I can find with the left sided petcock is the 74. Is this correct. Thanks in advance.

[Bluegreen]

The 750 tank will look huge! The 400 tank will look awesome, but it needs some masaging with a hammer on the underside to fit well. But it will.

[Kong]

Saturday evening I bought a tank for my build on E-Bay, it was from an older smaller bike than my '77 550.  The tank is the 4th one I've bought in the last month.  The first tank was a nice clean stocker with no dents; but not what I wanted.  The second one was also a stocker though no initially in great condition, but I did knee dents in it, fixed its other problems, and it looks great; but once we put it on the bike it wasn't what I wanted.  So next came a tank from and old CX, this is the black one I suck in the Tips and Tricks section last week when I blew some dents out of it.  We stick this one on the bike Saturday after the dents were removed.  Its a look a lot of guys might like, and I do too to a great degree; but once it was on there and I got to see exactly how it would look, well you know, it is not what I wanted.  Like I said, I bought another tank saturday - we'll see if its what I want.  If its not you know what's going to happen, I'm gonna buy me something else and try it.

Hope that makes you feel better - you are not alone.

[benjamin550]

Kong-

Exactly. originally I just thought I would buy a 550 version with the chrome cap, bu then I dont like the look of the rounded front. Its all in the details. Are you buying tanks that have the petcock on the same side as the 550? I would imagine this is important. Got any of those tanks lying around still? Pics?

BG- you dont think the 400 would look too small?

[Bluegreen]

Kong-

Exactly. originally I just thought I would buy a 550 version with the chrome cap, bu then I dont like the look of the rounded front. Its all in the details. Are you buying tanks that have the petcock on the same side as the 550? I would imagine this is important. Got any of those tanks lying around still? Pics?

BG- you dont think the 400 would look too small?

I liked it. It was the same length as my stock tank, just as tall, bottom line was perfect, a little skinier though I think. I wish I had a better pick but I liked it. If I hadn't found the Rickman it would be on my bike still.

[Tintop]

I used a 76 750F tank on my 550 build.  Not a simple drop-on though.  It required the steering stops, and front pins both be modified, and a new rear mount fabricated.  Because of the length the stock seat will not fit any more as well.  The 400 SS/F tank would give a similar look, with a lot less work.

[Kong]

My plan, with the tanks I've been trying out, has been to place the tank where it clears the steering and then when its where I want it to just relocate the standard Honda mounts to accommodate my desired mounting spot.  I expect to have to cut off the pins that currently emerge from the frame as well as cut the rear mount off.  Then I will replace the pins (with bolts of the necessary length welded to the frame in the appropriate places) and relocate the rear mounting tab as necessary.  I just love Honda's mounting system, that's why all of the tanks I've been looking at are Honda.  The most recent one I've bought (there are damned few around here to look at in person) is from a late 70's CB200, with the pad running down the middle - very square and boxy looking, something that should compliment the engine shape nicely to my mind's eye.   We'll see. 

Right now I've got a dummy seat-pan mockup made and part of it (its nose) will eventually be cut off to become the foundation for the rear tank mount; just cut it off where ever the length of the new tank dictates, weld it down, weld the stock mount to it and I'm done. 

The reason I mention what I intend to do is just to note that once you get it in your head that you're going to have to make new mounts anyway, and realize how easy that is going to be to do, it really opens up the world of tanks you can be taking into consideration.  As for the petcock, I really don't care where its located as long as its on a side and not the middle.  Tubing is cheap and the flow rate is so slow that you will never starve the carbs for gas because you added a few inches to the length to reach the other side of the bike.

[Tintop]

One thing to watch for with petcock position is interference with the carbs.  I forgot about that, and got lucky when it ended up between the #1 carb and the engine.   Do agree though that it doesn't matter which side.

[Bluegreen]

My plan, with the tanks I've been trying out, has been to place the tank where it clears the steering and then when its where I want it to just relocate the standard Honda mounts to accommodate my desired mounting spot.  I expect to have to cut off the pins that currently emerge from the frame as well as cut the rear mount off.  Then I will replace the pins (with bolts of the necessary length welded to the frame in the appropriate places) and relocate the rear mounting tab as necessary.  I just love Honda's mounting system, that's why all of the tanks I've been looking at are Honda.  The most recent one I've bought (there are damned few around here to look at in person) is from a late 70's CB200, with the pad running down the middle - very square and boxy looking, something that should compliment the engine shape nicely to my mind's eye.   We'll see. 

Right now I've got a dummy seat-pan mockup made and part of it (its nose) will eventually be cut off to become the foundation for the rear tank mount; just cut it off where ever the length of the new tank dictates, weld it down, weld the stock mount to it and I'm done. 

The reason I mention what I intend to do is just to note that once you get it in your head that you're going to have to make new mounts anyway, and realize how easy that is going to be to do, it really opens up the world of tanks you can be taking into consideration.  As for the petcock, I really don't care where its located as long as its on a side and not the middle.  Tubing is cheap and the flow rate is so slow that you will never starve the carbs for gas because you added a few inches to the length to reach the other side of the bike.

There's a guy running around town here with a 550 that has that cb200 tank with the pad down the middle. It looks badass!

[73hutch]

i was going though the same dilemma a while back. i tried 350 twins, 360 twins, cl350, and 750 tanks. i settled on a CL125 tank. the petcock clears the carbs (and is on the left side). it was really easy to mount. i cut off the front posts, drilled new holes, got some round stock. it actually stayed in place without being welded. i cut down the 2 "donuts" to about half size. for the rear mount i just tacked a nut into the frame and bolted the tank down.