HI again, time to resurrect this.
Got that chain off. And you all were right, the chain breaker I bought is useless. But managed to bust off the master link without it.
The main delay was waiting for Dax, who had a massive brain fart when he packed my kit and forgot the wider pedal crank it was suppose to come with. Since just about everything I read starts with that part, I got into other projects.
Well it's here, I have since landed a good strong bike stand, got proper cleaning stuff, got years of gunk off, got the old motor off, now….
Kinda need a quick reply to this next part. The gas tank. I have a manhattan flyer 6 bike. I'll upload an old picture. Or just google it.
So… that upper bar, sort of a faux gas tank. LOOKS like inside might be a regular bike tube, with one below it, that has metal sheet welded over to make the flat sides. Just guessing here. I tried calling the company and left a voice mail. (companies never answer the phone anymore.)
Anyway, mounting the gas tank has always been a night mare. The guy I bought this from has the mounting brackets sort of rigged so they screw directly onto the top of the bar in the center of each bracket. Well that flat out does not last long at all. The extra hole in those tin little brackets just weakens it more than they already are. Not designed to be screwed on like that. They immediately start to fail, the tank wobbles and eventually either the mounts poke holes into the tank or it simply falls off.
Tank 2, I tried mounting with rubber between the tank and bike to absorb some of the wobble. Lasted longer but eventually still failed.
Tank 3. I found a place that custom makes screws and such, had some LONG threaded screws made so I could clamp below the whole fat top bar like it should be. Yea well… because of the V shape of that whole top bar, I barely made it a mile down the road when the whole tank, brackets and all slid back, the brackets fell apart, one part flew off into a ditch never to be found again. Tape, which I keep in my handy tool bag (not pictured, right behind the seat.) kept my tank in place till I could get home.
Tried again only this time ran a plastic strap from the front of the tank around the post where the handle bars go to keep it from sliding back. Ungly as all get out but it held longer than the rest. However, the tank still wobbles and it's just a matter of time before it fails just like the rest.
So…. with my new motor came a brand new tank. THIS time… my thinking is, my mechanic who is right across the street has the tools to cut metal. I'm going to ask him to literally cut right through that top bar so I can slide the mounting brackets on like they should be.
BUT…. I have no way to know if the inside of this bike is in fact two tubes like any typical mens cruiser bike, or if this is just one hoaky flat piece. If it's a round tube inside, this idea should be fine. But if it's just a big flat piece, I fear A. it will weaken the bike itself and B. it would mean the bracket instead of wrapping around a round tube inside, would only be wrapping around two flat, unknown thicknesses of sheet metal.
Anyone have a clue what's inside this faux gas tank thing? OR maybe a better idea on mounting the tank?
And before you all suggest it, I do not want a behind the seat or any other type of tank. I like the motorcycle look of that teardrop tank right where it is.
I'm going to the mechanic with this tomorrow….. any input?
thanks.