ROYAL ENFIELD CRUSADER UPDATE

[xbally]

I think I've now cured the petrol leak to the tank cap with the new gasket from Hitchcock's (see earlier highjacked thread)but....I now appear to have a slight fuel weep-it's more than misting at the flange which seems to be welded on to the tank for the filler? There seems to be some sort of sealant in the flange which may have been broken down by the fuel? I rang Hitchcock's and spoke to one of their technical enquiry staff who suggested chemical metal?

[xbally]

Ooops maybe I should have posted this in the bike problems or projects headings..

[themoudie]

Aye xbally,

This is becoming a saga!  :'(

No petrol resistant lacquer on a tank paint job, leaking petrol cap seal and now a naff weld, with "monkey metal" to seal the pin holes. Someones gonads need a pair of Mole grips applied! 

I suspect reparations are not easily come by? 

So, in IMHO, remove tank, petrol taps and other fittings, purge, get the neck welded up by a reputable welder and a new two pack paint job, finished off with at least two coats of fuel resistant lacquer. The alternative is a streaky tank, with the potential to ignite! 

Sorry to be the pooper to the party.

Good health, Bill

[xbally]

Thanks for your honest advice Bill.

I'm sure you're right-if a jobs worth doing and all that!

No not what I wanted to hear but grateful to you nevertheless.

I'm pretty sure I want to keep this bike in the longer term but it does make you wonder what else may have been bodged. Superficially it looks great but if you look closer at the cosmetics at least some corners may have been cut.

As I'm still running in and a tune up may be needed it's hard to see what the performance is likely to be. I'm not expecting much from a 250 50's design but it's quite nice to run at a slower pace around the lanes. At the moment when I venture occasionally on an "A" roads I do feel like I'm holding up the charging head of traffic behind me though. Top speed is currently  limited to 40-50 mph on the very overly optimistic clock which like the forks, wheels and brakes / tyres have been lifted from an Indian Bullet which isn't a bad thing as the front brake's a 2LS affair and the rear works well if used in conjunction with the front . It's also got 12 volt electrics , indicators and light alloy or chromed (not sure which)quite sporty for the time mudguards not the full valanced ones that were common at the time.

I suppose I could investigate sourcing another tank in the emantime. Hitchcock's seem to have most things...at a price.