Submitted by: springer_ (V Twin Forum) & http://www.bigboyzcycles.com/

How to Stretch a tank



This is the first in a series of pictures on how to stretch a tank.
We started with a one piece custom tank. Then cut up a piece
of oaktag (folder) to see how it would look and what we wanted
it to look like.

http://www.springer.ws/tank1.jpg



Then we took a piece of sheet metal and marked it with a
sharpie so we could judge how it was bending. We then
cut the piece out that would wrap around the front of the
seat. Next we tack welded it onto the top of the gas tank
as we bent it around the sides

http://www.springer.ws/tank2.jpg

Underside view after tacking
http://www.springer.ws/tank3.jpg


Here you can see the center alignment and the tank inside
http://www.springer.ws/tank4.jpg


We then removed the tank, flipped it over and marked it to cut off
the excess sheet metal.
http://www.springer.ws/tank5.jpg


After trimming the excess sheet metal I cut pieces to fill in the bottom and tacked them in place.
http://www.springer.ws/tank6.jpg


Once the bottom was made, I cut 2 pieces of sheet metal to form the new end of the tank
http://www.springer.ws/tank7.jpg


The tank came back from graphics and pinstriping. It doesn't have a clearcoat on it yet, that is why it looks dull in some of the pictures. The graphics and pinstriping were arranged by the owner of the bike. The bodywork, paint work and clearcoat was done by a local guy used by Big Boyz Cycles. Bean and myself did the metal fabrication (shown above) and I did all the welding (also shown above).
http://www.springer.ws/tank8.jpg

http://www.springer.ws/tank9.jpg

http://www.springer.ws/tank10.jpg

http://www.springer.ws/tank11.jpg

http://www.springer.ws/tank12.jpg

Finished tank on the bike...
http://www.springer.ws/tank13.jpg

http://www.springer.ws/tank14.jpg

http://www.springer.ws/tank15.jpg

http://www.springer.ws/tank16.jpg