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I am just doing the final few jobs prior to starting the engine. I decided to rinse out the fuel tank with plain water and I was surprised how heavy it was when full. I am beginning to wonder about the strength of the supports straps that is the normal way of mounting. Instead I am thinking of getting four small plates welded to the top of the tank so it can hang directly from the crossways chassis members. I'll put a picture on my web site tonight.
Can anyone think of any problems about this? - its just that it seems simpler and stronger and I am surprised Marlin doesn't do it this way so perhaps there is a snag I haven't thought of?
I'm no mechanical engineer, but wouldn't welded on rigid plates be liable to craking, through vibration?
I would think the marlin supplied galvonised steal strips are strong enough or one of us would have heard of this issue?
If you need to make some more, you can get galvonised steel sheet from B&Q and you can cut it with a DIY jigsaw with a metal cutting blade without too much sweat and tears.
Maybe others better qualified than me, could comment?
wouldn't welded on rigid plates be liable to cracking, through vibration?
Good point. I had a feeling there was some flaw in my idea.
Looks like trip to B&Q then to get some more galvanized steel. I cant use the straps Marlin supplied because I moved the tank up to give the exhaust maximum clearance. I had made some straps from ali but I think these definitely wont be up to it.
I think that thicker straps is the way to go.
Also the straps need to be lined with rubber or fibre 'cause the straps could rub through the tank or vibrate.
I used to work on trucks and the tank straps could rub through the tank if the rubber was missing.
The straps are lined with rubber, those pics were still in the test fitting stage without rubber. Those straps are much stronger than you would think looking at them as the steel is a lot thicker than the standard Marlin ones.
