Steel Interstate Tank

blipJC · Mar 14, 2016

Today I bought a steel interstate tank from India.

I have the original fibreglass tank that I am going to restore and line with "Red Cote" and repaint to the original colour. I will get the steel tank pressure tested and welded if needed and also line the inside and paint as original. I will keep this post updated with the results of the tank when I receive it. I will take a lot of photos of the tank and how it fits and any modifications that I need to make and hope that it will help others in the future if they are thinking of getting a steel tank from india.

I thought I will get this tank now and if it is good quality and fits good it is better to use as a daily rider then the original fibreglass tank.

ausnorton · Mar 14, 2016

I'd be interested at that price $200 US delivered .
Big thanks if you post photos and keep us updated .

Torontonian · Mar 14, 2016

That's really cheap , I hope there are no leaks to deal with and that the shaping is good. Looks like it could be a great deal , keep the fingers crossed on a safe undamaged delivery.

zefer · Mar 15, 2016

If it's too good to be true...... Then it's too good to be true !! Good luck with your eastern tank endevor,my personal experience is not great with the India stuff...even keeping the dirt cheap price in perspective and not expecting much,I was still speechless.... If you intend to rebuild it,good luck with that too.I am of the belief that you get what you pay for,and with this hobby....to do it proper you have pay for what you get,see my time seems to be much more valuable than the money I've invested in my machines.I would like to buy any particular part of accessory for my bike once,install,dial in and enjoy the hell out of using it as it should be used.I am actually looking for steel interstate side covers to replace my glass ones and the India dude has repros of them too... Cheap too... But I've been told to stay the fk away.... By someone who I trust without hesitation who's very well respected in the norton community...so I feel your pain.Keep us posted and good luck

blipJC · Mar 16, 2016

I am not expecting a show quality tank from india and will probably have some modifications to make on the tank for a proper fit. I think it will be a good starting point for a tank that is not readily reproduced and no one wants to part with their original steel one (that i will probably have to restore) or pay someone to make it from scratch and not cost a fortune. The bike is a daily rider and not a show bike so I am not worried at all as long as the basic shape is correct and steel is good am fine with $200 and the time I have to put in to make it work as I still have the fibreglass one in use now and not in a rush to get it done. I believe there is a post about the steel side covers from the same seller and the purchaser was very happy with the quality and fitment. If the tank works out will be getting steel side covers as well.

ILLF8ED · Mar 16, 2016

blipJC said:
Today I bought a steel interstate tank from India.

I have the original fibreglass tank that I am going to restore and line with "Red Cote" and repaint to the original colour. I will get the steel tank pressure tested and welded if needed and also line the inside and paint as original. I will keep this post updated with the results of the tank when I receive it. I will take a lot of photos of the tank and how it fits and any modifications that I need to make and hope that it will help others in the future if they are thinking of getting a steel tank from india.

Hopefully you won't have any E10/E15 fuel damage to your fiberglass tank after you coat and paint it. It would be a shame to spend the money then have it fail. So far have not heard of any coating that works indefinitely. For several years I tried to keep my fiberglass original roadster tank, but finally had to give in to a steel tank. Symptoms of failure are blisters in the finish.

mschmitz57 · Mar 27, 2016

So I'm curious. What was the outcome on this $200 India Interstate tank?
Did you get it? How's it look.

blipJC · Mar 29, 2016

Have not received it yet. Tracking No. states its arrived in destination country and is in transit. I will update you as soon as I receive it.

fats · Apr 12, 2016

I bought a steel interstate tank from india from parts paradise,well made fitted perfect threads good only thing I did was hand file the tank to get good finish for paint.would deal with parts paradise again if I had too.

blipJC · Apr 13, 2016

I just received the steel tank today. fitment is perfect, metal is clean and strong, threads are good as well. I will take some pics this week and post them this weekend. I did a few measurements of the steel tank and and it seems that the flat top centre area is about an 1/2 inch smaller on the steel one. The sides are the same except the lower beveled edge is 1/2 inch larger then the fibreglass one. and there is a different look to the tank over the side covers as it is beveled and angled a little different. I have never seen an original steel tank vs a original fibreglass one so I dint know if there is a difference between the two. I will also get the new tank pressure tested this or next week. So far I am very impressed with it for the price. and would recommend the tank to anyone that is looking for a replacement. It may not be the best for a show quality bike but I don't think it would take much modifications to make it perfect. I will keep you updates as I get it ready.

Rohan · Apr 13, 2016

blipJC said:
I will also get the new tank pressure tested this or next week.

Be very gentle with this process.

One of the tank vendors posted here a while back that this was done at something like 100 psi (!!!),
and then amended it to 1 or 2 psi, which is more like it.

Various threads on Interstate tanks here have revealed there was quite a variety of them, with a few different gallonages too (if thats a word),
so don't expect them all to appear identical.
Look forward to the pics, especially the underneath one.

blipJC · Apr 16, 2016

Here are a few pics of the tank.

Mark · Apr 16, 2016

It looks good to me. I kinda like the indents over the side covers.

kommando · Apr 16, 2016

The indents look to me to be reflections from the black side panels onto the bare steel tank, look at the photos of the tank bottom when its not on the bike. Compared to other Indian hand beaten tanks you can see the difference to support the claim it is made from tooling. A good basis but still work to be done but who could complain for the price and being leak free.

blipJC · Apr 16, 2016

I have done the pressure test and it is indeed leek free. The sides of the tank over the side cover is not indented but the lower beveled edge is angled more abruptly toward the the centre of the seat then my original fibreglass one. I have looked at a few photos of steel tanks online and it does seem to match some of the ones I have seen just little more noticeable on an unpainted tank. Once I do a little bodywork and prime and paint it will look better. I put the new petcocks, mounting studs rubber washer pads and tunnel rubber pads in (thicker rear pad may be to thick) as well as the original fuel cap on and the fitment was still good. the split pin hole in the cap mount is a little large and makes the cap a little loose and sloppy when It is open but it latches good and is tight when it is closed. The bike is used for a daily rider and not for show so I am very happy with it for the price I have paid.

blipJC · May 8, 2016

In addition to the steel tank, I also purchased steel interstate side covers as well from the same seller. They fit pretty good, the oil tanks side is a little snug and takes some effort to get both bolts in correctly. The batterie side fits very good considering I don't have the correct rubber grommets for the steel covers. The dzus fastner is also in the correct position and fastens perfectly. Now my question is when I have the new covers on with the original glass tank it fits like the stock glass covers, but when I put the new steel tank on there seems to be quite a bit more noticeable gab between the tank and the steel covers then when I had my original glass side covers on with the new steel tank. Can someone with a original steel tank post some pics of their tank and side covers in position so I can see if there is a difference between the steel and glass tanks or just the manufacturing of the one I received. Also was there a difference between the dimensions or design of the tanks from year to year?
Thanks.

kommando · May 9, 2016

The declared capacity of the Interstate tanks did decrease as time went on and steel is thinner than fibre, I do not have the Interstate tank on mine so can only take a pic of the bottom near the side covers but not on the bike. Its a MK2A interstate, ignore the single line, should be dual for an 850. The fibre side covers are quite thick and the steel much thinner and the mounting points did not change so that could be one reason for the bigger gap along with the material change on the tank.

Until I take a pic here is one from the CAT D thread, MK3 and a gap very similar to yours.

mschmitz57 · May 11, 2016

Wow. Nice tank. A real bargain.
When does the paint go on?

MS850 · May 12, 2016

blipJC said:
Here are a few pics of the tank.

Looks pretty nice,
Is this how you got the tank, or did you do any metal work?
Im considering converting my Interstate to a roadster. Ill have to get another seat also.

ausnorton · May 12, 2016

I've ordered one of these tanks , so will see how the constant the quality is .
I 'm putting the tank on my roadster so not sure how everything will line up .
Will report back when I get it .
Cheers

Steel Interstate Tank

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