rear tank install

Why isn"t the strap tight on tank when tightened. Rubber or foam Padding?

 

difference between metal tank and poly tank ?
shouldn't have to "pad" it

 

The tank can move up and down about 1 Inch

 

Dunno if they deleted it after '75, but the metal intermediate tanks had a pad (cork? foam?) about 1.5" thick between the skid plate and the tank. That would make up the difference.

 

76 and later didn't use the pad
they learned from their earlier mistake
you could do that; polytank = no rust

 

that would make the difference. where can I get that or what could I use I have thick 1/2" rubber?

 

You can get a closed-cell sleeping pad at a camping store; not cheap though http://www.rei.com/product/302.htm?vcat=REI_SSHP_CAMPING_TOC
Closed cell pipe insulation would also work, the same as some use for roll bar padding.

 

Think about using something that the gas won't eat. Not sure how long foam stuff would last once it got in contact with a little gasoline.

 

I have one of those closed cell pads from camping days. I'll let that and the rubber soak in gas overnite and then decide.

 

Re the camping pads, the blue ones are plastic (polypropylene? if polypropylene, they will withstand gas), but the cream colored ones (Ensolite) are natural rubber and might melt in gasoline. I think the black pipe insulation is (was?) neoprene, that'd be ok too.

 

I'm testing the blue one

 

After soaking all night the blue camping pad still looks good. now i'll let it sit out and see how it dries

 

After leting the foam dry for 24 hours it still smelled like gas and burned about twice as fast as non-soaked foam so i'm a little leary of using it. I think I'm going to shorten the strip and go with plastic tank on steel. nothing to hold gas residue.

 

Just wondering if you need to worry about static electricity with plastic on steel or am I way off base here?