Britbike forum Forums British Motorcycle specific Brands Norton bulletin board long range tank

g/day i have just purchased an 850 project with a long range tank it does not seem to fit the frame properly it seems to sit too close to the head stock were the long range frame different ???

No, mine fits fine on a standard frame, the frame mounts have large holes so you can loosen the nuts on the 2 front tank studs and pull the tank back. If that's not enough then then the frame mount brackets may need surgery, positioning was a bit hit and miss.

I've never laid eyes on the genuine (LR) article - but they were only fitted to 750cc models (as new).

Do you think you have a genuine tank, or a copy of a copy ?
It is steel ?
They should, in theory, be a slimline upper with a Commando lower (fuel tank parts).


https://ogden_images.s3.amazonaws.c...images/2017/06/11084549/Norton-1-jpg.jpg


https://owensmotorcycles.co.uk/images/spares/large/tanks/norton/Commando-Long-Range-Interpol/4.jpg

Its gittin harder and harder to make images display ...

Do you actually mean the Interstate model (below) tank and not long range 750 'LR' model tank?
Assuming it is steel and not fibreglass is it a genuine tank or one of the 'Made in India' reproductions?

[Linked Image]

Ah, the Interstate tank is a different kettle of fish, entirely.

I've got a NOS sample of one, its one of about half a dozen different versions that appeared.
Twin pinstripes signify an 850 version - the 750s had a single (wider) pinstripe.

Pic, selected at random.

Interstate mufflers would be lower and flatter...

There are several different versions of fork yokes.
Some may or may not work with various tanks.
It would be best if you had ones for the disk brake, and then work from there.

There are several different versions of fork yokes.

For an 850 which is a 2B rolling chassis - exactly 2 TT sets... regular 850 and MKIII ....only by mix and mismatch other parts should offend a tank

well looking at L.A.Bs. photo it seems it is an Interstate tank also it is a f/glass one of very good quality , I will try again tomorrow

Fibreglass is very likely to be genuine but almost certainly a 750 Interstate tank.

http://www.classicbike.biz/Norton/Brochures/1970/72NortonBrochure.pdf

You better seal the tank first!!!

Well it looks like 750 f/g tank as it has only 1 stripe around it and a 850 frame and engine ,i thank you all for that info
baz

Yes Rohan, from memory the interstate pipes had a double set in them so that the mufflers were nearly horizontal, in order to provide room for fitting panniers.

Long Range Fastback.

Thanks Les.

Interesting stuff.
Wonder who in Nortons (?) dreamed that up.
Good to see old threads never die ..
Cheers.

That might depend on which came first, the Interpol (with no radio cut out in the tank top which might have been with and without) or the LR Fastback in the first half of the 1971 year.

My brother was a MOT rider from around 1973 onward and still remember the cop issue Commando, breadbox tank Triumph 650 and later 750/4 he rode. (but do not recall the Commando having a different tank to stock)

Maybe the LR tank was an idea from the Interpol. (or not)

My Interpol tanks with Radio cutouts have exactly the same Atlas top and the bottom made from lots of pieces of steel welded together.

https://www.nortonownersclub.org/models/Commando/norton-models-commando-interpol


As the Interpol predates the LR then the Interpol must have been the inspiration. Tanks were made by A. J. Homer and Sons, Stirling Road, Shirley, Solihull.

Thanks K.
Do we know if they only made Interpol tanks, or did they do other tanks for Norton ?

https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/A._J._Homer_and_Sons

Now Stirling Rd looks to have changed very little over the past century, and is quite short, do we know which building they were ?
Or what happened to them ?

A J Homer made tanks for all the majors including alloy tanks. No more info than that other than a rumour they were pissed off with Norton at all the effort doing the Interpol tank and not to get the other tanks after the change to steel from fibreglass mandated in 72.

No doubt the penny pinchers in the accounts dept had something to do with that. ?
Wonder where they did go to get them done then