phew thats done without a hitch

[macafee2]

Just changed the fuel tank strap on my saloon.
I did find it stressful, wondering if I had supported the fuel tank enough or to much. Hurrying to remove old strap from the handbrake cables and then get the new one is position.

All went well but the strap really is a flimsy bit of metal. Been wanting to do this job for a year or more not knowing what condition the existing strap was in.

Perhaps a new one, all though I think is expensive, is worth the investment.

macafee2

[clf]

Originally Posted by macafee2

Just changed the fuel tank strap on my saloon.
I did find it stressful, wondering if I had supported the fuel tank enough or to much. Hurrying to remove old strap from the handbrake cables and then get the new one is position.

All went well but the strap really is a flimsy bit of metal. Been wanting to do this job for a year or more not knowing what condition the existing strap was in.

Perhaps a new one, all though I think is expensive, is worth the investment.

macafee2

I thought the same as yourself regarding how flimsy these things are, my tank though seemed to be well supported without the strap so maybe flimsy is 'enough' (Of course it is the fittings from the filler hose and under the seat that do this, and are not for this purpose!)

Just make sure it is well painted, and stonechipped and it should be fine. I gave mine a good few coats of a hammerite type paint (made by Akzo Nobel) and then covered in Dinitrol after fitting.

[macafee2]

painted with por 15 so I hope it will be ok but I may invest in a new one.

macafee2

[T16]

The new straps are pathetic.

Made in India, and the welds are seriously rubbish, and the paint finish just flakes off.

I had mine welded up properly, zinc primed, and finished in 2-pack black.

Its a bit of a shocker that new parts are such low quality. Xpart if you are reading this, please at least get a grip on quality control.

No-one minds paying a little extra for proper re-manufacturing, and with all the Black Country engineering shops which were utilised for a lot of the original bits, it shouldn't be very hard to keep production to the UK. Maybe there are rights issues with SAIC for component re-manufacture, who knows.

[clf]

Originally Posted by T16

The new straps are pathetic.

Made in India, and the welds are seriously rubbish, and the paint finish just flakes off.

I had mine welded up properly, zinc primed, and finished in 2-pack black.

Its a bit of a shocker that new parts are such low quality. Xpart if you are reading this, please at least get a grip on quality control.

No-one minds paying a little extra for proper re-manufacturing, and with all the Black Country engineering shops which were utilised for a lot of the original bits, it shouldn't be very hard to keep production to the UK. Maybe there are rights issues with SAIC for component re-manufacture, who knows.

why bother with the welding? It is not as though it takes much weight (handbrake cables and their clip dont weight that much). Did it break when you blasted the old paint off?

[T16]

Originally Posted by clf

why bother with the welding? It is not as though it takes much weight (handbrake cables and their clip dont weight that much). Did it break when you blasted the old paint off?

You are joking?

It takes the weight of the fuel tank.

The welding is so fragile that you simply could snap them off with a small hand movement. I know because I saw someone do it right in front of me. The original one was an order of magnitude better made.

[bl52krz]

Dont think there would be any copyright hurdles. Rover has been dead for 15 years.

[roverbarmy]

I saw something like THIS used as a tank strap on a light commercial. Wouldn't take a lot of fettling?

[trikey]

Originally Posted by Ched

Good grief, that is disgusting.

Looks like a happy Edsel!