Buc, before you drill and mount the brass pieces, first check on the motor that the tank will be positioned properly , clearing the flywheel and looking nice and even all around
Joe B
Joe, I kind of did that the other day, with the old and new bottom panel,
setting the bronze mounting piece, atop the three bolts on the back of the crankcase,
along with the bottom piece. It appeared that the original tank was just
a hair out of square with the cylinder.
I ate some brain food (taco’s) and went back out and worked on the tank
some more.
Joe, Is this what you were talking about with how I did the “tabs” and “S” joints
to connect the side panels together?
The side panels are seated into the bottom panel, but not crimped in tight yet.
Guess there will be no way to “crimp in” the top panel after the bottom is on,
but recon solder will keep it from going any place.
At this point forward, I’m wondering about the remaining sequence of events.
Q. Do I rivet the bronze castings to the bottom panel before I attach the side
panels?
Q. Do I “tin” the bottom of the castings with solder before I rivet them on?
Q. Do I install the top and bottom panels to the sides then solder everything
at once, or do the bottom panel “inside and outside” first to make sure
none of the joints leak, then do the top panel last?
I’m a little concerned that if I solder the bottom first, if may be harder or
impossible to get the top panel inserted. Thoughts?
I think my brass threaded gas cap ring that’s soldered to the tank top is okay.
I was just thinking that I might want to make a gas cap on the lathe while
the brass threaded ring is still available to test fit the cap while on the lathe.
I noticed from photos that there were two different styles of gas caps
on Caille’s of this era. A “flat top” one, and one with a raised center tab
to grab with your fingers.
Q. Any idea which is correct for my Caille Neptune?
I don’t have a milling machine, so the flat top one would be easier to make!
Also, my tank appeared to have evidence that there was an 1/8″ OD tube
to atmosphere, near the cap, for a vent. Mine is broken off flush with
the top of the tank.
Q. How high did the vent tubes stick up, and did they go straight up, or “curlie cued”?
Tried looking at some archived photos last night, but hard to make out that detail.
Thanks!!
Prepare to be boarded!