[GreenHill]

Could anyone give some info on late 50's Triumph tanks. My 55 T110 needs a tank and I don't know if they are all the same from like 55-59 6t/ Bonny.... I want the large 4gal tank with correct styling bands. If I get a 58 or 59 tank witch had the milk crate looking badges will the styling bands fit? My t110 had the smooth top, no rib down center, small 3gal witch I stored away for now. I want the larger 4gal tank.

Thanks

 

[whittiger650]

The 1956 and earlier styling strips and badge set up won't readily bolt up to a 1957 and later tank with the larger badges. I imagine you could fab something up though to make it work if you really wanted to.

 

[M.O.Ther]

Looking in the '55, '56, and '57 factory parts books, there are 9 different part numbers for petrol tanks. Only the '57 tells how many gallons and there are only 2 part numbers for '57.

I know from experience that the '55-'56 styling bands (there are two sizes) and nameplates won't work on the '57 and later tanks set up for the garden gate/mouth organ/milk crate badges.

I bought a really early '57 TR6, like 30 bikes into the '57 model year. The tank had been bondo-ed smooth. I spent some good bucks on a nice set of '57 up emblems and bands, then when I cleaned the bondo off the tank found out they wouldn't work. Turns out my bike is more '56 than '57, as happens at the beginning and end of model years sometimes.

 

[stik]

Here's a couple scans from my factory literature. The first is '54 or '55 and the second, '57
Kev

 

[Lurkingclass]

The 1955 T110 for the US market would have had the 3-gallon 'sport tank' out of the factory. The UK/Home models would have had the 4-gallon tank.

These guys are right- the trim will not interchange between 3 and 4 gallon tanks on any of the pre-unit tanks and the '57 and later badges won't interchange between the different sizes of tanks, but the earlier Triumph script badges will interchange. Here's my 1955 T110 when it had the stock 3-gallon tank on it without trim or badges.

Does your T110 have the piecrust front hub or the smooth one?

 

[La Dolce]

Nice work stik. I was thinking Lurkingclass would be a good one to field this question. And boom! here he is. I love it how the guys come together on here.

 

[BobAsh]

The piecrust front hub is 1954 only if I'm not mistaken.

 

[GreenHill]

Thanks for the info guys.

Lurkingclass my t110 has the smooth. Also yes that sport tank on yours is the same I got with my bike. I just like the look of the large 6t tank. Was not sure if 4gal tanks were the same throught the later 50's just badges changing keeping same mounting holes. Guess not.

 

[Lurkingclass]

Haha Dolce, that was just luck- I don't get on here too much any more, but good to see you're still on here man.

The piecrust front hub is 1954 only if I'm not mistaken.

That's what I thought too- and that's what all the books said, but I've seen 3 very original early '55 T110s that also had the piecrust hub. One of them was the bike made directly after mine- just one number off and it was 100% original down to the grips and tires. Triumph was known for their mid-year changes and I believe the piecrust hubs were swapped out midyear since the spoke tabs were prone to breakage. There was also a modification to reinforce the frame at the rear brake pivot lug, so the '55 and later rear section will have that lug mounted on a plate welded to the tube, and the early swingarm bikes don't have that plate.

 

[Dave Swanson]

There was also a modification to reinforce the frame at the rear brake pivot lug, so the '55 and later rear section will have that lug mounted on a plate welded to the tube, and the early swingarm bikes don't have that plate.

Interesting bit of info! You had me in the basement looking at my frame!

I too prefer the lines of the 4 gallon tank, but my 55 T110 has a very nice sport tank and I think I will stay with it. Very pricey to change and it is what the bike came with.

 

[GreenHill]

I got this large pre unit tank from a friend. Is there any way to tell what year badges I need for this tank. I think its later 50's tank with the garden gate badges but is there a way to know for sure? It has a little tab welded inside the seat tunnel, like you would see for a ground hook-up or something?? If that helps place the year.

http://s1136.photobucket.com/albums/n493/greenhill78/triumph%20tank/

 

[38speedtwin]

That's not the big tank, that's the small 1957-59 one. The tab in the seat tunnel is to hold down the chrome styling strip that covers the seam.

The good news is that 1957-59 one is a desirable tank, and the one you want, the 1952-1956 big tank, is the most common of the pre-unit tanks. You shouldn't have a problem selling that one, and buying the one you want.

I believe that I have one of the 1952-1956 tanks that I could swap you even up for that one, but you would probably be money ahead by selling that one, and then waiting for the tank you want to show up on ebay.

-Shaggy

 

[BobAsh]

That's what I thought too- and that's what all the books said, but I've seen 3 very original early '55 T110s that also had the piecrust hub. One of them was the bike made directly after mine- just one number off and it was 100% original down to the grips and tires. Triumph was known for their mid-year changes and I believe the piecrust hubs were swapped out midyear since the spoke tabs were prone to breakage. There was also a modification to reinforce the frame at the rear brake pivot lug, so the '55 and later rear section will have that lug mounted on a plate welded to the tube, and the early swingarm bikes don't have that plate.

Interesting info, thanks!

It does make sense based on other stuff I know about the Triumph factory; how they would use stuff up before changing etc.