diy's d.i.y. fuel tank

diyRdie · 12-10-2019, 08:39 PM

Well, as some of you may remember. I have a 2017 magician.
ORIGINALLY POSTED HERE
The biggest problem on this bike was the fuel tank.it would develop leaks at the seam that joins the 2 halves. I tried patching it with glues and putty's. I bronze braised the whole seam. I even paid $50for an epoxy tank sealer. Not to mention. All the time spent on the problem. Q9 wasn't helping me at all of course. Txpowersoprts wanted like $90. I don't bleeping think so. I dont think all magicians have junk tanks. My best friend has a magician we ordered from same place on same day and they were delivered 2 days apart with vin numbers only 8 numbers off! Anyhow his tank is fine.
So I had built this fuel tank to get me through....

It got me through the last few months but a better solution was needed. So I started looking around to see what I could find to use. I am lucky to live near miles and miles of 4x4 trails to ride and at one certain point some human scum has began to use it as they're personal dump. Low and behold I found this.....

After two weeks of not much mental planning this is what happend..

Cut handles and valve off, put bolt through valve hole and weld shut. Take big hammer and negotiate into shape that resembles a fuel tank...

Drill hole for a brass hose barb and aluminum braise it in.

Find an old fuel tank to be a donor for a filler and cap..

Get it..

Braise it to new tank

Weld a mount on the front to use stock bolt hole and weld tab on top back end to hold the tie down straps..

Braise in threaded things for fuel level sight...

Grind paint off. (Should have done this first) and make everything smooth..

Spend a day and a half painting

Cut an old mower tire down to be a pad under the tank..

A few of them things..

And boom!

It holds almost 3gal and the stock magician tank only holds 1.8 I think.

Well thanks for checking it out. This was a fun build, but now I need to find another project...

culcune · 12-10-2019, 10:10 PM

That's just wrong...you should be celebrating with a Pacifico or Modello, not a Tecate. At least not a Tecate from a can; out of the bottle they are MUCH better!! With a slice of lime...

Okay, joking aside, you have one of the GREATEST Chinabikes I have ever seen! It is awesome that you shunned traditional and made it your own. Broken gas tank...NO problem!! Fix it with a recycled helium can!! You actually give me hope to bring back my long dead TMEC endure. I sold off the wheels a long time ago, so the carcass has been rotting in the AZ sun, but if my son's karate teacher doesn't take it away for the engine to re-power his Baja branded buggy (remember those from Pep Boys?), or I don't donate it to the local live steamers group to be used in some sort of hot-rodded scale model riding train, I might look the bike over and see if I can get it back on the road. Thanks for the influence

and with the money you saved on the tank, please go get a good Mexican beer, or at least Tecate in a bottle...

Essayons · 12-11-2019, 01:53 AM

Next post will be Tecate spare fuel can!

Essayons · 12-11-2019, 01:55 AM

That's true fabrication out of necessity. I love it.

diyRdie · 12-11-2019, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Essayons

Next post will be Tecate spare fuel can!

Actually it's capt'n Morgan spare fuel bottle. And I already did that.. lol

**JerryHawk250** · 12-11-2019, 07:39 AM

Find damn job if I say so myself. Blends right in with the theme of the bike. I like the very accurate fuel gauge. no guess work on knowing how much fuel you have.

bogieboy · 12-11-2019, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by culcune

That's just wrong...you should be celebrating with a Pacifico or Modello, not a Tecate. At least not a Tecate from a can; out of the bottle they are MUCH better!! With a slice of lime...

Okay, joking aside, you have one of the GREATEST Chinabikes I have ever seen! It is awesome that you shunned traditional and made it your own. Broken gas tank...NO problem!! Fix it with a recycled helium can!! You actually give me hope to bring back my long dead TMEC endure. I sold off the wheels a long time ago, so the carcass has been rotting in the AZ sun, but if my son's karate teacher doesn't take it away for the engine to re-power his Baja branded buggy (remember those from Pep Boys?), or I don't donate it to the local live steamers group to be used in some sort of hot-rodded scale model riding train, I might look the bike over and see if I can get it back on the road. Thanks for the influence

and with the money you saved on the tank, please go get a good Mexican beer, or at least Tecate in a bottle...

i still have the stock set of wheels off my 07 shineray, front and rear disc somewhere in my parents shop out in chicago...

maybe they could ship em your way

Torgo · 12-11-2019, 09:15 AM

That is some damn fine redneck engineering there. The best part of a job well done like this is the process:

Start:
"I really should just drop the $90 for a replacement part."

End: (sliced up fingers/hands, unknown hours of labor)
"Saved myself $90, bitches."

There's a lot of folks on here that will have transportation even after the zombie apocalypse.

ikeus685 · 12-11-2019, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by culcune

That's just wrong...you should be celebrating with a Pacifico or Modello, not a Tecate. At least not a Tecate from a can; out of the bottle they are MUCH better!! With a slice of lime...

Okay, joking aside, you have one of the GREATEST Chinabikes I have ever seen! It is awesome that you shunned traditional and made it your own. Broken gas tank...NO problem!! Fix it with a recycled helium can!! You actually give me hope to bring back my long dead TMEC endure. I sold off the wheels a long time ago, so the carcass has been rotting in the AZ sun, but if my son's karate teacher doesn't take it away for the engine to re-power his Baja branded buggy (remember those from Pep Boys?), or I don't donate it to the local live steamers group to be used in some sort of hot-rodded scale model riding train, I might look the bike over and see if I can get it back on the road. Thanks for the influence

and with the money you saved on the tank, please go get a good Mexican beer, or at least Tecate in a bottle...

Agree on the Pacifica or Modelo choice over Tecate.. If I remember right from my youthful travel around.. Tecate is right in the heart of where all the plants for Tequila are grown. Yes! Your great for not following the status Quo!

Weldangrind · 12-11-2019, 11:46 AM

Love your style, DIY!

cbrfxr67 · 12-11-2019, 01:34 PM

"After two weeks of not much mental planning"

I fookin love this bike, like one of my favorites of all time! thanks for sharing your creation and genius 'use what u got' craftsmanship!

culcune · 12-11-2019, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bogieboy

i still have the stock set of wheels off my 07 shineray, front and rear disc somewhere in my parents shop out in chicago...

maybe they could ship em your way

I appreciate the offer, but TMEC used some oddball hub. I had to order a sprocket for European sumos/dirt bikes which fit the TMEC.

bogieboy · 12-12-2019, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by culcune

I appreciate the offer, but TMEC used some oddball hub. I had to order a sprocket for European sumos/dirt bikes which fit the TMEC.

no problem, just thought i would offer...LOL

12-10-2019, 08:39 PM	#1
diyRdie Join Date: May 2019 Location: Rockford, IL Posts: 98	diy's d.i.y. fuel tank Well, as some of you may remember. I have a 2017 magician. ORIGINALLY POSTED HERE The biggest problem on this bike was the fuel tank.it would develop leaks at the seam that joins the 2 halves. I tried patching it with glues and putty's. I bronze braised the whole seam. I even paid $50for an epoxy tank sealer. Not to mention. All the time spent on the problem. Q9 wasn't helping me at all of course. Txpowersoprts wanted like $90. I don't bleeping think so. I dont think all magicians have junk tanks. My best friend has a magician we ordered from same place on same day and they were delivered 2 days apart with vin numbers only 8 numbers off! Anyhow his tank is fine. So I had built this fuel tank to get me through.... It got me through the last few months but a better solution was needed. So I started looking around to see what I could find to use. I am lucky to live near miles and miles of 4x4 trails to ride and at one certain point some human scum has began to use it as they're personal dump. Low and behold I found this..... After two weeks of not much mental planning this is what happend.. Cut handles and valve off, put bolt through valve hole and weld shut. Take big hammer and negotiate into shape that resembles a fuel tank... Drill hole for a brass hose barb and aluminum braise it in. Find an old fuel tank to be a donor for a filler and cap.. Get it.. Braise it to new tank Weld a mount on the front to use stock bolt hole and weld tab on top back end to hold the tie down straps.. Braise in threaded things for fuel level sight... Grind paint off. (Should have done this first) and make everything smooth.. Spend a day and a half painting Cut an old mower tire down to be a pad under the tank.. A few of them things.. And boom! It holds almost 3gal and the stock magician tank only holds 1.8 I think. Well thanks for checking it out. This was a fun build, but now I need to find another project... __________________ Good judgment comes from experience, and often experience comes from bad judgment. MY BIKE'S THREAD
	6

12-10-2019, 10:10 PM	#2
culcune Join Date: May 2006 Location: Yuma, Arizona Posts: 9,035	That's just wrong...you should be celebrating with a Pacifico or Modello, not a Tecate. At least not a Tecate from a can; out of the bottle they are MUCH better!! With a slice of lime... Okay, joking aside, you have one of the GREATEST Chinabikes I have ever seen! It is awesome that you shunned traditional and made it your own. Broken gas tank...NO problem!! Fix it with a recycled helium can!! You actually give me hope to bring back my long dead TMEC endure. I sold off the wheels a long time ago, so the carcass has been rotting in the AZ sun, but if my son's karate teacher doesn't take it away for the engine to re-power his Baja branded buggy (remember those from Pep Boys?), or I don't donate it to the local live steamers group to be used in some sort of hot-rodded scale model riding train, I might look the bike over and see if I can get it back on the road. Thanks for the influence and with the money you saved on the tank, please go get a good Mexican beer, or at least Tecate in a bottle... __________________ "They say that life's a carousel, spinning fast you got to ride it well..." TGB Delivery Scooter 150 TMEC 200 Enduro--carcass is sadly rotting in the backyard
	4

12-11-2019, 01:53 AM	#3
Essayons Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: fontana, california Posts: 333	Next post will be Tecate spare fuel can! __________________ 2018 TT 250 2016 RX3 1979 CB750K
	1

12-11-2019, 01:55 AM	#4
Essayons Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: fontana, california Posts: 333	That's true fabrication out of necessity. I love it. __________________ 2018 TT 250 2016 RX3 1979 CB750K
	1

12-11-2019, 07:39 AM	#6
JerryHawk250 Moderator Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Houma, La. Posts: 11,553	Find damn job if I say so myself. Blends right in with the theme of the bike. I like the very accurate fuel gauge. no guess work on knowing how much fuel you have. __________________ 2023 Lifan Lycan 250 Chopper 2023 Venom Evader 2022 Lifan KPX250 2020 Kawasaki Vulcan S 2004 Honda ST 1300 2016 Black Hawk 250 (sold) Keihin PE30 carb,125 main,38 slow.Pod filter,ported & decked head 10:1 CR,Direct Ignition Coil,15/40Sprockets,NGK DPR8EIX-9,De-Cat,Dual Oil Cooler,Digital Cluster 2016 Cazador180 XL 2014 Coolster150 JerryHawk250.com My YouTube Channel
	3

12-11-2019, 09:15 AM	#8
Torgo Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Texas Posts: 93	That is some damn fine redneck engineering there. The best part of a job well done like this is the process: Start: "I really should just drop the $90 for a replacement part." End: (sliced up fingers/hands, unknown hours of labor) "Saved myself $90, bitches." There's a lot of folks on here that will have transportation even after the zombie apocalypse.
	7

12-11-2019, 11:46 AM	#10
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	Love your style, DIY! __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
	4

12-11-2019, 01:34 PM	#11
cbrfxr67 Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: HOuston Posts: 357	"After two weeks of not much mental planning" I fookin love this bike, like one of my favorites of all time! thanks for sharing your creation and genius 'use what u got' craftsmanship! __________________ BD125-15
	2