Gas Tank
 

From another thread...

I have done a little research in this area as the tank I have doesn't seem to have a true reserve? I found out the hard way. I have found this site that has a bunch of Honda tanks that may work...

http://stores.ebay.com/MOTORCYCLE-AC...QQftidZ2QQtZkm

I was thinking about this one in particular...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Clark...5887QQtcZphoto

It includes all necessary hardware for mounting as well. Unfortunately it'll probably be snowing by the time I can afford one. I would like to get rid of the plastic cover as well. Mines just about cracked in half from riding it. I have seen where people have used the camping style fuel bottles to carry extra fuel, but I think the biggest they sell is 32oz. Not a whole lot. I also ran across this link...

http://www.tourtank.com/

Cool, but kinda big as well. I also found these but they are quite pricey.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/KOLPI...spagenameZWDVW

If anyone has any other ideas feel free to share. I am interested in upping the distance I can travel. :)

I'm not trying to poke fun (this time :lol: ) but on an international site I belong to some guy has a photo of a Vespa scooter he rode throughout Africa (!!!) He had attached plastic gas cans on different parts of his scooter for the long stretches where he couldn't find gas. Most of these bikes, with the exception of some of the more stylish Roketas, have a rack that could easily take a one or two gallon gas can stapped to it. Personal items could be placed into a backpack, or even bungied to the extra seat space behind you. However, a bigger gas tank would really be a plus!

See if you can link to these photos of the bike with gas cans strapped to it.

http://www.gjolberg.com/capetown2nai...to_nairoby.htm

A lot of the DS riders strap on a fuel bottle of some kind. I saw some using an aluminum fuel bottle from REI, that looked like the way to go to me.

I would rather tie on an extra container when I need it than fool with my factory tank.

I agree it is easy to take fuel along. I have a few cans I could use if I could only find some stoppers. laughs

http://www.eazys.net/GY200/cans.jpg

http://www.eazys.net/GY200/cans1.jpg

Only 16 oz. a piece though. I have a total of five though x 16oz. = 80oz. total. Might work...

I don't think these motorcycles are equipped for running on alcohol. However, when you run out of fuel, at least you'd have something to drink :) but now your problem is finding a way to keep your "reserve" cold!!

I have 2 of these, They're about 1L (1 quart) each:

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_d...=1153859510484

You can get quite a bit of mileage on 2L. I found out about reserve the hard way as well.

I've seen folks ty wrap fix-a-flat to the bottom of a rack, could do that with half gallon containers I reckon. Thanks for the links! I have a 2 gallon gas can that I can strap to the rack, too. Guess the camping gear could go on the seat.

Yeah, me, too... :? I just learned to look down in the tank to check the level once in a while. Maybe I could find a fuel petcock with a reserve on it.

The Primus fuel bottle frostbite posted was what I was thinking of. They are light, don't leak, and you can pack them with other gear.

I reset my odometer at each fill up. At 175Km's I start looking for a fill up. At that point it takes about 6L to fill. I figure I can get around 225Km on the full 8L. Of course that's pure on-road driving. Off road mileage will be worse.

Well, now, there's the crux. I don't have a trip meter to reset, either. :lol: AND, the ODO on the thing croaked! But, I could look around for a lifan guage cluster. Not sure the engine has a tach drive, but it might have one blinded off or something. Be nice just to have a speedo that reads in MPH. Maybe something off an XL would work, like the one I had on my XL600R. I replaced it off ebay pretty cheap when the speedo needle finally croaked on it.

I don't have anyway to calculate the mileage at the moment either. Speedo cable is still broke. Working on replacing it. Maybe in a week or so. I have been just opening the tank and looking. I usually don't get to go more than a few miles from home anyhow. I'm sure I'll figure something out and will post here if and when I do.

culcune - unfortunately those bottles are already empty. I kept them because I liked that they were aluminum. Four of them equals a half gallon. Now to find a stopper that will fit.

Well, I like that ATV tank, 1.25 gallon, that clamps to the rack. That could be clamped on the left side downward, to ride by the battery box out of the way. it'd also protect the battery in event of a crash if mounted there. It's a little expensive, but it's worth it. I think I'll look on some outdoor sites like Cabelas or Bass Pro for one like it that might hold a little more or be a little cheaper.

Check this out for those long off road rides. Upt to a 5 gallon can will fit! Bolts or U bolts to the rack. I may get one of these if I get into longer rides. I'd probably be just fine with my 2 gallon tank on it, but I'd get a fiver, too. It'll also haul a cooler.


http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...153&id=0006057


http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/co...006057hz06.jpg

That's a nice carrier. Were you thinking of mounting it off of the back of the rack or in place of the rack.

I was thinking either off the back of the rack or to the left side of it, depending on clearance of the tail light and such. It'd be better to be to the rear of the rack, but I don't know if it'd clear the fender/tail light and such. To the left side wouldn't be ideal, but it'd work, I think. It would also give more support to a bag of feed when I'm hauling feed to my feeder down on my place. :D

First thing I learned when packing mules in the Sierras was that a load had to be balanced or it will fall off. On bikes, rider can compensate some for an unbalanced load, but maybe not 5 gallons of gas.

Balance wise hanging off of the back would be better. The adventure traveller types with the big panniers try to get the weight as far forward of the rear axle as possible.

I think that for bikes a different kind of carrier that would split the load up would be easier to ride. [looking at my bike out the window as I write this] It wouldn't be too difficult to fab up something that would drop onto the stock rear rack and suspend two 1 gallon gas cans just above the rear winkers, one on each side.

If I had a wire feed welder I could make one up in a couple of hours out of 1/2" square tubing. The hardest part would be drinking all that beer while I refined the design.

This has challenged the brightest of men for years..... :lol:

Hanging it off the back, I might even get the thing to wheelie! :lol:

Um, I could help you with the beer thing while I watched you weld.... :wink:

You could help with that as long as you made the trips back to the fridge for our refills.

In another life long ago I used to be a welder-fabricator and I can really knock that stuff out. Don't have the equipment anymore though. My garage is super organized, [by my wife] and is still so full that to be functional I have to get rid of a toy to add one. I just have too many. No room for a welder. It's just not as much fun as the canoe, mountain bikes, and motorcycles.

I can stick weld, but it looks like crap... :lol: Had a welder a long time ago, a 225 amp Lincoln. If I got another, it'd be powered, not 220V. I have bottles and a torch with weld/braze tips, that's it for my equipment, and I need to refill the acetylene bottle.

I've never used a wire feeder. Is a wire feeder easier to be pretty with and would I need a 220V one to do anything with??? I know those cracker box 110V rigs are about worthless as stick welders, but I don't know much about wire feeders.

The 120 volt wire feed welders work real good on light material. If you buy one, don't get the cheapest off brand on sale and don't buy it at one of the big box stores. The big stores get the manufacturers to make special cheapie versions of their products that they can sell at a real low price point. If it is a pressure washer it will have a real low end pump that self destructs shortly after you buy it. If it is a wire feed welder the feed mechanism will soon expire.

Any entry level Miller or Lincoln wire feed welder from a welding supply shop will be easy to use and do a nice job.

Well, according to this site... http://www.lincolnelectric.com/knowl...wirefeeder.asp ... what I'd need is a flux core 110V wire feeder for most of what I do. I could even patch up my boat trailer with it with a couple of passes according to this, maybe a pass on either side of the weld point.

Think I'll put this on the "to buy" list in the future. We have a commercial welding supply right around the corner, deals Miller I know. It wouldn't take too many projects to pay off this rig, and who knows, a guy got good at it might could sell stuff on ebay now and then to help defray the initial purchase. :D

Thanks for the advice and keep it comin'. Whadda ya think about this site's info? I'm kinda gettin' excited about getting a wire feeder, now... :lol:

I have one of these...

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=40388

and one of these...

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=93350

Yes I know they are bottom of the line machines, BUT both work real well for the little bit of welding that I actually do. I wish I could afford a nicer unit. I guess that'll come when the kids are grown and out of the house. :)

How thick can a 90 amp wire feeder weld??? Or, better phrased, how heavy a job have you done with it? I'm trying to avoid 220V cause I don't have a 220 out in my shop. Guess I could always weld near the back porch and plug in to the dryer outlet. :?

I bought this because it was 110v as well. I don't have 220v either. I welded a transmission pan for a friend after he hit a manhole without a cover. Worked like a charm. This is the thickest metal that has been welded with it. My buddy came over and made it.

http://www.eazys.net/GY200/sign.jpg

I have noticed that if I turn the speed down on the thicker stuff it works better. Like I said I don't do much welding just when needed.

Cool sign! That guy is a real craftsman. It is the type of welder ImEazy has that I was suggesting to avoid. They usually work fine out of the box but when you need a part, and wire feed welders always need a part eventually, Harbor is not going to have it and the manufacturer won't either.

The China bikes are cool because there is a million of them made every year, and aftermarket parts and Honda parts will pretty much take care of anything you need. I can't say that for pressure washers and welders. Just my two cents.

Good points. I have a welding supply nearby, like I say. I'm going to go price some brand name ones. I ain't going to buy anything real soon, though, money ya know?

If and when I build a gas can carrier, I'll start a thead on it, well, if it's not an eyes sore. :lol: I should get ImEazy's friend to do it. :lol:

I like that idea. Do you suppose he could make a Cool Boy logo in steel?

I look forward to the gas can mount project.

As for my friend well... he's a fabricator/welder by trade. The sign he made turned out awesome. Unfortunately he's currently spending time in prison for crackin it too hard and stalkin his ex. No fabricating for him, unless they have a metal shop in the joint? Quite a shame as he is a good guy. Just got too hung up on a female. I wish I had his talent!

*edit*
Sorry meant to mention that I have been lucky as far as the wire feed welder goes. I've owned it almost three years without any problems.

Yep, a woman ain't worth THAT. 8O You can rent one pretty cheap in Nuevo Laredo, but I wouldn't go down there anymore way they're shootin' the place up with RPGs and grenades now days. Gotta be safer places to get a cheap thrill, eh? :lol:

That's why I ride!

Nope not at all. I agree, unfortunately he wouldn't listen to reason.


On another note I think I may have figured another inexpensive solution to some auxillary fuel? I found this http://www.eazys.net/GY200/bottle.jpg
yesterday, left by a kind litter bug. I rinsed it out and plan to fill (not completely) it with gas and see how well it does without leaking. The cap tightens pretty good. I figure if it passes for around $2 a piece I would get a couple to carry along. This one holds 18oz. I'll keep ya posted...

You could always drink one of the energy drinks and "party like a rockstar..."

Laughs... Is that thier slogan? I've never heard of it until yesterday? I did happen to find out that the store across the street sells them. I bought three more (but haven't drank any yet) tonight. $1.09 plus tax a piece.
Four bottles x 16oz. (18oz. bottle with room for expansion) = about two quarts (1/2 gallon). Still have to try them out for being leak proof. Keep ya posted...

This is a Grman alternative..

http://www.motocity.de/fuelfriend/info.asp

I was using my LS200 as a pack mule down at my place again and somehow cracked the plastic faux tank that covers the real tank. I've started putting thought to a real gas tank again. :lol:

Okay guys I have a comment followed by a question. I searched the web and found info that states that my 2007 gy-5 has a 10.5 litre/2.77 gallon fuel capacity, 2.3 litres/.608 gal of which is supposed to be a reserve. Is this info correct and if not, can someone clarify?

thanks

If it really holds that much I'd be surprised. The bigger of the two tanks that I have holds 1.8 gallons the other 1.6. Can't say about the reserve since I run on reserve all the time and simply watch the odometer.

2.77 gal with .6 as reserve sounds about right. on my 06 gy-5 i usally put about 2 gals in at a fill up when not on reserve. once i was on reserve and it took 2.5 gals.