Aux-Fuel cells

[Tony T]

Great thread.

I have a 5 gal plastic tank wiht all the fittings attached, but no hook up or connectors.  

It sits in the garage asking to be installed - I think I should just sell it for the $75 I paid (it was an extra from an east coast rally master who did not need it for the 2008 IBR),

If I post a pic of the tank on the floor - I can get it out of my garage and loose the guilt?

I am basically stuck on how to plumb it into my plastic gas tank.  I know there are various bulkhead fittings that can be used, but I have not looked that thoroughly and would dearly love someone to just set me up with a fitting and connector kit - or buy it from me so i can quit thinking about it.

If you decide to sell it let me know.  

[Bounce]

You can get everything you need to DIY through Summit Racing. Get the tank and fittings and then find a nearby sheet metal shop to help you fab your mounting bracket.

Pick and choose your cell: http://www.summitracing.com/search/Department/Air-Fuel-Delivery/Section/Fuel-Cells-Tanks/?Ns=Rank|Asc
Then pick and choose the best cap (i personally don't care for the jazz cap): http://www.summitracing.com/search/Department/Air-Fuel-Delivery/Section/Fuel-Cells-Tanks/Part-Type/Fuel-Cell-Caps/?Ns=Rank|Asc

[Warchild]

Bounce has it nailed.... the Summit tanks are quite popular in the Endurance Riding community, and they come with fuel line and vent fittings already in place. The fuel fitting is an AN-8; the vent fitting is an AN-6, and the tank comes with anti-slosh foam installed.This 5-gal unit can be seen on many bikes at the start of the Iron Butt Rally... all for less than $100:





Now all you really have to do is fabricate a rack for this cell,  drill your bulkhead fitting in your main cell, and you're done!  

[DNA]

For all interested, the pic Warchild just posted is exactly what is sitting in my garage not hooked up.

I got it from a local IBR guy for $75.

BTW Warchild - I seem to remember something about proper grounding requirements - does this only apply to pump assisted, or should there be some grounding needed for gravity feed as well?  You were busting someone's stones about this at tech on a rally a while back  

[D-Mac]

Great thread! I've lusted for a fuel cell for a while now. I think this will be my next mod after getting a new seat this fall. I've had too many close calls on low fuel this year and stopping a lot really hurts my riding progress. True - I only ride an FZ6, but extending the range from ~200 miles to 350 miles would be awesome on long rides and IBA attempts.

Drilling into the gas tank is making me a bit nervous, so I'm thinking I might have a local bike builder rig it up for me.

I'm thinking of mounting the tank to the pillion seat. Seems like a good place to put it since I never ride 2-up and it won't take away from storage space. Better for weight distribution too.

Keeps those install pics coming!

[Davo]

Drilling into the gas tank is making me a bit nervous, so I'm thinking I might have a local bike builder rig it up for me.

Point on this.

Do NOT use a normal drill bit, it will not drill a perfect round hole they are always oval.
I don't know the name of the bit but it's slightly cone shaped. Someone wiser than me may know what its called.

Small normal drill bit for pilot hole.

[DNA]

Sweet - this is exactly why I love this place.  Oval - who would a thunk it.

Do you mean those step bits I've always wanted to buy but never new exactly what they were used for?

[Lonerockz]

Yes, pumps can fail.  

For me I don't think splicing into the existing fuel lines would be good, there are 2 of them that feed the carbs and I want to be able to watch the fuel gauge on the dash. I would like to mount the aux tank to the rear oem rack but I'm worried about overloading it with 4ga of gas + tank weight.  

Yeah, pumps can fail, but I have a fuel injected bike so I'm going to have a pump no matter what. I REALLY don't like the idea of punching a hole in my tank. I mean REALLY REALLY don't like it. In my case there is only one line from pump to the injectors, so plumbing would not be that tough.

I have found a lab supply company that has quick disconnects much cheaper than elsewhere. Same parts as I have seen sold by motorcycle sites, but at 20% of the cost. http://www.coleparmer.com/catalog/product_index.asp?cls=1459 They have Y's as well, but not sure about shutoffs... Looking that them they don't look like what I want.

[Tony T]

For those that are interested, the silver aux fuel cell bag that is on Warchilds bike pictured above (I believe) was made by Linda T  

[Davo]

Sweet - this is exactly why I love this place.  Oval - who would a thunk it.
Do you mean those step bits I've always wanted to buy but never new exactly what they were used for?

Yes the stepped bit, they have a slot in each? side for the cuttings and drill a perfect round hole. You just drill in the depth you need for size (which is the reasons for the steps) I would strongly suggest a test hole and when doing the real one keep stopping to check fit.

[Tony T]

Yes the stepped bit, they have a slot in each? side for the cuttings and drill a perfect round hole. You just drill in the depth you need for size (which is the reasons for the steps) I would strongly suggest a test hole and when doing the real one keep stopping to check fit.

Got it, a "Unibit"  

[guitardad]

Bounce has it nailed.... the Summit tanks are quite popular in the Endurance Riding community, and they come with fuel line and vent fittings already in place. The fuel fitting is an AN-8; the vent fitting is an AN-6, and the tank comes with anti-slosh foam installed.This 5-gal unit can be seen on many bikes at the start of the Iron Butt Rally... all for less than $100:





Now all you really have to do is fabricate a rack for this cell,  drill your bulkhead fitting in your main cell, and you're done!  

Ah, that helps a lot!  I wasn't sure if the plastic cells were acceptable, or if I needed to go with an aluminum one.

[Rocket_Cowboy]

Yeah, pumps can fail, but I have a fuel injected bike so I'm going to have a pump no matter what.

Interesting.

My R1200RT is fuel injected, but my aux tank is gravity fed. I gravity feed from the aux into the main, and then they the main tank's fuel pump feed the FI.

[whodat]

Yeah, pumps can fail, but I have a fuel injected bike so I'm going to have a pump no matter what. I REALLY don't like the idea of punching a hole in my tank. I mean REALLY REALLY don't like it. In my case there is only one line from pump to the injectors, so plumbing would not be that tough.

I have found a lab supply company that has quick disconnects much cheaper than elsewhere. Same parts as I have seen sold by motorcycle sites, but at 20% of the cost. http://www.coleparmer.com/catalog/product_index.asp?cls=1459 They have Y's as well, but not sure about shutoffs... Looking that them they don't look like what I want.


My Tiger is fuel injected but I was still able to use a gravity fed setup. I run down the main tank until the low fuel light comes on then switch open my aux tank. Ten minutes later I've got 3/4 tank again.

I picked up most of the plumbing fittings I needed at the local Ace Hardware. I found a boating store, (West Coast Marine), had a very good selection of quick connects.

[Tony T]

 

[Davo]

Topic has heaps of pics, try following some links.
 

[Tony T]

Yea, I'm well aware of that, but I would love to see a Triumph Tiger with a aux tank.

This is also a thread for those that have one to brag and post pics.  

[Bounce]

Ah, that helps a lot!  I wasn't sure if the plastic cells were acceptable, or if I needed to go with an aluminum one.

the vast majority i've seen have been race-certified "plastic". Summit sells cells that meet various racing committee standards (NHRA, etc.).
Posted on: June 25, 2009, 11:23:50 amHere's a DIY project that can easily be translated to other applications.

GL1200 using Summit

[guitardad]

Was at a Tech Day on Saturday, and a friend was clearing out his garage.  Now I've got a 4 gallon aluminum fuel cell.  On to working out mounting and plumbing!

[Bearly Flying]

I run a 12 V pump on mine and it has worked flawlessly for 4 years,(cheap inline pump available from just about any Autoparts Store $30.00.)

With the two piece seat of the FJR you can mount it fairly low, but will require the use of the pump.

Absolutely No issues with the extra weight effecting handling.