| Author | Message | ||
     Darth_villar |
I'm not planning on building one immediately, but I have wanted one since I got the big bore kit and said goodbye to gas mileage. The only ones I have seen have mounted where luggage usually mounts. I was thinking about an aluminum tank designed to fit underneath the tail of the bike, but in between the luggage mounts. Any input? I have access to real tools, and some TIG experience with aluminum. I suppose I should mock it up first and ensure I get at least 2 gallons or so, and still have plenty of safety margin from the rear tire. Phil | ||
| Paul56 |
That's exactly what I had in mind, but more important things keep getting in the way. I planned to remove the tail light and fender, build a 2 gallon (or so) aluminum tank attached to the tail section and top case bracket. The tank would be shaped to fit the tire when the shock is compressed. Measuring the likely relative height of the aux tank to the original showed a simple gravity feed hose to the fuel pump drain would allow the tank to completely empty. Adding a vent hose from the aux to the oem vent should provide adequate venting. A filler spout with leak proof cap would make fillups quick. Add a (couple) bright led lights and small fender extension to the back of it and you'd have an extra hundred miles or so of range with no loss of utility. One of these days........ | ||
| Uly_dude |
I've been scratching my head about the same things. Starting with the hose-barbed elbow fitting that would need to go into the fuel pump drain socket. I'm having a difficult time finding this piece. You can get close but everything I've found is a pipe thread, meaning it's tapered. The drain plug is a straight cut. Anyone know where you can source one of these little guys?? | ||
| Mikef5000 |
All I did was get close with the fitting. Then I re-threaded it (the fitting, not the drain hole), and coated the threads with sealant. It's been perfect for 2 years and 25k miles now. I can't picture how there'd be enough room under the tail for 2 gallons, but I've never unbolted the shock to see how far up the tire actually moves either. I have my tank setup to sit on the back seat. I pull it off for normal riding, but it only takes a couple minutes to attach it and connect the fuel line when I'm going on a solo tour.  I can see how this wouldn't be the optimal setup if you're wanting it for normal use now that you get worse mileage. | ||
| Uly_dude |
Very nice setup Mikef5k. Hey, I used to have that front fender on mine! I would rather find the right fitting part, if one exists. I don't trust my rethreading abilities(or lack there of). Heck a guy could just rig up a jerry can that bolts to the stock side bags rack to. That would keep the extra weight as low as possible. | ||
| Darth_villar |
I'm not sure exactly the fitting that will be needed, but there is a good chance I can make a custom one. I have access to a CNC lathe and mill. Since there is some interest, whenever I get around to messing with this idea, I will be sure to post up pictures. | ||
| Blake |
If the big bore kit hurt your fuel efficiency, you might want to check into some more precise tuning of your fuel mapping. Unless you're constantly WOT and using all that increased HP, there's no good reason, especially with Nicasil lined cylinders, that your fuel efficiency should have dropped significantly. I did say "unless".  | ||
| Froggy |
I'm with Blake on this one, sounds like a tuning issue. I assume you have the 1250 kit?50cc more shouldn't make a measurable change in fuel economy. Also regarding the fuel tank, I personally don't think it is a good idea, there ain't much clearance between the wheel and tail when that spring gets compressed all the way. | ||
| Darth_villar |
1430cc. About 15-20% difference at cruising, though I mostly ride at WOT  I can eek out low 40's if I try, but I don't try. Riding is about having fun after all  I did the tuning using direct link and a wideband, under actual riding conditions. So the map may not be absolutely perfect, but I doubt anyone has a map better for me. (I'm using Vrod destroyer injectors, so the pulse width required at stock fuel pressure is close to the stock pulse width using normal injectors) I'm hoping you are wrong Froggy, I have yet to see just how much clearance there is though... the best way would be to have the bike together minus the spring, but I don't really want to go through the hassle unless I think I can make it work. What I'm thinking is, make the tank extend to the tail light, and mount the turn signals and license plate directly to the tank itself. | ||
| Mikef5000 |
Good lord I wanna take that thing for a test ride! | ||
| Beached |
I have the parts but haven't got around to mounting the pair of Kolpin mounts and jerry cans to the front of my panniers. (Hepko-Becker alu std 45's). | ||
| Uly_man |
A Nikasil bore coating on an air cooled engine. Is that what you have Darth? | ||
| Darth_villar |
I have the Axtell Iron lined Aluminum cylinders. I don't believe they had the Nikasil available back in 06 for the Uly, or I didn't realize it. If anyone has the data of how much clearance there is between the tail and tire at full compression, that would be most helpful in this endeavor. The more I look at it, if I extend back to the end of the tail light, it seems possible to get a decent size tank. But I'm going to have to get more hands on before I can say anything. | ||
| Arry |
I've been looking at the under seat storage area, and thinking that a custom fit aux tank might hold close to a gallon. I wish someone made one. | ||
| Griffmeister |
Uly_dude, it shouldn't be too hard to come up with a fitting, might need two steps to end up with a barb though. Hardest part might be determining the proper thread pitch. You need an o-ring base fitting and the most common ones would be either SAE or BSPP. If you can find a business near you that sells hydraulic hoses and fittings they should be able to help you with the plug in hand to reference. We sell Parker fittings and I know that the catalog has a large selection to chose from. I'm sure that a Gates or Aeroquip dealer would have similar choices. Good luck. | ||
| Discochris |
http://www.chrisberg.net/cbnet/buellcell.htm (sometimes my site goes down - it's hosted here at home, and I've been trying to figure out why it's happening, so if the link doesn't work, let me know.) The fitting to screw into the the fuel pump plate was the biggest PITA of the whole project. I ordered one from a hydraulic supplier. Granted, mine isn't a taildragger cell, and I really don't know how well that would work on our bikes. I've also seen one that bolts through the passenger area of the seat. I'm actually thinking about relocating mine that way. I have another seat, so it would be easy to do. | ||
| Pons |
I had a fitting welded onto my pump, overkill but won't leak, hit swing arm and is correct size.  Tour Tank 3.5 gal.  290 miles between fill up | ||
| Uly_man |
Fuel cell on a bike? While I am sure you can build/ fit one to the Uly I would question why at the cost and problems. In the past I just used a 20L can on the back of the bike with a cargo net. | ||
| Uly_man |
"I have the Axtell Iron lined Aluminum cylinders. I don't believe they had the Nikasil available back in 06 for the Uly, or I didn't realize it." No of course they are not Nikasil coated bores. They never have or could ever be so. | ||
| Discochris |
Well Uly_man, if you compete in any distance rallies, the majority of the bikes have auxilary fuel, and there are rules as to what kind of cell you can use, how it's mounted to the bike, and how it's plumbed in. In most cases, a gas can bungied to the back is not acceptable. | ||
| Mikef5000 |
A gas can will help when there are no gas stations, but that's generally not the issue for me. My problem is when the tank runs low, I'm not ready to stop yet. If you do any sort of serious touring (whether it be for a rally or just pleasure) you will often find the 160-180 miles per tank unacceptable. I added a fuel cell so I can go 300 miles without stopping; not that I always do, but the ability to go that far is very helpful when trying to cover a lot of ground. A gas can would be of no use to me 99% of the time. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
anybody wanna buy my tourtank set up? 4.5 Gal w/mounting plate that bolts to the topcase rack, lines, in line filter and fuel shut off.. $200 bucks, lower 48, paypal  | ||
| Darth_villar |
Uly man, being limited to about 150 miles per tank, slightly more if I'm cruising at 55 mph (which I usually don't do), is a serious problem for me. Not every day, but when I ride across AZ into TX, there are sometimes gas stations spread about that far off. And I prefer to have some extra margin of safety just in case. A custom fuel cell, properly designed, will not take anything from my normal everyday riding, and it will not hinder my normal storage capacity. The fuel cell is the most ideal solution. I'm not going to be able to do much until after school is out. I don't want to take any chances with the clearance between the rear tire, so I will have to take out the shock spring and make absolutely sure how much room I will have. Looks like this will be a summer project. If it goes anywhere, I will post up about it. Phil | ||
| Billy_bee |
I get upwards of 190 per tank with my stock '06 when slabbing. I would like to more comfortably get 200+ from a tank. I have considered a variety of possibilities and adding a fuel cell is about the lowest on my list of choices. I'm not sure how thick walled that tank is, but it might go boom in a crash... One simple option, I think, is a rotopax can that could get mounted to the factory luggage rack. Scary in a crash, unless it is thin enough to mount on the inside of the rack...which the ones I have looked into are not. But two thinner aluminum tanks attached to the inside of the racks might be a viable alternative. I don't like the additional plumbing. The second option is not so simple...and that is to make a tank that locks into the existing filler neck just as the fuel cap does. This, I think, is an elegant and safe solution for adding another gal or so. But it's not going to be cheap to make like two small aluminum tanks would be. And the cost/benefit equation does not look so good. Upside is that no additional plumbing would be required. A lesser problem would be in routing air under the air box cover as the vents by the filler neck would likely be covered. I think some holes in the cover and a screen would do the trick. I have been dreaming about this idea since I got the bike. Bill | ||
| Discochris |
Most people that plum in aux cells are either using tourtanks, or drag racing cells, most of which are probably thicker than the stock fuel tanks on many motorcycles. On standard bikes that don't carry fuel in the frame, you have x number of gallons sitting between your legs. A well-mounted aux cell isn't really much more of a fire hazard than that. Most distance rallies check your mounting to some extent, and don't allow things like boat gas tanks or other flimsy solutions. The fear of fire or explosion isn't something I would even worry about. The real key is mounting it in such a way that it doesn't screw up your handling. | ||
| Billy_bee |
you are right. I guess fuel cells are designed to withstand just these types of hazards. There is an aesthetic issue with most cells in addition to the alteration of the handling dynamics. I love the looks of the bike and don't need to go a gozillion miles between refills. So, the tail-rack mounted fuel cell is overkill for me. But I would like a few more miles. One idea mentioned earlier in the thread mentioned a tank under the seat or between the rear frame rails. That would do it. But I still like the idea of increasing the size of the existing tank... Anxious to hear of there are any other solutions. Bill | ||
| Uly_man |
"Well Uly_man, if you compete in any distance rallies, the majority of the bikes have auxilary fuel, and there are rules as to what kind of cell you can use, how it's mounted to the bike, and how it's plumbed in. In most cases, a gas can bungied to the back is not acceptable." WELL if I DID I am SURE I would have a aux tank. Then again I do not recall any mention of race/rally rules or rally/racing in this post. | ||
| Discochris |
Well, your question was: While I am sure you can build/ fit one to the Uly I would question why at the cost and problems. I simply answered why someone would do this. Most distance rally bikes carry aux fuel. The IBA and most other groups that put on rallies allow for up to 11.5 gallons to be carried onboard. And I wouldn't call distance rallying a "race." It upsets a lot of people who engage in this activity. (Message edited by discochris on April 11, 2012) | ||
| Uly_man |
Thank you Discochris. Your IBA input is of serious value. I have not done many miles on this bike and its good to see some who have. I guess I have run about 250k in the past 10 years but only over the main land masses of the EU, Russia, China, Africa, NZ and North Auz. Money and my age is a problem for me now. (Message edited by uly_man on April 13, 2012) | ||
| Garrcano |
Maybe an other option without welding a thread for the fitting. The adapter has on one side a 3/8"-24 UNF thread an on the other side a 1/8" NPT (??? it's 3/8" -28)    |
