Homemade Aux Fuel Tank?

Has anyone here made their own aux fuel tank? I'm talking about the kind of tank used to provide fuel to the bike/carbs during times when the regular tank has been removed. If so, what materials did you use? They seem a bit pricey for what they appear to be: A plastic bottle with a tube coming out.

 

Snowblower tank (or other small engine tank) works great. Has spigot, valve, and it's made to handle gasoline.

 

I got something like this. http://www.sears.com/custom-accessories ... 3228175701 Stick one end down in a gas can and hook the other right to the carbs. gas can just needs to be higher than the carbs. Cost about $5 at the local walmart.

 

I took one off an old lawn tractor, but I've seen people make them out of 2 liter pop bottles.

 

Not a lot of snowblowers here in Florida :lol:

 

One gallon metal coffee can with a valve soldered to the side. It has served me well for 10 years.

 

I use one off of an old generator. Visit your local Lawn Mower Shop, I'm sure they will have something used for a few dollars...

 

I always "borrow" the one off my kid's minibike...

 

Well if you find one, you can be sure no one will miss the tank for a bit.

 

i made one from a Seafoam can but it sucks, can't see it filling up and i spill gas everywhere when i use it. so that's what not to use

 

hi i made one from my sons empty protien container, superglued a nipple on the bottom from a garden watering system with a piece of 1/4 " tube , then put a thumb wheel clamp on the tube to stop flow. (medical supplies are a good place for all these bits) works great.



used it for wet setting floats, also to get the engine running after being stood awhile
stu.

 

Took one off a dead push mower. It even has a screen inside, but I run a paper filter & cut-off valve.

 

Folsoml,

A lot of these sound like really good ideas. I copied what someone did in a thread. I drilled a hole in a old battery acid jug (after I washed it out) and stuck a piece of clear tubing in the hole. I haven't used it yet because I need to get some apoxy to seal off the tubing through the hole (per the instructions).

Gary

 

I have a simpler solution without having to drill/glue/hope it won't leak.

WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE from any old car!

They usually have a molded (very strong, won't leak) nipple at the lowest point (that goes to the washer pump).

I added a length of clear tube to be able to see the fuel, a filter, and a manual lawnmower on/off valve.

It works great!

[/img]

 

Hum...Never thought of putting a fuel filter on one. Easy Day...Thanks

 

For my carb clinics I use a gas tank from a lawn mower. It has a 5 ft long fuel line with a filter in it. The tank is mounted on top of a heavy band music stand that was missing the top. So, the hose gives plenty ofrom to move it around, the stand is adjustable for tank height, and the base keeps it pretty stable.

dave F

 

Anybody use these mounted on their bikes for cross country trips? Or just on benches?

 

These are for wet-setting floats and tune-ups.

an on-board auxillary tank needs to be vented into the regular tank or isolated with it's own pump. 2 ways of doing it - it's a bit complicated.

 

with a gas station in every little berg town I don't think extending the range of the bike is that common, besides its good to stop every once and a while and stretch or see the sights,

 

Ya I agree, not necessary in most cases but when you start looking into long haul adventure riding (more specifically Prudoe Bay, AK and the Dempster Highway, NWT) a gas station every 200 miles starts to make you feel uneasy haha.

 

I just got done making one out of a plastic vodka bottle. I epoxied a 90 degree plastic fitting with a hose barb into the bottom and got a plastic shutoff valve.

All told, it cost me under $5 for valve and fitting.

Got the bottle free when I bought the vodka.

 

Some plastics will melt when you put gasoline in them, so I hope you tested your vodka bottle before!

 

I went with a Gatorade bottle with a nylon nipple RTV'ed on. It's holding so far. Cost: Less than 2 bucks.

 

Way ahead of ya there.

First, gasoline these days contains lots of alcohol and vodka contains lots of alcohol. This is why I went for a vodka bottle instead of some other bottle.

Second, before I actually modified this bottle I had some gas sitting in the same brand bottle for a couple of months (I pretty much forgot it was there).

So, I am confident in vodka bottles.

 

Be really, really careful with plastics. PET (commonly used for soda, tea, and Gatorade bottles) is a fairly permeable plastic. Gasoline vapors can readily escape, and the bottle will eventually soften and fail. HDPE (marked with a #2, used for milk jugs, oil containers, and laundry liquid) is OK for very short term fuel storage, but will eventually fail (within a few days). XLPE (cross linkable hight density polyethylene) is one of the best choices if you're going to use a plastic container for fuel. An approved, one gallon, fuel can costs less than $15, and an approved siphon hose a few dollars more. I've picked up nearly new fuel cans at garage sales for less. What's your life worth?

Also....it's not the ethanol that dissolves the plastic, it's the gasoline.

 

I agree - - the #2 plastic container, or Vodka bottle may work well the first time, but if stored for months and re-used it will be brittle.

Build it, use it, throw it away.

Or get a lawnmower gas tank.

 

some vodka pretty much is gasoline, lol jk..
I just leave my lawnmower sitting up on its shelf with a much longer fuel line to put on it when I need a remote gas tank.

 

You have your whole lawn mower on a shelf? :lol:

 

ya i fold up the push bars and put it on a shelf above my wood rack. I have a rather small shop and I need all the floor space I can get, to make room for working on the bike for the last month i've had my 73 plymouth sitting out in the driveway in the snow ...