[2OHOH2]

Last week I was kicking myself in the arse for missing an auction for a cheap (~$80 shipped) 954 tank. Well, minutes ago I won an auction for a dented (who cares) tank... for $5.50!

OK, so with shipping it'll come out to maybe $25 or so, but still, it's an unbelievable price. Sure hope the seller (a junkyard in Myrtle Beach) won't back out.

Anyways, once I get it, I'll take some measurements and see if it's feasible to add four or more gallons of capacity. Then I'll find a means of getting it done

Imagine 320 miles of range on a 954 That would rock! *

Yeah, so I'm a little weird that way, but again I ask, why not make a TouringBlade?

EDIT: here's a pic of the donor tank (the damaged side)

http://ebay2.ipixmedia.com/abc/M28/_...c2d961/i-1.JPG

[ConqSoft]

After 200 miles on my XX I'm ready to take a stretch break anyway.

[2OHOH2]

ConqSoft : After 200 miles on my XX I'm ready to take a stretch break anyway. *

Awwww...

http://www.painsupport.co.uk/newslet...%20reduced.jpg



j/k

Well, 320 is pretty far at a stretch, and to be honest, I'm not sure if I could do it, but I won't know until I try, and just the convenience of having that extra range would be great. Also, there's no guarantee that 4+ gallons are feasible, maybe only two, or three.

[ConqSoft]

Yeah. *It's always good to have more than enough gas.

[2OHOH2]

ConqSoft : Yeah. *It's always good to have more than enough gas.

...unless we're talking about the Mexican kind



Where's the Monster Garage crew, or the OCC crew when I need them? I bet they could have the tank done and ready for paint in about an hour or two. It's gonna take me that long just to see what's possible, and find a means to do it

[CBRVFR]

I watched a metal fabricator modify a tank for a GSXR endurance race bike. he welded a strip down the middle, and expanded the area that fit down between the frame rails. He also put one of those fast fill things on the top. Took him weeks, but it was gorgeous. The 954 tank is pretty deep as it is, so you'll need to have someone smart doing this so the bike doesn't get too top heavy.

[stegen]

How the hell would you even be able to do it?

[ConqSoft]

Four Words: 'Quick Disconnect Fuel Lines'

[2OHOH2]

ConqSoft : Four Words: *'Quick Disconnect Fuel Lines'

Working on it. What's decent, LP?

I already have the hoses and an extra fuel pump ($25 on eBay)

[ConqSoft]

Dan sells some nice quick disconnect parts I think.

[2OHOH2]

CBRVFR : I watched a metal fabricator modify a tank for a GSXR endurance race bike. he welded a strip down the middle, and expanded the area that fit down between the frame rails. He also put one of those fast fill things on the top. Took him weeks, but it was gorgeous. The 954 tank is pretty deep as it is, so you'll need to have someone smart doing this so the bike doesn't get too top heavy.

Weeks?

My basic idea is to expand the mushroom top of the tank (think RC51 tank), and add metal around the sides (like the band that you mentioned) to give it height. Added top weight doesn't bother me (it certainly won't be any worse than if I myself weighed another 20#, or if I had a fuel can on the back, a-la Warchild's Night Train), besides, I won't be running a full tank when in the twisties

[Joel]

You know what I've been thinking is to add some capacity down low right behind the motor between the frame rails. My CA model has the charcoal canister sitting there, but that's not very necessary. You certainly wouldn't get 4 gallons down there, but you could get 1-2 I'll bet. Plus the bike would look bone stock.

[ConqSoft]

Fill the frame with fuel.

[2OHOH2]

I thought about that, and decided to not go that route because +0.5-1.0gal is about as much as I think could fit in there; even on the 49-state 954 that I have there just isn't much room under there, with all the hoses and wires pulled out of the way. I also think that the trick of relocating the fuel pump would be more difficult (it's a more leak/imperfection-sensitive area than the fuel cap), and you'd have to recalibrate the reserve capacity (not hard, but still).

[2OHOH2]

ConqSoft : Fill the frame with fuel.

...and/or the swingarm

Way too much work to make sure that it won't turn the bike into a real Fireblade

[nomad]

If you are adding all that extra volume on top of the tank, how will it affect the handling? I mean, will you have baffles to stop the sloshing? Weight shift would be a bitch, especially since that weight is sitting so high.

[ConqSoft]

Haven't heard him complain about weight shift, and his is high:
Link

[2OHOH2]

nomad : If you are adding all that extra volume on top of the tank, how will it affect the handling? *I mean, will you have baffles to stop the sloshing? *Weight shift would be a bitch, especially since that weight is sitting so high.

(what Conq and Warchild said)

Again, not any worse than having 30lbs of tools in my Givi, or a pillion, or if I weighed more. Same difference

I'll probably put baffles and/or foam (like most racing fuel cells have) in the tank to keep it from sloshing.

Right now I'm considering doing the work myself, including shaping, cutting, welding, and rough bondo work (for seams, dimples, etc). The finishing I might just leave to real body pros.

[CBRVFR]

2OHOH2954 : [Weeks?

This was art, man - besides which the guy is a metal working professor and was working on it a few hours at a time. But it took (predictably) until hours before the race by the time the paint dried..

It also had such nicities as the quick release safety lines and the 'it don't leak' option. IIRC, it held 1 to 1 and a 1/2 additional gallons.

[2OHOH2]

CBRVFR : Quote (2OHOH2954 @ July 21 2003, 9:27pm)[Weeks?

This was art, man - besides which the guy is a metal working professor and was working on it a few hours at a time. But it took (predictably) until hours before the race by the time the paint dried..

It also had such nicities as the quick release safety lines and the 'it don't leak' option. IIRC, it held 1 to 1 and a 1/2 additional gallons.
Oh man, the 'it don't leak' option? Bet that cost some coin...

Yeah, I hear ya, I mean, in a few weeks one could smelt, refine, roll, mold, etc. the tank, in other words, literally make it from scratch, so of course it must've been a back-burner project. Still, all that for an extra gallon or two? Hope those won't be the news that I'll arrive at...

[Bacchus]

My $ .02, don't try to repair it. It's almost perfect right now for 'legs over the handlebars' wheelies

[G-Force Junkie]

Ive seen tanks made for endurance runs, basicaly lop the top of the tank of and add in a 4' section of flat bar to raise the
top of the tank up. Maybe LTL has picks of James Randolphs tank he ran last year at the Toyota 200 at Willow, it was like that.

[half]

2OHOH,
Do you plan to TIG or MIG your tank? I have fixed a few Hardly tanks with MIG and it sucks. The sheet metal is so thin even with .023 I still had holes. Fill me in on your method please.

[2OHOH2]

half : 2OHOH,
Do you plan to TIG or MIG your tank? I have fixed a few Hardly tanks with MIG and it sucks. The sheet metal is so thin even with .023 I still had holes. Fill me in on your method please.

Bubblicious Gum, of course

I don't know, but thanks for the warning. It's been forever since I welded anything, but I'm willing to give it a shot. I'll probably practice on something else first.

...or I'll let the pros handle it. I probably won't even have the tank in my hands before next week anyways. Plenty of time to formulate a strategy

[half]

super glue works good too. Good luck on the tank.

[ratter]

Bacchus : My $ .02, don't try to repair it. *It's almost perfect right now for 'legs over the handlebars' wheelies *

[2OHOH2]

Wow... I just got the invoice... $15.50 delivered

[Kookie]

2OHOH2954 : Wow... I just got the invoice... $15.50 delivered

Im su