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gas tank strategy

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  • 009jim
    009jim
    2 years ago
    My '14 FXST has a balance tube at the underneath the front of the fuel tank. Rubber hose is semi-permanently crimped to the nozzles protruding under the tank. If I wanted to remove the tank at home, I suppose I would syphon most of the fuel out, and then use pliers to bust the crimped fittings on the balance tube, and use a longer piece of rubber hose to try and capture the remainder of the fuel.

    When I replace the tank, and the balance tube, would it be satisfactory to use the re-useable hose clamps (the type you tighten with a screw-driver or wrench)? 

    What if I was travelling somewhere and needed to remove the gas tank? Should I carry a length of syphon hose, couple hose clamps, and a new balance tube? I would need to be careful not to splash gasoline onto the hot engine. Maybe let the bike cool for an hour.

    Can anybody with experience provide thoughts and comments please on these scenarios.
  • fatbat
    fatbat
    2 years ago
    What are you wanting to achieve?
  • Wideglider
    Wideglider
    2 years ago
    Quoting 009jim on 06 Jan 2022 02:54 AM

    My '14 FXST has a balance tube at the underneath the front of the fuel tank. Rubber hose is semi-permanently crimped to the nozzles protruding under the tank. If I wanted to remove the tank at home, I suppose I would syphon most of the fuel out, and then use pliers to bust the crimped fittings on the balance tube, and use a longer piece of rubber hose to try and capture the remainder of the fuel.


    When I replace the tank, and the balance tube, would it be satisfactory to use the re-useable hose clamps (the type you tighten with a screw-driver or wrench)? 

    What if I was travelling somewhere and needed to remove the gas tank? Should I carry a length of syphon hose, couple hose clamps, and a new balance tube? I would need to be careful not to splash gasoline onto the hot engine. Maybe let the bike cool for an hour.

    Can anybody with experience provide thoughts and comments please on these scenarios.

    In my travels I tend to leave the fuel tank attached to the bike.
    As FB asks- what's the purpose of all this?
  • Stewy
    Stewy
    2 years ago
    Mmmmmm, the crimped fittings you want to bust are reusable.. or they used to be.
  • steelo
    steelo
    2 years ago

  • tussuck
    tussuck
    2 years ago
    - There are clamps that you can use to seal the tube and then cut it in the middle and then pull off (some tanks are SOOOO tight over the backbone that you have to remove even the hose and clamps - you will not know until you need to remove)
    - Use normal stainless hose clamps rather than the OEM crimps.
    - The odds of removing the tank on a trip a sweet FA so do not overthink this chit.
    - I tend to run silicon hose over rubber, buts that just my preference. 
  • 009jim
    009jim
    2 years ago
    Quoting 009jim on 06 Jan 2022 02:54 AM

    My '14 FXST has a balance tube at the underneath the front of the fuel tank. Rubber hose is semi-permanently crimped to the nozzles protruding under the tank. If I wanted to remove the tank at home, I suppose I would syphon most of the fuel out, and then use pliers to bust the crimped fittings on the balance tube, and use a longer piece of rubber hose to try and capture the remainder of the fuel.


    When I replace the tank, and the balance tube, would it be satisfactory to use the re-useable hose clamps (the type you tighten with a screw-driver or wrench)? 

    What if I was travelling somewhere and needed to remove the gas tank? Should I carry a length of syphon hose, couple hose clamps, and a new balance tube? I would need to be careful not to splash gasoline onto the hot engine. Maybe let the bike cool for an hour.

    Can anybody with experience provide thoughts and comments please on these scenarios.

    Quoting Wideglider on 06 Jan 2022 03:37 AM

    In my travels I tend to leave the fuel tank attached to the bike.

    As FB asks- what's the purpose of all this?

    I'm just one of those people who like to know what is involved. I'm sure one of these days I'm going to need to remove the tank.
  • FBUser214
    FBUser214
    2 years ago
    Quoting FBUser214 on 06 Jan 2022 05:09 AM

    I got tired of fucking about with that and got one of these.

    Quoting Soapbox2627 on 06 Jan 2022 05:55 AM

    how often do you take off your tank to get tired of fucking about with it??

    I have had the tank off to fit an aftermarket fuel gauge,  swapped pistons and heads a couple of times, and removed the rockers for some work to quieten them down a bit.
    Only have to do it once with a quick-disconnect to realise how much easier it is.
  • UltraPete
    UltraPete
    2 years ago
    I Took mine off  when I did my cam chain tensioners and 
    a. put a new piece of hose on (2002 Ultra = 20 yo hose)
    b. Used 2x GOOD QUALITY worm drive hose clamps. Not cheap shit ones. 

     No dramas 2 years on. 
  • 009jim
    009jim
    2 years ago
    Quoting fatbat on 06 Jan 2022 03:19 AM

    What are you wanting to achieve?

    Just want to know what is involved if I need to remove the tank. In the old days you just turned off the petcock, grabbed hold of the tank, and yanked it off. Modern bikes (and cars) seem to like to make things complicated.
  • 009jim
    009jim
    2 years ago
    Quoting UltraPete on 06 Jan 2022 06:09 AM

    I Took mine off  when I did my cam chain tensioners and 
    a. put a new piece of hose on (2002 Ultra = 20 yo hose)
    b. Used 2x GOOD QUALITY worm drive hose clamps. Not cheap shit ones. 

     No dramas 2 years on. 

    That's an answer I wanted. Thanks.
  • tussuck
    tussuck
    2 years ago
    Its EFI I presume.  Be prepared for the quick connect fitting on the tank to leak petrol once disconnected - the seals in the connector go and can be replaced.  I just did an entire tank replacement on the Sporty so the pain is fresh in my mind.  
  • brucefxdl
    brucefxdl
    2 years ago
    Quoting FBUser214 on 06 Jan 2022 05:09 AM

    I got tired of fucking about with that and got one of these.

    Quoting Far Canal on 06 Jan 2022 07:14 AM

    They look pretty snappy, why are they not suitable for fuel pump tanks?.

    q/r conectors like this are usually for low pressure transfer pumps not high pressure fuel rail pumps  [efi]
  • FBUser214
    FBUser214
    2 years ago

    I had one of those and it started leaking after a while
  • FBUser214
    FBUser214
    2 years ago
    Quoting FBUser214 on 06 Jan 2022 05:09 AM

    I got tired of fucking about with that and got one of these.

    Quoting Far Canal on 06 Jan 2022 07:14 AM

    They look pretty snappy, why are they not suitable for fuel pump tanks?.

    Harley fuel lines to injectors are up to 60 psi, but the balance tube or crossover tube where they are used  is low pressure.
    They are obviously not up to the task in higher pressure situations.
  • beaglebasher
    beaglebasher
    2 years ago
    I have recently noticed a smell of petrol when I take the cover off the bike . 
    I  had a half arsed look but cant see anything obvious.
    It might be time to replace some of the fuel hoses I am thinking. 2002 fatboy.
    I watched steelos video but got a headache  about two minutes in.
    The rubber gasket / membrane / liner thing on the inside neck of the tank looks a bit dodgy. Anybody had that issue before?
  • Far Canal
    Far Canal
    2 years ago
    Quoting FBUser214 on 06 Jan 2022 05:09 AM

    I got tired of fucking about with that and got one of these.

    Quoting Far Canal on 06 Jan 2022 07:14 AM

    They look pretty snappy, why are they not suitable for fuel pump tanks?.

    Quoting FBUser214 on 06 Jan 2022 08:33 AM

    Harley fuel lines to injectors are up to 60 psi, but the balance tube or crossover tube where they are used  is low pressure.
    They are obviously not up to the task in higher pressure situations.

    I'll be darned!, did not know the fuel pumps had to run those sort of pressures.
    Only taken my tank off once in 13 years and can't remember why I had to do it.
    Would have taken it off lots more if it wasn't such a palaver.
    As 009jim said, the old bikes were so much easier.
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