Ever wondered about installing an I/S sending unit in a Std./Tourer tank?

[John Schmidt]

I've always thought the Std./Tourer tank inner space was too limited to allow for the insertion of the float and its action. Apparently not. The guy doing the video isn't who I'd chose to lead a personality dynamics seminar, but he does an exemplary job of the install. Plus, at the end it gives you some insight as to how the sender is installed and how to do it with relative ease.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiW734PtKzI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51e9qzxQHcg

[Rams]

Nope, never considered it.   I'd have to hire it done and although I may be wrong, it's cheaper to just buy an I/S tank.   Currently have two Valkyries, both have I/S tanks.   It is, as it should be.   One has the sender in it, the other doesn't.

Rams

[John Schmidt]

Nope, never considered it.   I'd have to hire it done and although I may be wrong, it's cheaper to just buy an I/S tank.   Currently have two Valkyries, both have I/S tanks.   It is, as it should be.   One has the sender in it, the other doesn't.

Rams

Don't know about that, a sending unit only costs about $85 but an I/S tank runs well north of that. They're usually in the $500+ range, I can cut a hole for a lot less than that...and I already have the hole saw. 

[Jess from VA]

I thought IS tanks were closer to $800.  (minty/no fubars) (and you're lucky if you need a black one since more black ISs were made)

Still, my Valks (both interstates) in good tune, keep such good steady/reliable mileage, that my trip meter is about as good as the gas gauges for letting me know when I'm approaching reserve.  (220, but using no corn gas, and filled right up to the neck every time)

High speeds (and headwinds) for hours uses more gas, but I rarely do that.

Besides that, once the IS gauge starts blinking at you (maybe 8-12 miles before reserve), it's not a gauge anymore, it's just an annoying blinker.  Of course, if you add your own float and gauge to a std tank, you wouldn't have that issue.  

I do like the IS two tripmeter setup.  I reset #1 at all fill-ups, and use #2 for trips, but I instantly reset #2 whenever I hit reserve... and use that to count down (up to) 30 miles to empty (conservatively, but not by much).  That is the best gas gauge you can have on reserve (as opposed to a needle bouncing on empty, or a blinking led).    

[Rams]

Nope, never considered it.   I'd have to hire it done and although I may be wrong, it's cheaper to just buy an I/S tank.   Currently have two Valkyries, both have I/S tanks.   It is, as it should be.   One has the sender in it, the other doesn't.

Rams

Don't know about that, a sending unit only costs about $85 but an I/S tank runs well north of that. They're usually in the $500+ range, I can cut a hole for a lot less than that...and I already have the hole saw.  

I'm thinking it's gonna be just a bit more complicated than that.   You probably have skills I don't possess so maybe, maybe not.   If you proceed with your plan, please let us know how it works out.   I have no doubt it can be done, just not by me.   Pretty sure if I tried that, the end result would be me trashing a Standard/Tourer tank.

Rams

[John Schmidt]

Rams, I have no plans to embark on such an endeavor, it's just that over the years I've heard the question asked as to whether an I/S sending unit can be installed in a Std./Tourer tank. I happened across these two videos so thought I'd post them in answer to others that have asked the question. I don't need it, my trike is a converted I/S and I've had an I/S tank on the old bike for close to 18 yrs. at least.

[Sorcerer]

My concern would be the 4 screw holes would leak at some point. Does anyone that has a I S tank know if there is a blind threaded well stud welded to the inside of the tank.

[f6john]

I remember someone in Europe splitting tanks open and widening them for extra capacity, so putting in a sending unit should be cake compared to that!

[John Schmidt]

My concern would be the 4 screw holes would leak at some point. Does anyone that has a I S tank know if there is a blind threaded well stud welded to the inside of the tank.

I had the same thought re. those screws. I figure if I have the ability to cut a hole for the float arm insertion, surely I have the skill to drill four more smaller ones to enable me to weld a plate nut in place. Since the larger hole is already there, just slip the nut in place internally and hold with a finger while running a bolt into the nut. Then apply downward pressure on the bolt to hold the nut in place, I once made a bracket that you ran the bolt through and then into the nut, looked like a small gear puller. The feet of the bracket pressed against the surface while the bolt pulled down/out on the nut, held it real solid. I then used a couple small tack welds at first, allowing you to check position before doing a permanent weld. Repeat on the other three nuts and you have a bolted in sender, not a screwed in one.

[Rams]

My concern would be the 4 screw holes would leak at some point. Does anyone that has a I S tank know if there is a blind threaded well stud welded to the inside of the tank.

I had the same thought re. those screws. I figure if I have the ability to cut a hole for the float arm insertion, surely I have the skill to drill four more smaller ones to enable me to weld a plate nut in place. Since the larger hole is already there, just slip the nut in place internally and hold with a finger while running a bolt into the nut. Then apply downward pressure on the bolt to hold the nut in place, I once made a bracket that you ran the bolt through and then into the nut, looked like a small gear puller. The feet of the bracket pressed against the surface while the bolt pulled down/out on the nut, held it real solid. I then used a couple small tack welds at first, allowing you to check position before doing a permanent weld. Repeat on the other three nuts and you have a bolted in sender, not a screwed in one.

Thinking I may have an extra Standard tank some where around here, not sure.   May have given them all away.  If I can find one, wanna try?

Rams

[John Schmidt]

My concern would be the 4 screw holes would leak at some point. Does anyone that has a I S tank know if there is a blind threaded well stud welded to the inside of the tank.

I had the same thought re. those screws. I figure if I have the ability to cut a hole for the float arm insertion, surely I have the skill to drill four more smaller ones to enable me to weld a plate nut in place. Since the larger hole is already there, just slip the nut in place internally and hold with a finger while running a bolt into the nut. Then apply downward pressure on the bolt to hold the nut in place, I once made a bracket that you ran the bolt through and then into the nut, looked like a small gear puller. The feet of the bracket pressed against the surface while the bolt pulled down/out on the nut, held it real solid. I then used a couple small tack welds at first, allowing you to check position before doing a permanent weld. Repeat on the other three nuts and you have a bolted in sender, not a screwed in one.

Thinking I may have an extra Standard tank some where around here, not sure.   May have given them all away.  If I can find one, wanna try?

Rams

Not really, like I said...I have no need of one and I have enough things going right now to occupy me for some time to come. Hoping to have the old bike out of my garage in the next couple months, giving me room to turn around without having to move the car outside during the day.

[Rams]

My concern would be the 4 screw holes would leak at some point. Does anyone that has a I S tank know if there is a blind threaded well stud welded to the inside of the tank.

I had the same thought re. those screws. I figure if I have the ability to cut a hole for the float arm insertion, surely I have the skill to drill four more smaller ones to enable me to weld a plate nut in place. Since the larger hole is already there, just slip the nut in place internally and hold with a finger while running a bolt into the nut. Then apply downward pressure on the bolt to hold the nut in place, I once made a bracket that you ran the bolt through and then into the nut, looked like a small gear puller. The feet of the bracket pressed against the surface while the bolt pulled down/out on the nut, held it real solid. I then used a couple small tack welds at first, allowing you to check position before doing a permanent weld. Repeat on the other three nuts and you have a bolted in sender, not a screwed in one.

Thinking I may have an extra Standard tank some where around here, not sure.   May have given them all away.  If I can find one, wanna try?

Rams

Not really, like I said...I have no need of one and I have enough things going right now to occupy me for some time to come. Hoping to have the old bike out of my garage in the next couple months, giving me room to turn around without having to move the car outside during the day.

Obviously, you need a bigger garage. 
Doesn't matter how big you build them, they always end up needing to be bigger.   

Rams

[John Schmidt]

You're so right. It's an oversized double garage in which I barely have room for the two bikes, the car, and my "stuff." 

[Wizzard]

I have a standard. Why a gauge? I ride with the petcock set to normal and when the engine sputters or looses power I switch to reserve and I got approx 30 miles to find gas. Not a problem.

[John Schmidt]

Wizzard...I agree. In the past I just watched the miles, after a few hundred miles a rider has a pretty good idea how far he can go on a tank. However I won't run the tank down to the point I have no choice but to go on reserve, that's a bit of a toss of the dice.  The only reason I posted these videos is in answer to any number of members over the years asking about doing just that...adding a sending unit to a Std./Tourer tank.

[TJ]

 You know old man , you just have to much time on your hands.........   

[John Schmidt]

You know old man , you just have to much time on your hands.........   

You're so right. I'm still looking for that retired 60 yr. old hooker that just won the lotto and needs help finding ways to spend it. Then my time will be limited...probably my life as well. So tell me...how's thing in Lake Flacid? I hear it's a nice place to "hang around"...if that's all you can do! 

Hope to be down in October to see you and the rest of the Fla. gang. 

[Bagger John - #3785]

My '99 Tourer wears an '00 I/S fuel tank, along with a lot of '00-'01 I/S parts.

That confuses many. 

I have had a number of bar-graph LED gauges wired to the sender; the latest (and most accurate) is a 10-segment unit I got from eBay. Tracks better from full to empty than its Interstate counterpart, one of which is its stablemate.

If I were doing this again I'd do it exactly as I did it the first time UNLESS I was running the bike purely as a Standard (stripped down). The I/S tank looks very out of place in that scenario.

[TJ]

You know old man , you just have to much time on your hands.........   

You're so right. I'm still looking for that retired 60 yr. old hooker that just won the lotto and needs help finding ways to spend it. Then my time will be limited...probably my life as well. So tell me...how's thing in Lake Flacid? I hear it's a nice place to "hang around"...if that's all you can do! 

Hope to be down in October to see you and the rest of the Fla. gang. 

 

[Rams]

The I/S tank looks very out of place in that scenario.

Interesting, you're the first I've heard of to state that opinion.    I happen to like the look much better along with the additional fuel load the I/S tank provides but, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, to each their own.........  Ride safe.

Rams

[Bagger John - #3785]

The I/S tank looks very out of place in that scenario.

Interesting, you're the first I've heard of to state that opinion.    I happen to like the look much better along with the additional fuel load the I/S tank provides but, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, to each their own.........  Ride safe.

Rams

On a Standard, a wider (not taller) tank would really set the bike's lines off. Many years ago, Nape (of the Ontario, CAN area) had someone cut and re-section his Standard tank, increasing the width a couple of inches or so. I think he got 8 gallon capacity and the result looked very slick. I saw his bike in person and whomever did the work definitely knew their stuff.

On anything with a windshield or fairing, the taller I/S tank fills the visual gap between seat nose and fairing quite nicely. I run a Bat Wing on my Tourer and have modified a set of Trigger-Lock plates from a Victory Hammer to allow me to use my various Fats windshields with the Bat Wing fork mounts (see 1500 Tech threads for particulars). I/S tank looks nice with either.

I'm on the hunt for a 2003 Standard and will grab one when we relocate to a place with a larger garage. The idea is to reprise the one I'd built for Blondie a number of years ago, with a few of my own touches. It's going to be used for car and bike meet cruises, the occasional runs to family and friends - so I don't need super-long-range capability and thus will keep the stock tank. Probably won't even run saddlebags on it unless we know we need to carry extra clothing and whatnot. 

[Rams]

The I/S tank looks very out of place in that scenario.

Interesting, you're the first I've heard of to state that opinion.    I happen to like the look much better along with the additional fuel load the I/S tank provides but, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, to each their own.........  Ride safe.

Rams

On a Standard, a wider (not taller) tank would really set the bike's lines off. Many years ago, Nape (of the Ontario, CAN area) had someone cut and re-section his Standard tank, increasing the width a couple of inches or so. I think he got 8 gallon capacity and the result looked very slick. I saw his bike in person and whomever did the work definitely knew their stuff.

On anything with a windshield or fairing, the taller I/S tank fills the visual gap between seat nose and fairing quite nicely. I run a Bat Wing on my Tourer and have modified a set of Trigger-Lock plates from a Victory Hammer to allow me to use my various Fats windshields with the Bat Wing fork mounts (see 1500 Tech threads for particulars). I/S tank looks nice with either.

I'm on the hunt for a 2003 Standard and will grab one when we relocate to a place with a larger garage. The idea is to reprise the one I'd built for Blondie a number of years ago, with a few of my own touches. It's going to be used for car and bike meet cruises, the occasional runs to family and friends - so I don't need super-long-range capability and thus will keep the stock tank. Probably won't even run saddlebags on it unless we know we need to carry extra clothing and whatnot. 

Sounds interesting.   We each dress our Valks to suit our own use and visual appeal.   Hopefully each will be unique and still please the rider.   Be safe out there.

Rams

[Bagger John - #3785]

Sounds interesting.   We each dress our Valks to suit our own use and visual appeal.   Hopefully each will be unique and still please the rider.   Be safe out there.

Rams

Hopefully the Just Pics area comes back so we can check out all the Valkyries which inspired us over the years, but shown below is one of two pictures which cemented my interest in the F6 line and has led to the acquisition of a number of them.

Blondie's Standard was very similar to this one, with the addition of a set of KewlMetal fork covers (which I still have, awaiting the next project bike). There were a set of LeatherLyke bags on it but the pipes, light bar and many other items were the same as Will's. I really loved the look of the bike and so did she.

One other thing I have, still in boxes - a set of solid wheels. When this project is built it'll resemble a Fat Boy of roughly the same era, albeit one with a proper motor and suspension.