Fuel tank fill-up hack

[Glaserbeam]

Just a minor thing.  I was tired of having splash-back spray on my tank, and removing the nozzle carefully to avoid dripping on the tank.  Now the first thing I do when I pull up to the pump is to snag a couple of paper towels and wrap them around the hinge area of the filler cap.  Catches most of the splash-back, and when I remove the nozzle I can wipe it on the paper towel.

[Jersey]

Have you read about the the Filler Neck Mod?  Take a medium size screwdriver and use it to add holes to the top of the filler neck inside the tank.  Place the tip at various places around the upper part of the filler neck. Use the palm of your hand or hammer taps to make holes.  I followed up with a thicker diameter screwdriver to make the holes large.  Now there's very little issue filling... not to mention much less splash.  Hope that helps.

Jersey

[Jess from VA]

IF the pump slow feeds you don't need a rag, if you're careful.

IF it won't slow feed, I stop earlier than normal.

I fill up sitting on the bike and centered up.  I never once gassed my nuts.

[0leman]

I fill up sitting on the bike and centered up.  I never once gassed my nuts.

I stand rather that sit, less chance of gassed nuts.   

Also it allows me to gently sway the bike from back and forth to help get the air out.  AND yeah have put a few holes in the tube inside the filer neck.

[Jess from VA]

I fill up sitting on the bike and centered up.  I never once gassed my nuts.

I stand rather that sit, less chance of gassed nuts.   

Also it allows me to gently sway the bike from back and forth to help get the air out.  AND yeah have put a few holes in the tube inside the filer neck.

Yeah, I do it the same way (no holes in my neck though).   

With my short legs, it's hard to tell if I'm standing or sitting.  But I don't put the kickstand down, so if I'm not standing, the bike is falling into the pump.     

[Glaserbeam]

In CA, all the gasoline nozzles are covered with heavy boots/springs for vapor recovery, which you need to compress back with your free hand when filling a bike tank, and most only have one flow rate:  full-throttle fire hose!

[The emperor has no clothes]

In CA, all the gasoline nozzles are covered with heavy boots/springs for vapor recovery, which you need to compress back with your free hand when filling a bike tank, and most only have one flow rate:  full-throttle fire hose!

Just had to use those the other day in TwentyNine Palms. I had forgot what a pain in the ass they were. On top of requiring every body part to use, you can hardly see in the tank.

[0leman]

In CA, all the gasoline nozzles are covered with heavy boots/springs for vapor recovery, which you need to compress back with your free hand when filling a bike tank, and most only have one flow rate:  full-throttle fire hose!

Lived in CA for several years.  Found a device called a McCuff.  A rubber pacer one puts on the end of nozzle.  It allows on to pretty much fill the tank in CA without holding the rubber boot.   Not sure they still make it, but found it at McCuff.com.  I still use it when I slip over the into the Land of OZ.

[hueco]

Have you read about the the Filler Neck Mod?  Take a medium size screwdriver and use it to add holes to the top of the filler neck inside the tank.  Place the tip at various places around the upper part of the filler neck. Use the palm of your hand or hammer taps to make holes.  I followed up with a thicker diameter screwdriver to make the holes large.  Now there's very little issue filling... not to mention much less splash.  Hope that helps.

Jersey

Wouldn't it better to use a punch or chisel? Screwdrivers are are made to turn screws. Not punch holes in metal.

[Jersey]

Have you read about the the Filler Neck Mod?  Take a medium size screwdriver and use it to add holes to the top of the filler neck inside the tank.  Place the tip at various places around the upper part of the filler neck. Use the palm of your hand or hammer taps to make holes.  I followed up with a thicker diameter screwdriver to make the holes large.  Now there's very little issue filling... not to mention much less splash.  Hope that helps.

Jersey

Wouldn't it better to use a punch or chisel? Screwdrivers are are made to turn screws. Not punch holes in metal.

...next you'll probably say you shouldn't use a wrench as a hammer!   


agreed. a punch/chisel would be better.

[MarkT]

The metal of the filler neck is very soft.  I have some tapered large punches I think I got at Harbor Freight but I don't find them listed there right now.  Just pushed through the existing vent hole while moving it back and forth.  Opened the hole up to more than a half inch.  Took maybe a minute.  I didn't make multiple holes.  Probably a good idea.  I wrote this up on my tech tip pages around 20 years ago.  I would revise that article now to say a hand-turned drill is overkill - like I said, I found later on Jade & George just pushing a tapered punch or the like works well and doesn't leave filings to recover.  The hardest part is just having a large tapered punch shape.  http://horseapple.com/Valkyrie/Tech_Tips/Burping_Brunhilda/burping_brunhilda.html

[Jess from VA]

My dentist has some tools like that.