Gas Station Flow Rates Increasing...

[Joe Hummer]

A good laugh for the day...This weekend, I contacted a couple of the local gas stations asking if there was a way to slow the pumps down when filling up the bikes. As all riders know, filling a bike tank on a fast pump leads to gas spilling all over the tank...and the nozzles usually don't have a fine enough control to keep this from happening. Here is part of the response I got from Phillips 66...

"Most dispensers have comparable flowrates so this issue would not be isolated to Phillips 66, Conoco, or 76 Brands. There is no way to restrict the flowrate at each station. One option would be to fill up a portable container, then use that to fill up the motorcycle, but we understand that this option is not very convenient."

Seriously!!?? This is the best they can come up with to keep from splashing gas all over our bikes??

I think it is time for all motorcycle riders to write their gas station customer service departments notes letting them know that we are not happy about this problem. They have sped up the pumps to the point of absurdity...all to please impatient motorists. Who is going to join me?

[DK]

I wonder how many fires are caused by the overflow. I have seen pics of it happening but I've no idea how many happen each year.

If it is a significant number, the AMA should place pursuing a regulation requiring on-off flow restricters to its legislative agenda. 

I remember a post from several years concerning enlarging the fill pipe vent hole by drilling it out to lot the air escape quicker which would minimize the sudden eruption of gas and probably also enable getting more gas in before things get sensitive.

The person posting drilled it out. I haven't done this for fear of a spark starting a fire. I'm considering trying to do it with a brass drift which I think would be safe in that it wouldn't caust a spark.

Another possibility would be for someone to see if a flow restricter could be devised that you carry with you and clamp on the nozzle for adding the last half gallon or so. However, this could be even more dangerous.

Dandangerous.

[PAVALKER]

http://www.mccuff.com/

[msb]

http://www.mccuff.com/

Now that would be a good item to have on board, if they do work as shown. You have one?
I've always just kept my ring and little finger in between the pump handle and trigger to try and control the flow...usually works but can be a pain sometimes.

[Jess from VA]

Maybe overly simplistic but I tend to find older station's pumps are more likely to feed slow than new stations.  That said, I try to pass stations that look like they do so little business they have old gas (and who knows what else) in their tanks.

[Mobile Mayor]

I believe that flow rate can be adjusted.  Recently, I happened to be at a local station where the pumps were being serviced and checked for proper calibration.  The pumps were difficult to control when trying to top off.   I had a small spill.   I went to the person working on the pump in the next island and  informed him of the problem,  and why bikers have difficulty 3/4 gallon in,  and what could result if gas hit hot pipes.   He said he would take care of it.   The nozzles are now much easier to feather when topping off.   Station managers should be made aware of this type of situation so that they can make pump technicians aware that they have to correct the problem.

[PAVALKER]

http://www.mccuff.com/

Now that would be a good item to have on board, if they do work as shown. You have one?
I've always just kept my ring and little finger in between the pump handle and trigger to try and control the flow...usually works but can be a pain sometimes.

I do not have one....but think a friend has a similar device....will ask him about it.

[fudgie]

I never have trouble feathering a nozzle in all my travels. Maybe just a couple. I put a rag or paper towel over the filler hole as I fill. Then I place it over the tip as I put it back.

[Willow]

I fill my tank to a higher level than do a lot of riders.

Some nozzles, maybe even most, I find respond to variable flow rate by feathering the grip.  Some don't.  Some are just either all on or completely off.  When I encounter one of those I just bury the nozzle in the fuel after the initial pressure shut of and the repeatedly squeeze the grip and let it shut off until I get to the level that is acceptable to me.

[WintrSol]

http://www.mccuff.com/

Now that would be a good item to have on board, if they do work as shown. You have one?

I have one in my saddle bag. Yes, it helps keep the splashes inside the tank, and, as the tank fills, even if the nozzle shuts off early, you can keep hitting the lever to get that last 1/2 gallon in. Some nozzles have small vent holes near the end, so you have to make sure you hold it so that hole is past the end of the cuff; otherwise, I just put the nozzle just past the end of the cuff, and hold it there. I wipe then stuff mine with a paper towel, before putting it back in the saddle bag.

[msb]

http://www.mccuff.com/

Now that would be a good item to have on board, if they do work as shown. You have one?

I have one in my saddle bag. Yes, it helps keep the splashes inside the tank, and, as the tank fills, even if the nozzle shuts off early, you can keep hitting the lever to get that last 1/2 gallon in. Some nozzles have small vent holes near the end, so you have to make sure you hold it so that hole is past the end of the cuff; otherwise, I just put the nozzle just past the end of the cuff, and hold it pthere. I wipe then stuff mine with a paper towel, before putting it back in the saddle bag.

Thanks for the info.

[..]

Wait until gas goes up in price   

[john]

                      

[R J]

 

I remember a post from several years concerning enlarging the fill pipe vent hole by drilling it out to lot the air escape quicker which would minimize the sudden eruption of gas and probably also enable getting more gas in before things get sensitive.

The person posting drilled it out. I haven't done this for fear of a spark starting a fire. I'm considering trying to do it with a brass drift which I think would be safe in that it wouldn't caust a spark.

Another possibility would be for someone to see if a flow restricter could be devised that you carry with you and clamp on the nozzle for adding the last half gallon or so. However, this could be even more dangerous.
 

YOU DO NOT NEED TO DRILL IT OUT.

Take a scratch all and just run it around and around in the pipe it will enlarge it out real nice.

The pipe is not steel, it is a flimsy lead/aluminum or something very soft.    I enlarged MGM's hole shortly after I bought the bike.      That was the way I enlarged the hole.

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

$25 on sale for $20 for a hunk of plastic  I'll just keep feathering the trigger on the nozzle 

[DarkSideR]

If it would prevent what happens in the video below from happened I think $25 is well worth it.
http://bikerpunks.com/mediaviewer/5165/custom-motorcycle-goes-up-in-flames-at-the-fuel-pump.html

[MP]

Phillips works too to enlarge hole.

[MarkT]

I don't buy gas at Phillips 66/Conoco at all ever.  I caught them padding the pumps at 3 different stations. One of their stations, their car wash machine ran into my Explorer and ripped the roof rack off. They denied any responsibility.  I called Tom Martino, radio consumer advocate, on the air.  Suddenly they decided to pay. I had a P-66/Conoco card that had a ridiculous annual rate if you carried a balance and they wouldn't lower it so I cut it up and sent it to them - like this:



16 years ago I wrote a tech article on enlarging the hole - you can do it with a tapered punch or the like, the metal is soft.  I just drilled it out way oversize on Jade, while I had the tank off and purged for brazing the belly tank bung.

http://www.horseapple.com/Valkyrie/Tech_Tips/Burping_Brunhilda/burping_brunhilda.html

Never tried to stick the nozzle in the gas and use the auto-shutoff.  Have to check that out.  Good tip.

[old2soon]

If it would prevent what happens in the video below from happened I think $25 is well worth it.
http://bikerpunks.com/mediaviewer/5165/custom-motorcycle-goes-up-in-flames-at-the-fuel-pump.html

         Beneath the video it said the dud(e) left the engine running while refueling.  We all ride. THAT being said I ALWAYS shut the engine off during the refueling process. NOT shutting engine off while refueling might/can/WILL be expensive!  This video proves the expense part.  I won't even touch on the stupidity part.  RIDE SAFE.

[0leman]

I bought a McCuff while I lived in CA due to the device they required at all pumps.  That rubber collar that is suppose to keep the gas fumes in the tanks while filling.  It was almost impossible to fill the tank up with that collar on.   The McCuff allowed me to fill nearly to top without much problems.  don't use it on pumps without the collar.

Most of the pumps I use let me feather the flow for the last quarter/half gallon.   Those that don't, I don't try to fill to the top.  It would be great if all pumps would allow one to feather the flow.

[DarkSideR]

To top off my tank I have developed a method that works at most gas stations despite the flow rate to really, really top it off.

When you look into the tank (down the filler hole) there is a flanged ring (about a 1/4" deep) at the top of the hole, and then below that is the neck of the filler hole. The flange is a smaller diameter than the neck of the filler hole (this is the key).

When filling up, to start I bury the pump nozzle as far as it will go into the tank and pump away. After the first auto-shutoff I then angle the nozzle so that the tip of the nozzle is under the flanged ring, and right up against the neck of the filler hole. I then feather the pump. What happens is the opening of the nozzle is right against the neck slowing down the flow of gas. What also happens is the opening of the nozzle is under the flanged ring and acts as a splash guard for the gas that does want to spit out.

With this method I can usually get an addition 1/2 gallon of gas into the tank without mishap.

FYI - I have also done the gas tank mode to enlarge the filler vent hole which speeds up the feather the additional 1/2 gallon into the tank.

Hope this helps ya'll. 

[msb]

Relating this topic to another post recently about "excessive lean" of ones Valk when on the side stand (my IS has a pretty good lean).  I too try to fill my tank to the max, especially when on longer rides. Filling it when it is upright makes it easier to squeeze in that extra half gallon or so, and when doing this I usually just take right off from the pump after filling. Just this past Summer though, I forgot myself and placed the bike back down on the stand after filling "to the max" to get something out of the trunk, and a significant leak through the closed gas cap ensued. Lesson learned. 

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

If it would prevent what happens in the video below from happened I think $25 is well worth it.
http://bikerpunks.com/mediaviewer/5165/custom-motorcycle-goes-up-in-flames-at-the-fuel-pump.html

Been riding for 36 years and never had that happen. Don't need to spend $25 to prevent what happened in the video, just some common sense........but then again it's not so common. 

[DarkSideR]

If it would prevent what happens in the video below from happened I think $25 is well worth it.
http://bikerpunks.com/mediaviewer/5165/custom-motorcycle-goes-up-in-flames-at-the-fuel-pump.html

Been riding for 36 years and never had that happen. Don't need to spend $25 to prevent what happened in the video, just some common sense........but then again it's not so common. 

I read the bike was running while he was filling up. That is a big no-no.

[..]

Then there's the loonies who rely on the auto shut off and clean their windshield whilst refilling. 

[Jess from VA]

To top off my tank I have developed a method that works at most gas stations despite the flow rate to really, really top it off.

When you look into the tank (down the filler hole) there is a flanged ring (about a 1/4" deep) at the top of the hole, and then below that is the neck of the filler hole. The flange is a smaller diameter than the neck of the filler hole (this is the key).

When filling up, to start I bury the pump nozzle as far as it will go into the tank and pump away. After the first auto-shutoff I then angle the nozzle so that the tip of the nozzle is under the flanged ring, and right up against the neck of the filler hole. I then feather the pump. What happens is the opening of the nozzle is right against the neck slowing down the flow of gas. What also happens is the opening of the nozzle is under the flanged ring and acts as a splash guard for the gas that does want to spit out.

With this method I can usually get an addition 1/2 gallon of gas into the tank without mishap.

FYI - I have also done the gas tank mode to enlarge the filler vent hole which speeds up the feather the additional 1/2 gallon into the tank.

Hope this helps ya'll.  

Same way.  Centerfill gas tank, I stay on the bike and fill to top.  But some pumps have no slow feed and it will eventually squirt out no matter how tricky you are with the nozzle, so I stop short of squirting out.  

If you really need a full tank on a fast feed pump, you can leave the nozzle buried deep and just keep letting it auto shutoff (click, click), and no splash.  It gets full or your hand gets tired. 

However you do it, you need to look down in the hole and observe the level...... eventually, it's full enough.

[..]

To top off my tank I have developed a method that works at most gas stations despite the flow rate to really, really top it off.

When you look into the tank (down the filler hole) there is a flanged ring (about a 1/4" deep) at the top of the hole, and then below that is the neck of the filler hole. The flange is a smaller diameter than the neck of the filler hole (this is the key).

When filling up, to start I bury the pump nozzle as far as it will go into the tank and pump away. After the first auto-shutoff I then angle the nozzle so that the tip of the nozzle is under the flanged ring, and right up against the neck of the filler hole. I then feather the pump. What happens is the opening of the nozzle is right against the neck slowing down the flow of gas. What also happens is the opening of the nozzle is under the flanged ring and acts as a splash guard for the gas that does want to spit out.

With this method I can usually get an addition 1/2 gallon of gas into the tank without mishap.

FYI - I have also done the gas tank mode to enlarge the filler vent hole which speeds up the feather the additional 1/2 gallon into the tank.

Hope this helps ya'll.  

Same way.  Centerfill gas tank, I stay on the bike and fill to top.  But some pumps have no slow feed and it will eventually squirt out no matter how tricky you are with the nozzle, so I stop short of squirting out.  

If you really need a full tank on a fast feed pump, you can leave the nozzle buried deep and just keep letting it auto shutoff (click, click), and no splash.  It gets full or your hand gets tired. 

However you do it, you need to look down in the hole and observe the level...... eventually, it's full enough.

So many double entedres to work with

Here's the first

so I stop short of squirting out

The next

leave the nozzle buried deep

And then

It gets full or your hand gets tired

So many

look down in the hole and observe the level

I wish I was younger

eventually, it's full enough

[WintrSol]

If you really top off the tank, don't leave your bike sitting in the sun while you go inside to get something. I learned this in Bryson City, NC; went inside to get a snack, and found a pool of gas under my VS800. Since then, if I fill up for maximum range, I then push or ride to a shady spot if I'm going to leave it sit a short while.

[The emperor has no clothes]

If you really top off the tank, don't leave your bike sitting in the sun while you go inside to get something. I learned this in Bryson City, NC; went inside to get a snack, and found a pool of gas under my VS800. Since then, if I fill up for maximum range, I then push or ride to a shady spot if I'm going to leave it sit a short while.

I was at McDonalds having lunch one day. Bright sunshine and 120* . People were a little concerned about the impending fireball. IT WASNT AN OVERFLOWING DRIBBLE. IT WAS A GUSHER !

[Jess from VA]

I wish I was younger

eventually, it's full enough

I wasn't really attempting a pornographic refueling story. 

Happy coincidence.