Topic: Fuel Tank Removal w/Crossover

[Jim69Conv]

After getting my 77 CB550 running and looking good, I picked up a 1792 CB175K for cheap.  It has some issues that I've been cleaning up including rust in the fuel tank.   The electolysis methed worked very well.
This bike has a crossover tube from left to right that runs under the main tube.   Even after draining what I can from the tank, fuel spills all over when removing the tank since you've got to pull the crossover tube.  Any way to remove the tank without making a mess?

Thanks

[Lumbee]

1792?  Wow, thats an old bike!!     Sorry, I couldn't resist.  With a crossover tube like that you are going to have some spillage when you remove it.  I always keep a rag handy...

[Jim69Conv]

Damn this lexdysia!   
OK, some spillage is just part of life then.   

Thanks

[bryanj]

Yup, its officially known as a PIA, fit new pipe whilst its off

[ProTeal55]

This is an easy one..
Just get a piece of fuel hose, attach it to one of the nipples, and then run the hose up and under the tunnel on the back fo the tank and attach to the other nipple. This is what I did on my old CB450 tank and never had an issue with it was so ever. Guess it all depends on how your seat mounts up to the back of the tank. If you dig up my old thread I think I have some pics posted of what I did..

So you either do the above, or install some small shut off valves on each nipple to avoid fuel going all over the place..

[mystic_1]

MotionPro saves the day.  We used this on my wife's old CB350 twin, which has the same sort of crossover.


QUICK DISCONNECT 1/4 DUAL SHUT OFF


The dual shut off version seals both ends when you disconnect it.

mystic_1

[Toxic]

Thanks for that link, I was looking for that a couple of weeks ago.

I just ordered one.

[Frankenkit]

does anyone have a pic of how they routed their line with the quick disconnect valve?

[mystic_1]

Kit,

On my wife's CB350 twin, we just went in a straight shot from one crossover nipple to the other, with a slight downward bow to pass beneath the frame backbone, just above and behind the carbs IIRC.  Note that the nipples are sort of long, so you have to sort of fold the hoses back at a sharp angle when you remove or install the tank otherwise you get hung up on the backbone.  You could shorten the nipples, but then you loose the little flare at the end that helps retain the tubing.

Sorry, no pics of that.

mystic_1

[Frankenkit]

ok thanks.  I'll have to run it out there and try it out. 

[Laminar]

Note that the nipples are sort of long

What is this...Duke Nukem?

[mystic_1]

Heh, just knew someone was gonna comment on that


Kit, it's tricky because you can only get a couple of fingers in there in order to push the button on the side of the valve, or to push it together for reassembly.  It's way better, though, than spilling gas all over hell and back.

mystic_1

[kos]

You guys...come on, use two roach clips!

No sh*t...Honda made a heavy duty looking pinch pliers for this.

KOS

[kos]

Roach clip 101....


Here are photos showing two types of clip pliers.

KOS

[HondanutRider]

You guys...come on, use two roach clips!

No sh*t...Honda made a heavy duty looking pinch pliers for this.

KOS

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned this before:  FIRST DRAIN THE TANK.  (That's what I always do by removing the petcock bowl or the main feed line and then opening it up.)

[Alan F.]

 Even after draining what I can from the tank, fuel spills all over when removing the tank since you've got to pull the crossover tube.  Any way to remove the tank without making a mess?

from the original post...

[mystic_1]

The crossover tube is below the bottom of the tank and therefore below the level of the fuel inlet.  Fuel always pools in the crossover line itself even if the tank is drained completely with the petcock on reserve.

Besides, having shutoffs reduces the time it takes to remove the tank from several minutes to a few seconds.

mystic_1

[Old Scrambler]

KOS and ProTeal55 have the most practical solutions for a sanitary look on a complete bike.  I deal with this on all of my early HONDA restorations. The easiest solution is to replace the entire cross-over line with a longer unit to fit over the frame. From then on you have moved up to the CB750 crowd that has to stop along the side of the road and lean your bike to the right to get the last 3-cups of fuel to the petcock.

[Raul CB750K1]

Mystic, you beat me to it. I was shown that little device the other day and I'm going to buy it for my CB350.


My spanish-made Sanglas bike has what the users call "second reserve". When you have depleted your reserve on the petcock side, stop the bike, lean and shake the bike until the gas sitting at the other side of the tank, above the frame bridge, and you have 2 liters more gas. Before painting the bike I was thinking about having a piece of tube welded at both sides and join the two cavities, but at the end I decided to keep it original.

[Frankenkit]

I got my connector fitted, straight across.  Works a treat

[starkmojo]

I was dealing with this yesterday too- I am gonna have to get one.

 

[Frankenkit]

be very gentle with them, they don't like bending. 

[starkmojo]

Ruh-ro Raggie 

[Frankenkit]

eh, I ordered two (one for each bike) and put one on- but the barbed end:
 a) only likes to go in once- it is exceedingly hard to remove from the hose
b) does not like to be bent.

so it snapped. I don't know if they all will do that, but that one did... so I sent it back.