Topic: adding a fuel sight

[wannabridin]

hey guys!  i was just wondering if anyone could shed some light on adding a fuel sight to my tank.  i've always thought they were pretty rad looking, but i don't know how good it would look on my cafe build...  thoughts/opinions on this?  i don't think the install would be difficult, just get some 1/8" NPT bungs and some 90 degree brass fittings.  then i could get some 1/8" transparent fuel line to match what's on the carbs, and i'd be able to see my fuel levels at a glance!  thanks for the help guys!

also, if anyone has any good pictures on fuel sights installed on any type of bike, i'd appreciate it!

[greasy j]

not sure I follow. so it's not welded into the tank like a window some bikes have for oil, right?

you mean a tube that would be level with the tank and show the fuel level?

please elaborate and I will tell you whether or not I approve.

[wannabridin]

scroll down some, to the sight kits.  i found this AFTER i posted, go figure!  they're only $40!!  http://www.flyritechoppers.com/Pg/FRCParts.html

they're also commonly known as a sight glass, but i don't want it out of glass, regardless of how cool it is, because it could break easily!  i've attached a picture of a sight glass on an old sportster style tank...

[Duke McDukiedook]

More holes in tankey = more chance of leaky. 

[mgbgt89]

Now it would be a little more work, but that would be cool if it was recessed into the tank for a little cleaner look.

[greasy j]

I dig it! you have my permission to proceed.

[wannabridin]

ya, i've seen them done that way, but you're right, quite a bit of work, and i don't know if the look is the greatest, especially if you can't find the properly sized OD bungs...  

the FRC kits have 3/8" line, but i'm sure 1/4" or 1/8" would be fine, like from here: http://www.bungking.com/osc/product_info.php?cPath=15_23&products_id=66&osCsid=c76bba48fd7fc16b8509832e6a56b415

the only problem is that you don't get the nifty "finished" pieces like the ones from FRC.  ok greasy, do i have your permission??  


*edit* greasy you beat me to asking!  sounds like it's a go-ahead!!  haha!



thoughts on how cool it would look for the "cafe" theme?  i feel it's old-looking enough yet still functional enough to be accepted and "respected"!! 

[wannabridin]

More holes in tankey = more chance of leaky.  

i thought of this too DD, but i don't think i'd have to worry about any leaks as long as i was careful with the welds!  a good complete weld, followed by a pressure test would ensure a good tank!  anything is fine if the proper care is taken right??  

[swellguy]

Among the Jockey Journal and Chopcult crowd - heavily modified bikes by home builders - they are considered to be very gay (their words).

[greasy j]

as far as accepted and respected, there will always be some jerk purist who will say 'that doesn't belong there'.

I think it would be practical and cool looking, do what ya like and you'll be respected for doing it your way. that's how I see it.

the first guy to do something new will always be criticized, but it may become the new standard eventually. like Francis Bacon and scientific method.

I respect, or maybe admire is a better word, pioneers more than followers.

[greasy j]

Among the Jockey Journal and Chopcult crowd - heavily modified bikes by home builders - they are considered to be very gay (their words).

strange. I think men kissing men is gay. disco dancing to the village people, etc.

but a fuel sight? wrong term.

myself, I'm motivated by a contrarian streak to do what the 'in-crowd' isn't doing. those guys are trying to make a set of rules for bike building. putting constraints on creativity and criticizing that which isn't part of their 'cannon'. if everyone was like that nothing new would ever happen. do what you like and #$%* the rest.

[wannabridin]

couldn't of said it better myself greasy!  if i can find the parts to do it the way i want to, then i'm considering it done!   

[Frankenkit]

modified bikes do not equal male-male love affairs.

What I'd use their definition of 'gay' on is maybe heavily home-modified bikes that look like they were slapped together out of whatever they could find at Home Depot and rig up in an afternoon- duct tape and all.  Rough/shoddy work = bad news.

If it's clean and looks like it's "supposed" to be there, then I'm all for it.
... and maybe refrain from kissin' the hunky boys helping you do your build, just to be sure.

[swellguy]

Among the Jockey Journal and Chopcult crowd - heavily modified bikes by home builders - they are considered to be very gay (their words).

I can see that my description may have been lost in translation. Said differently, many people think they don't look cool anymore as they're an often overused "gimmick" by some builders. I myself have built a bike with one but the sight tube was frenched into the tank so it didn't protrude beyond the tank's profile.

I support Crime Scene but you can probably buy all the hardware you need at a plumbing shop for about $10.

Here's what Crime Scene's kit will look like:



A billet version, not form Crime Scene:



Not my style, but there's always a Jack Daniels bike at a big show:



Personally my favorite, and frenched in design:



It all depends on what you want to do with your bike and how big your budget is.

[wannabridin]

thanks for the pictures swell!!  any chance you have pictures of your sight that's frenched in?  i can work with metal a little bit, but it would be pretty tough for me to french one of these in, especially on the side where i would want it.  the top doesn't seem to functional to me, other than looks...

modified bikes do not equal male-male love affairs.

What I'd use their definition of 'gay' on is maybe heavily home-modified bikes that look like they were slapped together out of whatever they could find at Home Depot and rig up in an afternoon- duct tape and all.  Rough/shoddy work = bad news.

If it's clean and looks like it's "supposed" to be there, then I'm all for it.
... and maybe refrain from kissin' the hunky boys helping you do your build, just to be sure.

don't worry kit, i'll leave the kissing up to you 

[mgbgt89]

That frenched in one looks great. I knew i was on to something...

[Hannibal Smith]

You gotta do those things right, or boy, they are ugly!

The "billet" one is obtrusive, looks cheap, and detracts big time.

The curved one with the crude 90 degree fittings also looks cheap. The fittings look like some stoners homemade dope pipe with bits from the hardware store, not elegant at all.

The "Jack Daniels" one is beyond cheesy, the first guy who did it might have been cool, but any copycats are just dorky!

The Frenched is probably the best, and it looks pretty 1970's-

This is my opinion of course!

[vorhese]

I have never liked these things, aesthetically.  It's really not to hard to shake the tank or look inside the cap, or even just flip it to reserve.

[wannabridin]

a frenched in one would look great, but it's a difficult task, that's for sure!  i feel if one could find some 90 degree NPT fittings that were smooth and round, it would look a lot better, and a little smaller size tucked right up against the tank would help too, something like these

[Frankenkit]

so... if breakable glass is an issue, would there be any advantage to using clear fuel line and replacing it every so often when it yellows?

[mgbgt89]

Lol.. I just notice the "full" and "#$%*ed" markings on that tank. Awesome.

[wannabridin]

haha!  i just noticed that too!  nice...

Kit, since my other fuel line is going to be red on my build, i would use some red fuel line, which i think would look good.  it wouldn't "yellow" as much as clear, and yes, it would be very easy to replace if/when it gets hard or discolors!  what are YOUR opinions kit?  i know your general thoughts on the subject of modification, but in regards to this specifically?

i think that if i used one of the kits, they come with two small "beauty rings" to help clean up the exposed weld area around the base of the bung.  or if i could get the bungs to sit relatively flush to the tank, it would help with pulling everything in.  then use some of those smooth bend brass 90 degree fittings and run the fuel hose all the way up the top of the bend, and it would look like the fuel line is almost coming out of the tank!  i bet this would look pretty good!

[Frankenkit]

I think the full/#$%*ed frenched one is smokin' hot, and if I were close to having the kind of skills/equipment it'd take to put that on a tank, it'd go on my cl350 for sure.   I also agree with you on the smooth 45* angle fittings instead of the blocky ones, but that would be more a matter of the 'look' you're going for.  The smooth ones would fit a super curvy cafe and the blocky ones would fit a really urban, industrial streetfighter.  I'd be tempted to take a jeweler's file to the blocky one and make it look 'unique' with some of the excess brass you've got there.

[wannabridin]

well frenching in anything properly is VERY difficult, especially when you have  no real experience with it!  i've tried it once, and it did not go too well...  maybe i'll just stick with keeping it nice and close to the tank, and making clean welds so it'll look good...

[Frankenkit]

Even if you have sloppy but fuel-tight welds, you can always file/grind 'em down and bondo around them...