Long Shot. Removable Gas Tank System.

yuckfoo

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I really want a 14" x 3.5" cylindrical gas tank for my bike. Is there any way to fashion a tank system where the tank is removable? I'd love to be able to disconnect the fuel lines from the tank then remove the tank completely. Any thoughts on how this could be accomplished?
 
you could use one of those mini bike gas tanks then have an inline fuel shut off as well as one on the tank.

then weld on a large wingnut for each of the hose clamps and there you go!
 
The Bernzomatic propane cylinder. Find an empty one, look at the 2 minute and 30 second mark of this video, shows how to remove the valve. That blue propane bottle is the one you want. The valve is a Schrader type valve like in your inner tube valve stem. Get the tank clean, then drill out the big valve with a 3/8 bit. Find a connector hose, drill out the inside crap so the gas ca flow from the tank to the carb. That first Schrader valve you removed? Use that as for attaching a vent pipe. I would silver solder a tube to it so that it could be oriented so that teh vent tube does not leak fuel. You need to add a fuel fill hole and cap. There are suppliers of fuel fillers or you could jury rig one out of something. If you orient the tank the right way, the vent can be on the filler cap, then you can plug the Schrader valve hole.

2 propane bottles can have the tops off cut and attached top to top, to make a longer one, then add the filler and a standard fuel pitcock. You need a welder for these. Just make sure they are empty and cleaned out before cutting and welding, are we will meet you after we are dead to tell you what you did wrong.
 
The Bernzomatic propane cylinder. Find an empty one, look at the 2 minute and 30 second mark of this video, shows how to remove the valve. That blue propane bottle is the one you want. The valve is a Schrader type valve like in your inner tube valve stem. Get the tank clean, then drill out the big valve with a 3/8 bit. Find a connector hose, drill out the inside crap so the gas ca flow from the tank to the carb. That first Schrader valve you removed? Use that as for attaching a vent pipe. I would silver solder a tube to it so that it could be oriented so that teh vent tube does not leak fuel. You need to add a fuel fill hole and cap. There are suppliers of fuel fillers or you could jury rig one out of something. If you orient the tank the right way, the vent can be on the filler cap, then you can plug the Schrader valve hole.

2 propane bottles can have the tops off cut and attached top to top, to make a longer one, then add the filler and a standard fuel pitcock. You need a welder for these. Just make sure they are empty and cleaned out before cutting and welding, are we will meet you after we are dead to tell you what you did wrong.

Great find! Thanks. The only problem with that particular tank (the blue one) is that it's only 14 ounces or 1/10th of a gallon. I'm hoping for a tank that is 1/2 gallon. A 14" x 3.5" cylinder gets me there. I'm trying to discover the dimensions of that tank. I'm definitely limited to 14 inches in length and 3.5 inch diameter will look really right on the bike, but I could go to 4" diameter. As you say two tanks could be welded together but I'd have to find someone to do that as I can't weld nor do I have any place to keep welding equipment.

But this video is great! Anytime I can see someone getting it done it helps me press on.
 
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The Bernzomatic propane cylinder. Find an empty one, look at the 2 minute and 30 second mark of this video, shows how to remove the valve. That blue propane bottle is the one you want. The valve is a Schrader type valve like in your inner tube valve stem. Get the tank clean, then drill out the big valve with a 3/8 bit. Find a connector hose, drill out the inside crap so the gas ca flow from the tank to the carb. That first Schrader valve you removed? Use that as for attaching a vent pipe. I would silver solder a tube to it so that it could be oriented so that teh vent tube does not leak fuel. You need to add a fuel fill hole and cap. There are suppliers of fuel fillers or you could jury rig one out of something. If you orient the tank the right way, the vent can be on the filler cap, then you can plug the Schrader valve hole.

2 propane bottles can have the tops off cut and attached top to top, to make a longer one, then add the filler and a standard fuel pitcock. You need a welder for these. Just make sure they are empty and cleaned out before cutting and welding, are we will meet you after we are dead to tell you what you did wrong.

I've also seen some nice looking oxygen tanks. The problem is they sell by contents so they never mention the dimensions of the bottle. Most people buying oxygen don't care about the size of the tank. They are also expensive. But check out looks on this one.
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I really want a 14" x 3.5" cylindrical gas tank for my bike. Is there any way to fashion a tank system where the tank is removable? I'd love to be able to disconnect the fuel lines from the tank then remove the tank completely. Any thoughts on how this could be accomplished?
Use fiberglass, and just seal the valve in. You can use cardboard soaked in fiberglass resin to make the initial shape, or even a blown up ballon. Then just add a few layers, sand and paint or leave clear to act as a fuel gauge.
 
Look on Craiglist for used fire extinguishers. Find about the right size and make sue the nozzle screws off.

On the oxygen tanks, you can buy used on eBay, but expect to pay about $40.
 
I really want a 14" x 3.5" cylindrical gas tank for my bike. Is there any way to fashion a tank system where the tank is removable? I'd love to be able to disconnect the fuel lines from the tank then remove the tank completely. Any thoughts on how this could be accomplished?
I know this was posted a while ago. But just in case you or anyone else was interested. Just got a cylinder that would be good. Oxygen cylinder works good. I drilled through the cylinder and ran 1/2" tubes through the width of the cylinder and welded around the tubes to the cylinder, (for the steel one I made).

I did this on a steel one and aluminum. You could flare the ends of the tubes so they make perfect contact with the cylinder wall and use JB weld to seal any gaps. If you're a good welder you should be able to do a good job on steel. You can also use some brazing rods on aluminum...

Here's a couple pictures of the aluminum tank I made, Just imagine steel if you want to do it that way.
Drill through your fame and run all thread through the tank. Use some rubber plugs to snug everything up. (I put rubber plugs in the holes which cushion the tank against the frame).
This way allows for some play and is quick, easy and fun to do...

To mount the neck and valve I just used JB weld to seal them, (like a gasket), and screwed to the tank. You could not remove these if you tried. It would tear the tank before they came off...
 

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Looks like a pretty good idea, but the only concerning point to me is drilling through the frame like that...normal vibrations of the motor, road vibrations etc. could cause cracking and eventual frame failure from where it is drilled into on the frame.

I wound up with a frame failure due to two very small holes that were factory drilled for a water bottle option that resulted in my frame snapping on me with my old Huffy beach cruiser.

Motor and road vibration with MBs is a factor that some folks don't normally consider when drilling holes in frames.
 
Looks like a pretty good idea, but the only concerning point to me is drilling through the frame like that...normal vibrations of the motor, road vibrations etc. could cause cracking and eventual frame failure from where it is drilled into on the frame.

I wound up with a frame failure due to two very small holes that were factory drilled for a water bottle option that resulted in my frame snapping on me with my old Huffy beach cruiser.

Motor and road vibration with MBs is a factor that some folks don't normally consider when drilling holes in frames.
Yes I agree. This frame has two top tubes...pretty beefy...

As Damien said, drilling holes in your frame can be a concern for safety. If you're going to do it this way, add an extra tube on the bottom of the tank for structural support and use good judgment. I used a construction pipe with very thick walls...
 
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