Removing Gas Tank?

[BigTwin]

I just bought my bike last week, and it had 2 year old gas in it that has turned into varnish.

I want to remove the tank to clean/inspect the insides. What is the easiest way to get it off?

Also, when I get it off, what will be the most effective way to completely drain all the gas out of the fuel system? This is the most important thing I will be doing so any help would be great.

I will also be cleaning the carbs, is it OK to use a spray or what should I do?

Take in mind that the bike is an 01 w/175 miles on it, so everything is still in good shape except for the fuel system.

THANKS, BigTwin

[Kerry]

I want to remove the tank to clean/inspect the insides. What is the easiest way to get it off?

1) Use your key to remove the seat.

2) Undo the two bolts that hold the tank to the frame.  (12mm hex heads, at the rear of the tank)

3) Pull the tank rearward about an inch and then lift up.  Tilt the tank to the left side.

4) Use a long (thin) flathead screwdriver to turn the tank-mounted petcock OFF (turn the slot to a horizontal position).

5) Pull the ON and RES hoses from the tank-mounted petcock.  (Use pliers to loosen the clamps, and the same screwdriver to lever the hoses off by pushing down on their upper ends.)

6) Pull the thin drain hose from the center of the underside of the tank.

7) If you have a CA  model, pull the extra hose from the right underside connection.

8 ) That's it - the tank is free!  When you set it down you may want to prop the back up on a block of wood, to keep the petcock outlets from scraping on the floor.

Also, when I get it off, what will be the most effective way to completely drain all the gas out of the fuel system?

I'll let Srinath or someone else (with better imaginations) tackle that one.

[callmelenny]

BigTwin wrote:

Also, when I get it off, what will be the most effective way to completely drain all the gas out of the fuel system?

Having just done a similar overhaul (2yrs sitting), I can say draining the tank was the biggest pain. Getting the last half liter or so out was a real challenge. I had a rubbermaid container that was shorter than the tank so I could sit the tank on the edges and let it drain through the petcock. After the flow stopped I removed the tank petcock and tried to "slosh out" the rest of the gas. NOTE: check the screen on the petcock, mine was pretty funky. I still had some fuel left so I rigged up a rope in the garage to hang the tank and siphoned the rest out with some poly tubing. With the petcock out you can shine a light in one hole and look in the other, checking for rust and gunk. You should also consider changing your fuel lines, they are probably funky or may be dry-rotted (I had some pinholes that leaked).

Obviously, be careful with all the gas around and try to dispose of safely.

[BigTwin]

Anyone have any recommendations for completely draining the fuel system?

-BigTwin-

[Stephen072774]

When I first got my bike I suspected bad gas, so I just pulled the hose that feeds the petcock and held the hose and kept it pointed into a bucket so it didn't dribble gas down the side of the bike.  It was pretty easy to tell witch was the right hose, and mines a 2001 too.

Heres another hint that happened to me.  After emptying the tank, I got 1 gallon of gas to refill it, and couldn't get the bike to start.  I had to add 1.5 gallons to get it above the reserve mark.  (or I could have flipped the reserve switch)  Make sure you put enough back in, that one took me awhile to figure out

[Kerry]

To clean out the REST of the fuel system I would:

1) Pull the hose from the lower T-connector between the carbs, direct it (down) into a container, and set the fuel switch to PRI.

2) Open the drain spout on each carb and empty the float bowls.[/list:u]

[perfdrug]

To clean out the REST of the fuel system I would:

1) Pull the hose from the lower T-connector between the carbs, direct it (down) into a container, and set the fuel switch to PRI.

2) Open the drain spout on each carb and empty the float bowls.[/list:u]

why not just drain the whole tank through the carbs? it would take an hour, but would save the prob... or would it potentially gunk up?

i'd personally take the tank off, and drain it (just hold the tank upside down, wouldn't that work faster, and rid you of the sloshing necesity?) and then do as kerry said. but i can get my tank totally off, and my airbox out in prolly under 10 mins, since i've done it so many freakin times. just take your time the first time.

[callmelenny]

i'd personally take the tank off, and drain it (just hold the tank upside down, wouldn't that work faster, and rid you of the sloshing necesity?

My experience was that you couldn't get all the gas out that way either. I don't mean a lot was left, but that list bit is always the skankiest. :dunno: