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4 gallon fuel cell
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Basically, I already had a luggage rack that(I think) was for the XS1100 Standard. Then, I purchased some universal trunk on Ebay. I went to a marine catalog and replaced the lock with a stainless one. Then, during a mockup session, I fashioned the biggest fuel cell, out of cardboad, I could fit and still close/lock the trunk. The cardboard mockup also included the mounting points(basically tabs) that would secure the fuel cell inside the trunk. I then took the cardboard mockup to my local welder and had him fab the cell out of aluminum.
Now, every bike is different, so I spent many trips to the hardware store playing around with different mounting hadware. I mounted the trunk to my luggage rack using stainless u-bolts drilled through thru the bottom of the fiberglass trunk and secured it to the rack using flat rectangular pieces of metal underneath the metal rack. The fuel cell had four tabs, and those were drilled through the bottom of the trunk.
As for pluming, I purchased a fuel filter coming out of the bottom of the fuel cell, an on /off valve, and several feet of stainless braided fuel hose. This was carefully snaked though the bike with the seat off, being careful not to have any rub marks on the hose. I then teeed the aux fuel line into my carbs. Switced to Mikes XS on/off/reserve petcocks and got rid of the stupid vacuum petcocks.
Then when I begin a ride, I shut the easily reachable tank mounted Mikes XS petcocks and open the aux valve. When the bike starts to studder after using the four gallons, I just reach down, open each petcock and I now have a fuel gauge to let me know when to stop for gas.
I should also note I bought a brand new set of $1200 carbs that was a perfect fit for the intake manifold. Just had to move the airbox forward a tiny bit. I bought the carbs from a place that specializes motorcycle carbs. I think it was motorcyclecarbs.com(phone 770-9748841). Fitting thess carbs I has one problem. I had to put a reducer jet in the vacuum line to make it run right. I also did the 1179 kit. I've been riding XS1100 Standards since 1996. First was a 78(wsh I never sold it!). My current is a 79.
One more note about the aux tank, It has to have a top vent. And I also got some cool quick disconnect fittings(CPC I think) that allows me to take my main venturer tank off for maintenance in a snap. As for easily removing the aux tank, I could have engineered a better system with some locknut wing washers. But I never really take it off, and there is a surprisingly good amount of storage for small items in the trunk around the aux tank.
Also, I never had any structural problems or weight imbalance because I'm usually loaded up with a dry bag behind my back. I also made custom aluminum saddle bags with stainless hardware. I have a vetter windjammer and when I'm not touring the aux tank stays empty. Hope this helps, papanovember.
One more thing, the trunk was not a vetter and is fairly large. Not crazy big , but good volume inside. I do not know who made it, like I said I got it on Ebay and was probably from the 70's. As for people requesting pics, I'm in the middle of doing my tranny fix and the bike is pretty much completely dissasembled. Getting ready to flip it today. My back hurts just thinking about it.
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Basically, I already had a luggage rack that(I think) was for the XS1100 Standard. Then, I purchased some universal trunk on Ebay. I went to a marine catalog and replaced the lock with a stainless one. Then, during a mockup session, I fashioned the biggest fuel cell, out of cardboad, I could fit and still close/lock the trunk. The cardboard mockup also included the mounting points(basically tabs) that would secure the fuel cell inside the trunk. I then took the cardboard mockup to my local welder and had him fab the cell out of aluminum.
Now, every bike is different, so I spent many trips to the hardware store playing around with different mounting hadware. I mounted the trunk to my luggage rack using stainless u-bolts drilled through thru the bottom of the fiberglass trunk and secured it to the rack using flat rectangular pieces of metal underneath the metal rack. The fuel cell had four tabs, and those were drilled through the bottom of the trunk.
As for pluming, I purchased a fuel filter coming out of the bottom of the fuel cell, an on /off valve, and several feet of stainless braided fuel hose. This was carefully snaked though the bike with the seat off, being careful not to have any rub marks on the hose. I then teeed the aux fuel line into my carbs. Switced to Mikes XS on/off/reserve petcocks and got rid of the stupid vacuum petcocks.
Then when I begin a ride, I shut the easily reachable tank mounted Mikes XS petcocks and open the aux valve. When the bike starts to studder after using the four gallons, I just reach down, open each petcock and I now have a fuel gauge to let me know when to stop for gas.
I should also note I bought a brand new set of $1200 carbs that was a perfect fit for the intake manifold. Just had to move the airbox forward a tiny bit. I bought the carbs from a place that specializes motorcycle carbs. I think it was motorcyclecarbs.com(phone 770-9748841). Fitting thess carbs I has one problem. I had to put a reducer jet in the vacuum line to make it run right. I also did the 1179 kit. I've been riding XS1100 Standards since 1996. First was a 78(wsh I never sold it!). My current is a 79.
One more note about the aux tank, It has to have a top vent. And I also got some cool quick disconnect fittings(CPC I think) that allows me to take my main venturer tank off for maintenance in a snap. As for easily removing the aux tank, I could have engineered a better system with some locknut wing washers. But I never really take it off, and there is a surprisingly good amount of storage for small items in the trunk around the aux tank.
Also, I never had any structural problems or weight imbalance because I'm usually loaded up with a dry bag behind my back. I also made custom aluminum saddle bags with stainless hardware. I have a vetter windjammer and when I'm not touring the aux tank stays empty. Hope this helps, papanovember.
One more thing, the trunk was not a vetter and is fairly large. Not crazy big , but good volume inside. I do not know who made it, like I said I got it on Ebay and was probably from the 70's. As for people requesting pics, I'm in the middle of doing my tranny fix and the bike is pretty much completely dissasembled. Getting ready to flip it today. My back hurts just thinking about it.
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