How do you fill up your tank?

[draketrumpet]

I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure the risk of gas getting out of a full tank and falling on the engine before it evaporates into the rushing wind is pretty small. Especially where you've likely only got a span of 10 miles to do it in before you've burned enough fuel to eliminate the risk. JMO

[DGXSER]

I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure the risk of gas getting out of a full tank and falling on the engine before it evaporates into the rushing wind is pretty small. Especially where you've likely only got a span of 10 miles to do it in before you've burned enough fuel to eliminate the risk. JMO

See the recent thread by member Varnae entitled "FYI". I think he might just disagree. Granted he was stationary, but, it is shocking how quickly some spilled gas turned into a lost bike, or two, and a lost house and all that was in it.

Some chances, aren't worth the possible outcome. You might be right, but then again, if your wrong, the results could be very devistating. My bones from my wreck will grow back and heal in time. Gasoline burning your legs, and your crotch, and up your chest to your face.....I'll stick with my broken bones thank you.

[draketrumpet]

See the recent thread by member Varnae entitled "FYI". I think he might just disagree. Granted he was stationary, but, it is shocking how quickly some spilled gas turned into a lost bike, or two, and a lost house and all that was in it.

Some chances, aren't worth the possible outcome. You might be right, but then again, if your wrong, the results could be very devistating. My bones from my wreck will grow back and heal in time. Gasoline burning your legs, and your crotch, and up your chest to your face.....I'll stick with my broken bones thank you.

I've been following that post, and it is very tragic. But the big difference there is he was pretty sure it was a leak in the carbs. If I were to worry about the possibility of a little gas spilling from my full tank, on to my engine, and igniting, chances are I'm going to not be willing to take the inherent risks of riding a motorcycle either. Nothing wrong with that, but the sheer implausibility doesn't give me reason to worry about it.

If you know of an incident where gas leaked out of the top of a full tank and ignited the bike, please let me know.

PS. Glad you're on the mend. Quite the spill you had. I thought about you the other day when I forgot to put my kickstand up and it made that lovely scraping sound before popping up into place. I was triply careful on that ride home thinking of you.

[CatatonicBug]

I've overfilled several times, when I stop after a ride to fill up before heading home. Since the ride home from the gas station is less than 1/2 mile, I have come back out later to see that the expansion has overflowed down the tank, onto the engine, and all over the ground. I have even had it expand on a hot sunny day, while riding, and got fuel all down my leg.

The angled filler hole on the Specials is nice for fill-ups, as you can get every last drop into that tiny tank, but once it is brought upright, that hole is actually COVERED in fuel. If the seal is not a good one, you end up with fuel on your leg...

[DGXSER]

Thanks for the thoughts!! Last couple days I had a flue so it has been very umm...interesting dealing with that. Otherwise, it has been a pretty flawless recovery to date. I will tell you Ribs are sneaky bastards. They leave you alone for days at a time and then one day, WHAM, like someone just hit you with a baseball bat! Thank god for Lidoderm patches.

As to the fire thing, I am sure I am a little more on the defensive now about things that can go wrong. But I also saw some folks who had been through much worse than me while at the rehab center for ten days. Burns are one of those things that might heal, but recovery is a MUCH slower process. So an ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure IMHO. Just my 2 cents.

Oh yeah....mind that sidestand better. You and I were lucky, another member wound up breaking their back over it....literally!!

[trbig]

If the seal is not a good one, you end up with fuel on your leg...

That beats a "Buddy" that lets you ride his FJ with a bad seal, KNOWING you'll get on it... and giggling like a schoolgirl when you come back to the house with a gas-soaked crotch!

Sometimes those buddies are the biggest AHs... lol.


Tod

[DGXSER]

That beats a "Buddy" that lets you ride his FJ with a bad seal, KNOWING you'll get on it... and giggling like a schoolgirl when you come back to the house with a gas-soaked crotch!

Sometimes those buddies are the biggest AHs... lol.


Tod

Somtimes, once all parties involved are considered, somethings just make sense.

At least he didn't welcome you back by having a line of thigh high tiki torches lit along the driveway!!

[justme1100]

I have tried to fill up to the very top and if I am not traveling very far I noticed that once the sun hits the tank the gas expands and starts to over flow so I don't push the limits of my tank unless I am going on a road trip and will be riding for awhile.

[trbig]

At least he didn't welcome you back by having a line of thigh high tiki torches lit along the driveway!!

No need to.... the gas UNLIT burns the sensitive skin just fine.. Although it may be fun to VIGROUSLY try... ... you just really can't even wash that off very well. Ever had Icy Hot on your hands or cut up some hot peppers and took a leak? Same concept... just sit there with tears in your eyes and suffer until it's done with it's torture. Your AH "Buddies" sitting there pointing and laughing... sometimes the humor is just lost when you're sitting there plotting sweet sweet revenge....

You can always tell the sincerest of appologies though... when it's delevered with hysterical laughter.


And back on subject... I fill my bike while sitting on it, no kickstand, leaning it against me left leg much further over than the sidestand will allow. Works great until you find those oily patches you've stuck your boot in..


Tod

[Crazcnuk]

On the sidestand. Only time I bother with the cneterstand is if I also want to check the oil level.

I spill about 1/4 of the time, never had a fire, yet. I find most stations have handy paper towel dispensers for just this inevetibility.

[ManitoulinLad]

Always on the sidestand - fill to near the top - never had the leak out yet, but then again I park it in the shade or shed all the time & have a new gasket from xs650direct. I know what you guys mean if you fill & park in the sun with the expansion any tank will leak - Dan

[motoman]

Risk and "murphys" law just not worth the extra few tenths of fuel. Only takes once, and that's once too many IMO.

[draketrumpet]

I find it humorous that this thread has turned to this discussion.

1. I didn't fill it up to the brim, tippy toppy, I'm going to spill gas with another thousandth of a gallon, just said "hey, stand up and fill up and stop when we get to the neck, probably a few more drops=just a few more miles."
2. No one has yet referenced a story that gas leaking from the top of their tank (as opposed to petcocks or carbs like our poor dear friend) has caused an ignition by coming in contact with hot engine/exhaust parts.

I'm not saying it is completely inconceivable that an overflowing, lean into a corner and lose a gallon of gas full tank would not ever cause a fire by subjecting gas to a hot engine, but seriously, just standing vertical when I fill-er up...

[draketrumpet]

I knew I should have turned the reveal votes feature on...who has a harley? or worse...who treats their XS like a harley

[Pat Kelly]

I fill both mine to the top on the centerstand. I use the centerstand 99.99999% of the time.