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Message started by SteveRocket on 10/24/07 at 19:28:16

Title: Savage Tank Gas Gauge
Post by SteveRocket on 10/24/07 at 19:28:16

I have a spare dented tank at home and I was wondering if you cut a slice out of the side at the appropriate angle and made a clear window of some gas resistant clear plastic, sealed it and made it look pretty. Would that be illegal ?. I think it would give a decent idea of how much gas is in the tank . I also thought of a banjo fitting in the bottom of the tank and a clear pipe running up the centre of the tank to some near the top to another banjo to let the air flow. That might work.
Just thinkin' about drinkin' (sadly)
Steve

Title: Re: Savage Tank Gas Gauge
Post by SavageDude on 10/24/07 at 19:45:52

Drink some more bro. then you'll stop thinking ;D
How about weld or bolt a dipstick (with holes along the stick) to the gas cap. Check it before every ride with a simple twist and pull. Full--100 miles, 3/4--75 miles, 1/2--50 miles, and 1/4--25miles. Not to be scaled, of course ;) Thinking and not drinking ;D

Title: Re: Savage Tank Gas Gauge
Post by rigidchop on 10/24/07 at 20:22:13

i have a gas gauge.http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2847269300059298666rEQVSF?vhost=sports

Title: Re: Savage Tank Gas Gauge
Post by Phelonius on 10/24/07 at 20:31:13

Stick to drinking buddy, you will spill less gas.
Any time you make a hole in a gas tank below the liquid level, you are asking it to leak. That's right, right over the top of the HOT engine.
Mo betta you get an internal gauge or one that is built into a gas cap. Or, cheaper yet, watch the odometer to guesstimate when you need the fill up.
When you hit reserve, fill at the next opportunity.
OH, and don't forget to reset the petcock when you fill it.

Phelonius

Title: Re: Savage Tank Gas Gauge
Post by SteveRocket on 10/24/07 at 22:21:32

,"watch the odometer to guesstimate when you need the fill up.
When you hit reserve, fill at the next opportunity.
OH, and don't forget to reset the petthingy when you fill it"

That's what I do right now and I also carry a small reserve of a pint and half in separate bottle. This was just an exercise of thinkin' when I wished I was drinkin'
and now I am home I am drinkin' so that's the end of any thinkin'. but I still think a visual clue to the level of gas would be useful

Steve

Title: Re: Savage Tank Gas Gauge
Post by PerrydaSavage on 10/25/07 at 00:31:36

Liquid seeks it's own level, so some kinda transparent tube that is attached to the bottom of the tank (or into the line off the petc0ck?) and run vertically up the side of the tank to show level?
BTW it's 5:00am and I'm barely thinkin' and drinkin' (coffee) ;D ;) ::)

Title: Re: Savage Tank Gas Gauge
Post by islandwahine on 10/25/07 at 01:29:22

Time's a funny thing, you're just waking up, I'm going to bed!!

Title: Re: Savage Tank Gas Gauge
Post by demin on 10/25/07 at 03:34:09

There are alot of guys doing what rigidchop was saying to do. just make sure you use a good welder.

Title: Re: Savage Tank Gas Gauge
Post by Paladin on 10/25/07 at 04:03:15

They make fuel gauges for marine use -- electrical for tanks 6" to 24" deep, mechanical (gauge would sit on the top of the tank, probably opposite the filler) for tanks 7.5", 8", 10" .....

http://marineengineparts.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/page378.html

Title: Re: Savage Tank Gas Gauge
Post by mpescatori on 10/25/07 at 05:47:44

OK, guys, let's get this straight:
you canNOT cut and weld a tank which has previously been used to keep gasoline, it'll BURN/EXPLODE !

I have (indirect) experience in this, as I once saw a welder do just that, with a motorcycle tank; in order to avoid trouble, the tank had been washed and refilled with water to the brim ... bur once the torch was applied, the water boiled and a thin wisp of blue flame appeared where the torch was welding...

...keep in mind the tank was full of water...

Title: Re: Savage Tank Gas Gauge
Post by lostmcgoon on 10/25/07 at 06:03:31

you CAN cut and weld a used tank.... you just have to do it PROPERLY there is alot of prep, but once done right you will avoid the boom.

Title: Re: Savage Tank Gas Gauge
Post by mpescatori on 10/25/07 at 07:54:37

OK, then, please explain how, because I'm tired of peeking inside the tank
with a lit match to see how much I've got left... ;D

Title: Re: Savage Tank Gas Gauge
Post by demin on 10/25/07 at 13:18:03

Yep you can.But it has to be flushed out with soap then water very good.I've welded the tabs on my Harley.The're good for breaking off.You can also run carbon monoxide through when welding.

Title: Re: Savage Tank Gas Gauge
Post by rigidchop on 10/25/07 at 14:43:21

the pic above is my actual bike. it doesn't leak. you have to wash out the tank real good as stated above with soap and water. and no welding any closed container full of water is never a good idea, i have heard of guys trying to weld 55 gallon drums full of water being blown to bits. most welding shops use carbon monoxide to weld gas tanks for cars, i've seen it done quite a sight really. and you know a car gas tank had alot more fumes than a bike tank.

my 2 cents.

Title: Re: Savage Tank Gas Gauge
Post by demin on 10/25/07 at 14:58:06

Kool chop! 8)

Title: Re: Savage Tank Gas Gauge
Post by Ed_L. on 10/25/07 at 16:14:46

I've seen a few gas tanks set up with two elbows and some clear tubing between which acted like a sight glass. One was just hanging out in the wind while the other was in a half tube welded in the side of the tank. Both were eye catchers and looked fuctional. I would think you could drill and tap two holes in the side of a tank and just JB weld the elbows in. I like PerrydaSavage idea with a tubing running off the petc0ck, maybe a small checkvalve on the open end of the tubing would keep it sealed. Sticking my finger in the tank and shaking the bike works for me. ;D

Title: Re: Savage Tank Gas Gauge
Post by forrest on 10/25/07 at 17:16:54

Seems like a lot of trouble when all you have to do is after riding apx 100 mikes look in the tank. But I'm a bit simple like that.

Title: Re: Savage Tank Gas Gauge
Post by rigidchop on 10/25/07 at 19:08:59

i have seen this type set up on oil drums. obviously its not for every one. i don't have reserve on my chop nor do i have any gauges. i personally don't think it would look good on a savage. tank is too wide and with the speedo in the tank it would be too busy looking. looks alot better on a narrow tank like one off of a sporty. kind of overkill if you have reserve anyway.thanks for the compliment denim, i really like your purple bike as well. i can't take credit for it though it was built by a guy in maryland, but it's gonna get some changes soon, as it looks no where near as good as the pics. if i can get some of my other projects outta the way.

Title: Re: Savage Tank Gas Gauge
Post by demin on 10/25/07 at 19:16:21

Thanx back at ya.I hear ya on getting projects done.I was going to do the gauge set up on the purple one but I just didn't trust my welding that far.I did do the all the other mods though.

Title: Re: Savage Tank Gas Gauge
Post by verslagen1 on 10/25/07 at 20:49:41

Ed_L. wrote:

I like PerrydaSavage idea with a tubing running off the petc0ck, maybe a small checkvalve on the open end of the tubing would keep it sealed.

I think that you'd only see true level when parked. As soon as you start it up the level in this tube is going drop. Although, might be a good way to check the petcork. ;D

Title: Re: Savage Tank Gas Gauge
Post by Mr 650 on 10/27/07 at 15:10:07

Don't need another tank to weld, epoxy, drill, cut or splice if ya are lookin for a sight glass.
LIke Perry said, but need to vent top to tank.
Just tap into the fuel line close to the petc0ck w/ a tee, buy a used gas cap, and run a small diameter clear gas-proof hose back up to your cap and install fitting in the guineia pig cap to vent back to tank. When the petc0ck is opened the level will match fuel in the tank. :)
Up to you how/where to route the hose, Maybe right down the middle & under the seat??
Don't like it?, just run another hose from the petc0ck back to the carb like before.