Make sure your tank vent is clear

My boss went out to her bike to find a horrible surprise.

Her tank had collapsed on itself. The tank vent was plugged up and the vacuum crushed the tank. The tank was low on fuel. She had been riding in the 80+ weather we had last week and parked her bike in the shed. Temps dropped back down to below 30.

They are quite some pictures ... I have never seen that before and I wonder just how thin is the steel that tank is made from!

Some of the Suzuki M109R guys had this happen by swapping out their fuel cap for a custom one. Too bad the vent was built into the cap.

http://www.m109riders.com/forums/showthread.php?t=130570

Here's a collapsed Harley tank.

http://www.v-twinforum.com/forums/twin-cam-88-engine-technical-discussion/129194-what-gas-tank-collapsed-vacuum.html

Hmmmm, wonder if you were to hook up an air compressor to the gas line could you blow it up again?!!?

That is wild!!!

Fill it full of water,,,, then freeze it,,, should come out real nice. Word of caution though, don't put it in a food freezer,, all the food will taste like gas!!!!!!

Hmmmm, wonder if you were to hook up an air compressor to the gas line could you blow it up again?!!?

 

That is wild!!!

I have done that on a few older dirt bikes, dont know how well it would work on newer ones.

My boss went out to her bike to find a horrible surprise.

 

Her tank had collapsed on itself. The tank vent was plugged up and the vacuum crushed the tank. The tank was low on fuel. She had been riding in the 80+ weather we had last week and parked her bike in the shed. Temps dropped back down to below 30.

What is the best way to test and make sure your vent is working properly?

What is the best way to test and make sure your vent is working properly?

If it sucks air when you go to fill up,,,, the vent is plugged.

Fill it full of water,,,, then freeze it,,, should come out real nice. Word of caution though, don't put it in a food freezer,, all the food will taste like gas!!!!!!

And you know this...how?

Well every now and then, this happens. Something to do with those millions of pounds of atmosphere above the bike...

If it sucks air when you go to fill up,,,, the vent is plugged.

So are you saying when one opens the gas cap and one hears a vacum of air that ones vent is pluged?

Fill it full of water,,,, then freeze it,,, should come out real nice. Word of caution though, don't put it in a food freezer,, all the food will taste like gas!!!!!!

Do you speak from experience Carl? So that's the special seasoning in your pepperettes.

Thomas

If the vacuum/pressure in the tank went to zero and the area collapsed was a square foot, total force on that area would be over 2100 pounds, if my ciphering is right.

RandyA

And you know this...how?

A friend of mine's son tried this,,, it worked real good on the tank,,,, but lunch the next day had a different flavour,,,, and the ice-cream also tasted like something else.

So are you saying when one opens the gas cap and one hears a vacum of air that ones vent is pluged?

It would stand to reason that the vent is there to let air in,, not out,,, so if there is a vaccum,,,, yep, something's not working.

Do you speak from experience Carl? So that's the special seasoning in your pepperettes.

 

Thomas

I think the easiest way to test the vent line would be to remove it from the tank and blow a little air through it.

I think the easiest way to test the vent line would be to remove it from the tank and blow a little air through it.

Could you describe how to locate this vent line or a picture please.

Could you describe how to locate this vent line or a picture please.

On the 2nd gens, it's underneath the plastic cover around the gas cap. Remove the cap, remove the cover and there's a small (1/4" possibly) rubber hose. Pull the hose off the nipple and blow some air through it.

Anyone know where it is on the 1st Gen?

My boss went out to her bike to find a horrible surprise.

 

Forest, I didn't know your wife had her own scooter.

 

C.R.

Just light a match at the filler neck, that will expand it back into shape.