Larger Gas Tank 4 drifter 800?

[LarryInSeattle]

Tell me about it.     I could write a book about that.  I learned the hard way how desolate that area can be after breaking down and spending the night with the snakes and scorpions, and my passenger unconscious from injuries sustained earlier in the day.

That would be an interesting story to hear about.

[DC]

Drive the Yellowhead Trail in the winter time......or Hiway 11 in Northern Ontario, there is a lot of highways like that ....
not to make light of it but what he complained about your driving......

He could not complain at all.  He was unconscious with a concussion.  It wasn't until he came out it that he even knew we had broken down.

[topherloaf]

I might roll that way. Considered it a few times anyway.

[CDNRatMan]

  inroads not yet,  if you have the money it could be done, or just carry an extra can with you would be the answer. I am looking at some small throw over bags with a couple liters of fuel, for them long trips......

[topherloaf]

Anybody makes inroads on this yet?

[CDNRatMan]

  Drive the Yellowhead Trail in the winter time......or Hiway 11 in Northern Ontario, there is a lot of highways like that ....

and my passenger unconscious from injuries sustained earlier in the day.

not to make light of it but what he complained about your driving......

[DC]

There is hardly a gas station along the US border from Arizona to El Paso, Tx.  I found that out.

Tell me about it.     I could write a book about that.  I learned the hard way how desolate that area can be after breaking down and spending the night with the snakes and scorpions, and my passenger unconscious from injuries sustained earlier in the day.

[John Hopkins]

Just another point of view..

If you ride to work each day it is a lot harder to keep track of the fuel usage than if you do long rides..I ride hundreds of miles at a time and because of this I can plan my stops within a 30 mile radius..At about 70 to 90 miles I start looking for a cheap fuel stop..all our fuel is pretty reasonable quality but the cheaper stops use the fuel quicker than the dear stops so they only have fresh fuel..100 miles without a stop is enough for me and the forced stop for fuel gives me a chance to get the kinks out of my back or to empty water from my boots and dry my gloves in the restroom drier..

I don't use a car these days unless someone asks me to, and then it is only to the local school or the next town, but the big difference is that in a car I can go 300 miles without filling up and on any of my bikes I can only go 100 miles.

My tank holds 16 litres..the nomad and the classic hold 20 litres...

I quoted litres because US gallons and Imperial gallons are different

John.

[LarryInSeattle]

I haul a quart fuel container on my Goldwing for emergency situations.  I can go 240 miles on 6 gallons.  I start to look for fuel at 200.  I have never had to use that quart of fuel, but I have donated it a few times to some stranded motorcyclists.  Karma points.  A quart of fuel would get me 8-10 miles down the road.  At least that could be to someplace where I could setup for the night, off the freeway or into a farmer's yard.

There is hardly a gas station along the US border from Arizona to El Paso, Tx.  I found that out.   

[CDNRatMan]

 I know hooserfish is more about if it can be done, and I am wondering if it is worth it, so I just did a run to my sister's on Microsoft streets and maps, either tank and the info on fuel consumption for my last trip there, it is 448.5 kms or 278.7 miles, now i did the fuel use and such according to my last run down there last summer, and I needed to refuel twice, if I were to add the larger tank I would still have to fuel twice on the trip. Right now the only advantage for me would be if I were out riding the YellowHead Highway..... for $1200.00 that is like 888 gas stops.....

[hoosierfish]

yep, not worth messing with...

[Troll]

Just been poking around, and found out the tank on a 1500 carbed classic is 4.2 gal...doesn't sound like it's worth the trouble.

[chief]

Don't forget to consider what adding that size tank does to the center of gravity and weight of the bike. Still plenty of power, but it will feel heavier I'm sure.

But this is one of those mods that someone really oughtta try... and take pictures of... and write about.

[Troll]

That's $600 a gallon..almost what Ratman pays for gas!

[chief]

Yep, a gallon difference (800 drifter vs 1500 drifter - Troll says a classic is 4.2 gallons)

The best way to check the positions and connections is with a side-by-side comparison and mock up. Maybe find an inexpensive tank and have a look... use it if it works, resell it if it doesn't!

[hoosierfish]

CDNRATMAN, The 800 tank conversion expanse it to 6 gal. for the $1200 , more cost for the 1500 carb. tank & even more cost for the EFI tank.

[CDNRatMan]

hoosierfish, did you ever find out what the expansion in tank size would have been for $1200.00 by chance? Good question of the size of a 1500 vice a 800 tank too....the 800 is a 4 gal or 15 liter fuel tank the 1500 from my reading is a 5 gal or 19 liter tank. So a gallon difference, then the cost too....

[hoosierfish]

Troll, After all this stress on my brain trying to get more capacity in my fuel tank & thinking I might switch out my 800 tank to a 1500 tank I got to thinking, just how much bigger is the 1500 tank compared to the 800? is it worth the time & effort to do this?? I'm thinking maybe 1 gal. diff.

[hoosierfish]

Troll, thanks for info on 1500 & 800 tanks, looks like I have me a summer project to start. Thanks again, hoosierfish

[Troll]

Yeah, well...fabrication is us...I have 2 diagrams for the 800 and the 1500a tank. They both use the rubber spool mounts in the front, but the spacing might be quite different. Without having the side by side, it's pretty hard to tell what will fit, and what can be made to fit. They are not like 4 speed Harleys that can get almost anything to bolt on. If you could find a wrecked tank from a 1500a...cheap....just to see if it can be made to fit.

[hoosierfish]

Chief, I think I can get by the mounting problems with making some mounting brackets, what about the petcock placement,vents,etc are they in the same locations or pretty close? I really don't want to rework the whole tank.

[chief]

The frames are different on the 800 and 1500 (drifter and classic)... that will likely make a big difference on tanks. I have never heard of a successful transplant... but that doesn't mean it can't be done.

[hoosierfish]

 Troll, Your's is the response I've wanted to hear, not small talk on bladder size  . Troll are you familiar with the mounting points on the 1500 & 800 tanks? I was thinking of doing the same thing you stated: using the 1500 carb. tank, hoping to here from someone out the in Drifter land that has already did this. By the way I did get a hold of that Company that will expand your gas tank to a larger capacity but hang on to you wallet,... it's a whopping $1200 just to get started..!!! So I think I will try the tank swap idea. Thanks

[Troll]

I think it might be interesting to see if a 1500 classic carb tank might be made to fit......

[greenbarn]

Your gas tank should have roughly the same "travel volume" as your bladder; cuts down on stops that way; no sense stopping for one then stopping for the other 20 minutes later......

So, basically, see if I understand this....  If the gas tank is too small, just drink more coffee each time you stop, then it will even out, and all will be well in the world...   Right???

Seriously, though, does anyone know what it take to put a 1500 tank on the 800?