Best way to drain fuel tank?

[Rebel73_imp]

So I've decided to pull the trigger on a custom paint job so I need to pull off the gas tank. Other than riding around til the gas is all used up, what's the best way to drain it out?

[kmoney_imp]

A fluid evacuator perhaps? I don't think there is really any way to tip it to just get it to gravity drain out the vent tube -- could be wrong though.

http://www.mityvac.com/pages/products_fee.asp

[Ulvetanna_imp]

So I've decided to pull the trigger on a custom paint job so I need to pull off the gas tank. Other than riding around til the gas is all used up, what's the best way to drain it out?

Ride until the low fuel light comes on. Remove the tank per the service manual instructions. You'll have to remove all the fittings (cap, quick-connect) and hoses and during that process, just dump the tank into whatever convenient container you have. Some will need to come out the filler, some can be drained after the quick-connect is removed.

Never a good idea to remove a tank still containing lots of gasoline as the tank is heavy and cumbersome to maneuver plus the safety hazard of all that fuel.

You surely know that the vapor is even more hazardous, though.

[emptysea]

Just for the record....riding it around until almost all the gas is gone is EASILY the best alternative with this bike.

[Lord Popgun]

I siphoned mine and was suprised that almost all the gas came out. Very little was left and I shook most of the rest. Almost none was left when I pulled the fuel pump.

[Rebel73_imp]

Hmm...did you use one of those manual siphons, Popgun?

[Lord Popgun]

Its been 3 years, but I think it was one with the glass check ball that you shake until the gas comes out. It got more out that I thought you could have. It also may have been one of those kerosene pumps for 5 gal. cans. You know, you put the solid tube in the can, squeeze the top bulb thing and the kero comes out of the flex hose. I really don't remember.

A piece of tubing would work, but you might get gas in your mouth

Thinking about it for a minute, I don't think I used the glass ball one. IIRC, it wouldn't go in far enough what with the fuel pump in there and all.

[beardyweirdy@me.com_imp]

Rebel73,

I've done this a lot and the best way is with out a doubt a pump syphon. I bought mine in Halfords, in the uk. Not much use to you in the USA but if you go on to Halfords website, you'll see the sort of thing your after. It was very reasonably priced.

Getting the last bits out is most tricky. Sit your tank on a table and prop it up at the front, then push the tube down to the rear. When it gets empty, tilt it to one side as well with something. You'll have to fish about to get the dregs out.

When you flip it over to remove the pump, a bit more will probably trickle out. Go easy on the pump nuts, there is a sequence to remove them by. Basically always moving to the opp. Diag. Nut as you undo them. Go a bit at a time on each nut. Same when refitting. Torque up gently. The tin is quite thin on the bottom so you don't want to bend it out of shape. Watch the seal on the pump as well. The manual says to replace it with new every time, but I've re-used mine three times with no leaks. Just make sure it's nice and clean and not damaged/pinched in any way and keep an eye on it when you re-fill it.

Also, and I hope I don't sound patronizing, be really careful when your handling it. They get a bit slippy. I donked an old, perfect, chrome tank doing the same and it still smarts to think of it ;-) Even more so when you've got your new, flash, respray!

[Chapomis_imp]

I got a small ding in my tank earlier this year. I'm going to take the bike to a PDR guy to see what he can do with it. He asked if the tank was double walled. Does anyone know ?

[AzBob_imp]

When I had to remove the gas tank on my Trophy for some mods (the service manual calls out emptying the gas tank because you have to disconnect the gas lines on the oddly-shaped tank), I used this: [url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01137RI7G/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1]https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01137...UTF8&psc=1

They also have a non-gravity feed one, but as long as your tank is higher than the receiving receptacle, it should work fine.