Another Fuel Cell Thread

[TriggerT]

For the last year and a half I have had my bike set up with the Nelson Rigg Tail bag, as shown in this thread:

https://home.nycap.rr.com/pnelson1/FJRtailbag.htm

Shown here on my bike:

It occurred to me yesterday that I might be able to put a fuel cell inside this bag, since the bag is already semi-permanently attached to the bike. After a little bit of looking I found this fuel cell

from here:

https://www.jegs.com/p/JAZ/758786/10002/-1/10297

Now the size of this fuel cell is an EXACT fit to the inside of the Rigg tail bag. Maybe too exact, but I wouldn't know for sure until I actually tried to put it in the bag, but it will be TIGHT.

With a little modification to the bag to allow for a hose, and then making some kind of bracket for a on / off lever, would this be an easy, and pretty inexpensive way to go.

Let me say right now, that I have little to NO knowledge of what would be required to make this up to spec for IBR or other events.

I am just bouncing ideas off of more knowledgeable members.

 

[TriggerT]

Oh Come ON! 32 reads, and not a single person has anything to say? WTF?

At least post up and say I am a dumb-ass, or something.

 

[Ignacio]

Oh Come ON! 32 reads, and not a single person has anything to say? WTF?
At least post up and say I am a dumb-ass, or something.

:angry2:

Fine Mr. Impatient. Sometimes people view a thread and return with a polished reply. You get both barrels instead.....

Abandon this half-baked scheme and go buy yourself a turn-key cell with baffles, is tall enough that can feed to the tank with gravity and not require a fuel pump, has a secure mount built for the FJR, and can be IBR certified to avoid hassles. Those requirements are all publicly available at the Ironbuttrally.com website under rules.

 

[wheatonFJR]

I know Smitty posted up an "alternative" fuel cell idea once and Warchild indicated reasons why it would not be accepted in the IBR.

That's not to say you can't do this for your own personal use away from any IBR ride.

 

[vectervp1]

I just want to clarify a few things I'm seeing in this thread...

There is a difference between IBR and IBA.

The IBR is the Iron Butt Rally. Its the 11 day rally put on by the Iron Butt Association. This rally, like all other rallies, has rules which you must conform to. The fuel cell related rules state no more than 11.5 gallons, required baffles or anti slosh foam, along with other rules.

The IBA is the Iron Butt Association which has sanctioned rides such as the Saddle Sore 1000, Bun Burner 1500, Bun Burner Gold, etc. These rides have requirements of their own. NONE OF THEM HAVE REQUIREMENTS FOR FUEL CELLS. They only state you must keep a track of where you went, such as gas receipts every 350 miles.

Unless your actually IN the Iron Butt Rally, you don't need to worry about it conforming to their standards. While I would recommend you do so, you don't have to. You could make you fuel cell out of an old milk jug an copper piping if you so desired.

If your going to be doing any other rallies, I would HIGHLY suggest to talk to the rally master of that rally and discuss what their fuel cell requirements are. Not all rallies use the same set of rules. Some require more equipment (such as a catch can) than others.

 

[TriggerT]

Oh Come ON! 32 reads, and not a single person has anything to say? WTF?
At least post up and say I am a dumb-ass, or something.

:angry2:

Fine Mr. Impatient. Sometimes people view a thread and return with a polished reply. You get both barrels instead.....

Abandon this half-baked scheme and go buy yourself a turn-key cell with baffles, is tall enough that can feed to the tank with gravity and not require a fuel pump, has a secure mount built for the FJR, and can be IBR certified to avoid hassles. Those requirements are all publicly available at the Ironbuttrally.com website under rules.

I can live with brutal honesty.

 

[vectervp1]

Now, on to what you asked about your fuel cell....

There is nothing wrong with the fuel cell you want to run. A lot of LD riders use this exact cell design. As a matter of fact, I believe this is the cell IronMaiden is using on her FJR. Where I see a problem is in how you want to secure it to your bike. Keep in mind this fuel cell when full will be about 50lbs. I don't think it would be safe to have this inside a tail bag while your whipping the bike around. It could easily come loose, and could potentially cause a serious accident.

What I would suggest doing is removing the rear pillion seat, and building a platform for your fuel cell that would actually bolt to the frame of the bike. The FJR has plenty of bolts under the seat which you could use as anchor points. I used the ones that hold the grab rail to the bike as the primary mounts, and another set to keep things secure. Make the cell mount out of a material such as steel or aluminum. Personally mine is made out of steel angle iron and is very stout. Since the fuel cell your looking at is made of plastic, I would highly suggest you add a grounding wire between the metal filler ring and the bike frame. This will help keep unwanted sparks from happening during filling.

 

[jwilly]

Are you looking for a fuel cell or one that meets IBA requirements? Do you plan to do an IBR?

Inquiring minds want to know?

JW

 

[Warchild]

I know Smitty posted up an "alternative" fuel cell idea once and Warchild indicated reasons why it would not be accepted in the IBR.

Yep, and as I also mentioned in that very thread, none of these requirements matter whatsoever unless you are actually entered in the Iron Butt Rally.

Otherwise, one can just bungee-cord a red plastic lawn mower gas can to the rear rack and plumb it, for all I care. :lol:

 

[TriggerT]

OK, First off, While I would LOVE it if the fuel cell met IBR requirements, I would not say this is all important to me. More than anything this thread came to life based on a random thought, and then a little looking on the Internet this morning. the thing that really got me going is when I found a fuel cell that in theory would fit PERFECTLY inside the tail bag.

Speaking of the tail bag. It is BOLTED on to the bike, as shown in the thread I linked in the first post. The passenger seat has been removed. I have loaded this bag with well over 60 pounds of ammunition when going to local shooting matches, so I am not all that worried about it coming off the bike, but I would probably make adjustments to reinforce it all the same.

Ignacio brought up the point of baffles, which I wouldn't think would be needed if you used the racing foam insert, but I DON'T KNOW THAT FOR SURE.

I think, but am not sure, that the point of this forum is to learn about the FJR, and modifications that can be done to it. That is what I am trying to do. If my idea is half baked, dumb-ass, cheapo, stupid; then say say, and I will have learned a little bit. If you explain to my why you feel it is that way, I might even learn a little more.

Thanks to all who are responding.

 

[sonicspeed]

i have no idea because i've never thought about adding a fuel cell on my FJR but can i call ya a dumbass anyways????

 

[TriggerT]

i have no idea because i've never thought about adding a fuel cell on my FJR but can i call ya a dumbass anyways????

Yes, YES you can! :yahoo:

 

[odot]

I know Smitty posted up an "alternative" fuel cell idea once and Warchild indicated reasons why it would not be accepted in the IBR.

Yep, and as I also mentioned in that very thread, none of these requirements matter whatsoever unless you are actually entered in the Iron Butt Rally.

Otherwise, one can just bungee-cord a red plastic lawn mower gas can to the rear rack and plumb it, for all I care. :lol:

You tryin to be funny?

 

[vectervp1]

I guess I somehow overlooked the link in your first post. Sorry.

I still wouldn't trust that mounting system personally because its still relying on the tail bag to actually hold it down. if you used some of the metal straps that you can get with fuel cells and attached that to a new metal base plate at the bottom of your tail bagI think it would be a lot more secure.. Summit racing makes these for their cell.

The other problem your going to run into is how low that cell is going to sit. Your going to have a lot of problems transferring fuel from the aux tank to the main tank unless you go with a fuel pump. Some are avidly against using one because it introduces another point of failure. I've never used one to transfer fuel, so I really don't know for sure.

 

[ctfjr]

What am I missing here? I am still waiting for my FJR (5/30) but I guess I never realized how many SERIOUS lD riders there were on them. . .

I consider myself an LD rider tho I never entered any rallys - my longest day is just under 1200 miles. On my Wing 6-700 miles/day were typical when beating feet out west. I never though I needed an aux tank. Do you really plan on 400 mile legs during the day?

 

[vectervp1]

What am I missing here? I am still waiting for my FJR (5/30) but I guess I never realized how many SERIOUS lD riders there were on them. . .
I consider myself an LD rider tho I never entered any rallys - my longest day is just under 1200 miles. On my Wing 6-700 miles/day were typical when beating feet out west. I never though I needed an aux tank. Do you really plan on 400 mile legs during the day?

Its not always about doing 400 miles between stops, although this is very helpful too. Its also about choosing when to stop instead of having to stop every 200 miles or so. There are also places where you can go 100-150 miles between gas stops. If you didn't fill up just prior to this, you may find yourself without fuel. With a fuel cell, its less of a concern.

 

[TriggerT]

I wouldn't ride any legs longer than 350 miles, since I believe that is what the IBA sets the limit at.

Do I NEED a fuel cell, no. Am I going to put one on my bike in the next month, no. Will I EVER put one on my bike, maybe.

Thinking about things like this are what keeps me occupied while at work, and not riding. I can't take looking over contracts, addendum's, Change Orders, and all the other crap without some breaks here and there.

How many of the farkles on our bikes we we absolutely NEED?

 

[Warchild]

Do you really plan on 400 mile legs during the day?

Oh, yes.

Too, as vectervp1 correctly observes, the object of the game is to NOT have to waste time refueling if you don't have to.

Further, keep in mind that, unlike the east side of the country there are places out West where you can travel hundreds of miles between 24-hr fueling opportunities. This is a serious concern at night. If you DON'T have sufficient range, you can easily find yourself in the Hurt Locker when running events out here in the Desert West.

 

[sonicspeed]

How many of the farkles on our bikes we we absolutely NEED?

all of them