Kz1000 Carbon Fiber Fuel Tank

That is an excellent question Becker. When I layed up the tank I placed a layer of fabric call peel ply over the last layer of carbon fabric. The heavy duty polyseter fabric allows excess resin to bleed through it to allow the leanest, most compact laminate possible for the process being used. Once the laminate cures, the peel ply is separated from the part (usually this is a difficult step) and leaves behind a textured surface that is ideal for secondary bonding. When I bond the tank halves together, I will use a specialized structural epoxy.
I'm glad you're enjoying the process Becker

Just for giggles, I set the tank top on the ground without the bottom piece and stood on it. It felt pretty solid, I was happy. I might get up the nerve to smack it with an aluminum bat......I have a hard time bringing myself to do it though :blink:

My humble apologies gentlemen, but not too much progress this weekend. The temps shot up to 100+ the last couple days, not exactly ideal for composite work, even with a slow activator. I did need some more emblem inserts, so I ran by the hardware store and picked up some 3mm nuts. They looked a little small to use as inserts, so I made another set. What do you guys think, would you trust the hardware store nuts or the home made inserts? They are just emblems......but even still :blink:
Remember, my insert is on the right

I vote for the homemade insert. You are relying on the mechanical contact to hold them in so more the more surface area the better. Plus those little hardware store nuts tend to have that shiny surface. If you use those you should rough em up a bit.

Whats up whith the temp hitting 100 there? Its finally starting to cool off here. Heck my garage hasn't been under 95 for the past 10 weeks.

I would make the inserts square so they can't loosen and rotate in the tank.

When I built my HD I used an aftermarket tank (and other parts) but mixed the old 50's styling with the new stretched tanks and stuff that was out. I was determined to use old emblems so I took a torch and heated a small area on the tank then tapped in a recess with a ball peen, this served as a pocket for the screws. Took a small piece of metal and made a strip that the screw could attatch through.

adam,
buell blast tanks are plastic.they have flush mount gas caps that bolt in.see where i am going with this :silly: .they do have buell machined in,may just be able to machine it off.there are usually some on ebay to look at.if youu need some particulars about them i can probably get a pic.

leon

adam, what up buddy? im trying to hustle this fzr600 so i can buy some parts for my bike..........cmon craigslist.

531blackbanshee wrote:

adam,
buell blast tanks are plastic.they have flush mount gas caps that bolt in.see where i am going with this :silly: .they do have buell machined in,may just be able to machine it off.there are usually some on ebay to look at.if youu need some particulars about them i can probably get a pic.

leon

You can get dry-break fillers too from Enduro suppliers. I think I paid $40 for mine.

www.crfsonly.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/3577

testarossa wrote:

I vote for the homemade insert. You are relying on the mechanical contact to hold them in so more the more surface area the better. Plus those little hardware store nuts tend to have that shiny surface. If you use those you should rough em up a bit.

Whats up whith the temp hitting 100 there? Its finally starting to cool off here. Heck my garage hasn't been under 95 for the past 10 weeks.

X 2

Kidkawie wrote:

I would make the inserts square so they can't loosen and rotate in the tank.

When I built my HD I used an aftermarket tank (and other parts) but mixed the old 50's styling with the new stretched tanks and stuff that was out. I was determined to use old emblems so I took a torch and heated a small area on the tank then tapped in a recess with a ball peen, this served as a pocket for the screws. Took a small piece of metal and made a strip that the screw could attatch through.

Yeah Josh, as soon as I saw those little nuts :laugh: I knew they wouldn't work out. As far as adhesion goes, well lets just say if I installed them as is, I wouldn't be worried. kidkawie, I don't actually use them as shown. I cut 4 slots in them with a die grinder to insure they don't turn, but the epoxy bond is so strong that when I drip it on concrete and it hardens, it takes the concrete with it when I chip it off :blink:

Leon, I will definately check out the buell blast filler. The dry break is a cool idea, but probably best left to a race bike setup

As for the temps..it was effing 110 here today :pinch: :whistle: It RARELY gets that hot this close to the coast, but DAMN. Tomorrow is forcast for 90, then it should get cool enough to layup another tank. :silly:

No eBay APP ID and/or Cert ID defined in Kunena configurationI was thinking of something like this. Ignore the made in China part :laugh:

I was automatically thinking of black, but since these will be made to order, prospective customers would pick their color preference.

I cant wait to have a set

when can we start the payment plan lol :laugh:

No eBay APP ID and/or Cert ID defined in Kunena configurationporchev914 wrote:

I was thinking of something like this. Ignore the made in China part :laugh:

I was automatically thinking of black, but since these will be made to order, prospective customers would pick their color preference.

i'm sure u are aware , but just in case.
some tanks have very dif venting systems, this should become a consideration when choosing the cap.
the early flush mount zx filler in my tank has a vent built in.