Kz1000 Carbon Fiber Fuel Tank

I mixed up some body filler and spread it into the ribs

it's tight quarters, so it's not the cleanest spreading job, but it will work. Tomorrow I should be able to sand it down and lay a skim coat if needed. I will more than likely need to do some extra refinishing to the mold after it is cast. Since the mold will be male, it'll be much easier to make any adjustments once it's been cast. I kinda wish I had a Z1 tank to be molding off of :pinch: But I will just >not so simply< modify the mold edges after casting to make a seamless tank. Thats the idea right now anyway :dry:

Could wood be used to extend the flat spot to the bottom of the lip? Maybe a pack of wood shims and some glue wood get you there. Just a suggestion as I don't know the process of wrapping the wood once done.

See, now you're using your noggin That's how it is with composites, there aren't many hard and fast rules. Use your imagination and ingenuity to come up with solutions to complex problems. The materials are so flexible that the possibilities and applications are endless. Thats good thinking outside the box Wrapping or covering wood requires similar prep...

I sent an email to OPP asking about the standards built to, and the legality of their aftermarket carbon fiber fuel tanks. Hopefully they'll get back to me early next week with some valid info I can share with the rest of you.

My email to OPP Racing:
"Good morning,

I have a question regarding your carbon fiber fuel tanks. There is alot of hearsay and rumor on the internet about the legality (mostly illegality) of of fiberglass and carbon fiber fuel tanks. Since OPP is a prominent distributor of carbon fiber fuel tanks, I had hoped you might be able to shed some informed light on the subject. ARE carbon tanks legal for D.O.T. use, and what standards are referenced for the manufacure and testing of aftermarket tanks built? I want to make an informed decision, and I don't want the thought of undue litigation on my mind if I crash with an aftermarket carbon tank. Thank you for your time and assitance and have a great day.

Adam"

OPP's response

"You will have to check with your state, we have not had any issues regarding legality since selling fuel tanks in over 20 years.
thank you
OPP INC."

A bit of a dissapointing cop out, not answering my questions at all really.

My response:
"Thank you for your quick response. While I appreciate being ambiguously pointed in my state laws direction, my questions still go unanswered. Perhaps you could be more specific where I should be looking for the applicable state laws ( I live in California) and again, what standards (federal) are the fuel tanks constructed to comply with and what quality control testing they have been subjected too.
Thanks again for your help,
Adam"

I hope to get a more thorough answer tomorrow, but I'm not holding my breath...

I just added the link for information, not to put the kabosh on your project. You could get pulled over 500 times and not have an issue with that tank.

Hope to see it come to fruition. (insert popcorn here)

porchev914 wrote:

OPP's response

"You will have to check with your state, we have not had any issues regarding legality since selling fuel tanks in over 20 years.
thank you
OPP INC."

As soon as I read this I thought it's one of two things. First, you got the stock answer from whoever answers all the email. No knowledge office worker. This could mean that their tank is perfectly legal, as I'm sure that you probably aren't the first person to ask this question. They don't want to get legal involved every time somebody emails.

Second, they may know that their tanks are not exactly legal in all states, but they won't tell you even if you put a gun to their head. It is, after all, their livelyhood. I have known many companies to exist in the "gray area" in the law until they get caught.

I'm leaning toward option #2



You would really need to talk to a legal expert to get to the bottom of this. It's not likely that you would be able to do that without spending a lot of money.

Kidkawie wrote:

I just added the link for information, not to put the kabosh on your project. You could get pulled over 500 times and not have an issue with that tank.

Hope to see it come to fruition. (insert popcorn here)

No Kabosh placed here. I took it for the available info, no worries bud.

OPP's second response:

i would try the dmv.
we have sold tons of fuel tanks to cali.
most tanks have been discontinued, which tank are you looking for anyways?
thank you
OPP INC.

Kinda makes you wonder why MOST of their tanks have been discontinued. Plus, the DMV has to be one of the least helpful government institutions around! I can't possibly be the first person to ask these questions, or the first person to check into the legality of composite tanks. Ahh well, maybe I'll come across the answer one of these days.....

They just want to sell tanks from the sound of it, and will continue to do so until the Slow Moving government makes a law making it Illegal. I wonder what if any disclaimer they use when they sell one?
To find out whether that's already the case in any of the 50 states, I would say DOT, or possibly NTSA. These agencies were put in place for regulating Motor Vehicles and safety Issues.
It well could be that they are not Illegal at this time, but the same goes for any mod, you could easily become libel.
Still think a custom tank will look great, and would be the envy of us. Just watch yourself with the law formalities.

I would think a composite tank with a "bladder" in it would be safer than a steel tank without, but I'm no engineer.

porchev914 wrote:

I mixed up some body filler and spread it into the ribs

it's tight quarters, so it's not the cleanest spreading job, but it will work. Tomorrow I should be able to sand it down and lay a skim coat if needed. I will more than likely need to do some extra refinishing to the mold after it is cast. Since the mold will be male, it'll be much easier to make any adjustments once it's been cast. I kinda wish I had a Z1 tank to be molding off of :pinch: But I will just >not so simply< modify the mold edges after casting to make a seamless tank. Thats the idea right now anyway :dry:

I would have left those ribs in there. With out them the tank will flex too much. That was the reason they were in there to begin with. With out them the tank develops harmonic vibration on the inside to the point of foaming the fuel.