DIY: Super-Secure Gas Tank Holder (for when your tank is removed)

[headshrink]

After 3 years of delicately balancing my tank on a pair of [on edge] 2x4’s, knowing someday it was likely to get kicked over, thus damaging the fuel tap assembly underneath, I decided to come up with a more permanent, and stable solution. I figured out a relatively simple design that holds the tank in the exact same manner it mounts on the bike, which is not only super secure, it also eliminates the need to rest the tank on its bottom edges. With screws and scrap pieces of wood I already had, this project cost me a little over $2.


The key to securely holding the tank is to use a mount for the front that is similar to the rubber pair of front mounts on the bike. I fabricated this with a ¾” PVC T, and a very short piece of ¾” PVC pipe. This is where you spend the big bucks.

Note: You will not need any PVC glue for this project, just dry-fit them.





Trim about ¼” off the straight ends of the PVC T.





Cut, and insert lengths of PVC pipe in the ends of the T so approx. ¼” – ½” sticks out on each side. This will be the front mount.





Hand-fit the front mount, and make any necessary adjustments. This is the appropriate time to determine how high you want your front mount. I settled on 7” from floor to top of the T, which keeps the mounted tank relatively horizontal to the floor. The length of vertical pipe will obviously need to be a little shorter than the height you want. Ouch... I didn't see that chipped paint until editing this picture.





The front mount will be mounted to the front cross-piece with three screws. Drill pilot holes through both walls of the pipe (bit size depends on the screws you are using), then drill larger holes through ONLY ONE WALL of the pipe to accommodate the screw heads. Aren’t you glad you bought that drill press? The mounting holes are illustrated below, but hold off on attaching the front mount to the cross-piece for now.





Determine how wide you want your cross-pieces, and then cut them (for simplicity I went with an even 1’). I used 2x4’s for the front and rear cross-piece. Note: I ran into a little bit of a clearance issue with the fuel tap (mentioned later), so you may want to add two inches to each end (assuming you use 2x4’s for the stretchers… I used scrap 2x3’s). 16” cross-pieces should do it, but you'll want to determine your own measurements, to be certain.

Now center, and attach, the front mount (with 3 wood screws) to the front cross-piece.





Cut the stringers to the length you determine. I cut mine to 21”, which was a little tight, but works. I’m guessing 21 1/8” – 21 ¼” would be dead-on perfect.
Using wood screws, attach the front and rear cross-pieces to the stringers. Note that the front mount is attached on the inside of the "box."





Here you see the clearance problem with the fuel tap.





The clearance issue was solved by routing a ½” cove. If you elected to use a 2x4 here, you will need to cut a little deeper.




Here is my tank mounted on its completed holder. The picture doesn’t illustrate this, but the front of the tank is suspended, so it doesn’t make contact with wood.

[caps]

thats pretty sweet

[spooph]

I dig!

[Nemesis]

A+ for being creative.

I usually just lay it on top of my OEM front tire.

[headshrink]

Originally Posted by Nemesis

A+ for being creative.

I usually just lay it on top of my OEM front tire.

Ahh, why didn't I think about that ages ago!

[randomwalk101]

Good God..why? you take your tank off very often?

[headshrink]

Originally Posted by randomwalk101

Good God..why? you take your tank off very often?

I do.

[gophurr]

Definitely could have used this DIY a week ago, when I had to take my gas tank off to do a few mods. I ended up just setting my gas tank on some scrap pieces of wood, i had sitting around. But this looks much sturdier. Good job on this DIY.

[choneofakind]

I use my oem front tire also. But I love the project you did. Very creative

no reserve on the petcock?

[Cuongism]

I've been using a box my basketball came in...

[rockNroll]

on the floor

[headshrink]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

I use my oem front tire also. But I love the project you did. Very creative

no reserve on the petcock?

No reserve on new-gens.

[Alex]

/linked to diy thread

[headshrink]

Originally Posted by Alex

/linked to diy thread

I have arrived, again. I guess I like this place.

[Peanut_EOD]

Nice work, but use a tire as well. It actually seems to be the perfect size.

[faxeman]

mine tank holder :P

IMG_0994.jpg

[headshrink]

Originally Posted by faxeman

mine tank holder :P

Attachment 16154

LOL, wow.... I hope that scooter doesn't start to roll!

[CZroe]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

I use my oem front tire also. But I love the project you did. Very creative
...

Tire has always worked great for me. I keep an old one around specifically for that reason.

Originally Posted by choneofakind

...
no reserve on the petcock?

Ha! There's not even a lever for switching without hand tools even if there were.

[sharky nrk]

Originally Posted by Nemesis

A+ for being creative.

I usually just lay it on top of my OEM front tire.

lol same here, although I applaud the effort

[headshrink]

LOL. Yes, it was a pet project of mine a couple years back. I had to revisit this though when I got the Honda, as it doesn't have that yolk-thingie at the front of the tank like the Ninjette does. Now I too have use old tire. For the Ninjette it's nice to be able to kick/slide it around without worrying about it tipping.

[monsta350z]

I sat mine in a milk crate.

[headshrink]

The new and improved version:

OK, so all it is is the old version set in a Harbor Freight cart. It sure is convenient though. I bought it as a parts and tool tray.