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Hi guys. I will be the one who makes the tanks if this goes ahead. If you have any questions or requests please ask me here... No matter what you want to know I will try and answer you. Even if you want the weave direction changed or know anything about the process I will answer you the best I can.

Very cool mate, welcome aboard.

Nice one, Richard. Do you honestly realise what you've started?

The main question I have relates to the breather. I know a race-style one works better, but it would (I think) interfere significantly with the Baglux/Bagster tank harness I use, and the tankbag that clips to that harness. Will I be able to use the standard Aprilia breather arrangement, and delete the race-style one, leaving a flat, smooth surface?

I may be able to provide a Falco Bagster harness to test out whether it can coexist with a race style breather if that's any help?

And thanks very much for venturing on here to answer questions - it's much appreciated.

Welcome aboard!

I would say we know how to spend your money on bits for the Falco, but the opposite is the case here.

mangocrazy wrote:Nice one, Richard. Do you honestly realise what you've started?

The main question I have relates to the breather. I know a race-style one works better, but it would (I think) interfere significantly with the Baglux/Bagster tank harness I use, and the tankbag that clips to that harness. Will I be able to use the standard Aprilia breather arrangement, and delete the race-style one, leaving a flat, smooth surface?

I may be able to provide a Falco Bagster harness to test out whether it can coexist with a race style breather if that's any help?

And thanks very much for venturing on here to answer questions - it's much appreciated.

I can do that no problem as long as I have the cover while I am making the tank upper shell. I think it may be better to leave it off if you have a cover as it does need to be placed in a location at the top of the tank but close to the front to allow a breather pipe to be run either up to the screen or out of the way near the headstock. If you want the breather as a possible option let me have the cover at the time and I will look at the location options and show you to approve or otherwise..

Where are you located Richard? I'd like to shake you warmly by the throat, er I mean hand, for helping me spend even more money

Falcopops wrote:Where are you located Richard? I'd like to shake you warmly by the throat, er I mean hand, for helping me spend even more money

Not far from me Dale - If you do get to see Richard, it'd be good to hook up again too.

too true mate, it's just a pity I'm already booked up for the Marches meet.

I'll be near Pete again for a week or so in late April, but that's not that near you though.

I reckon I've got 3 months of commitment in Scotland that will keep me busy then I'll have some free time to make visits, so I'm sure we can come to some arrangement.

Haha... I am in leicestershite.... So if you are meeting up with Andy I am sure we can meet up.....

I'm interested in your comment about the internal pipes that serve as the breather and the drain for the filler opening on your other post about Andy's tank.

How do you propose to work these into the new tanks?

Richard will know best Dale but I reckon as long as we can have something for them to fit to top and bottom, the same sort of hose that fits between the fuel pump and filter could be used.

D-Rider wrote:Richard will know best Dale but I reckon as long as we can have something for them to fit to top and bottom, the same sort of hose that fits between the fuel pump and filter could be used.

I've been thinking about that Andy, and have a suggestion. With bitter experience of those tubes on the blue Falco's tank, they are very small bore internally and clog up ridiculously easily. And when they do, they are a royal PITA to un-clog.

Now I'm not sure what material Richard would prefer, but I was wondering if he could use thin wall 316 stainless tubing, with an internal bore significantly larger than standard. 316 stainless is entirely resistant to ethanol, and if tubing of similar o.d. to the current plastic coated ones was used, the internal bore could be about 6-8mm, which would hugely reduce the risk of clogging, and would be comparatively easy to clean out in the unlikely event they did get clogged.

I'd much prefer something that didn't degrade over time, as even the best fuel hose has a finite life. 316 stainless would last the lifetime of the tank. There may very well be good reasons why Richard can't use rigid tube, but from my (admittedly ignorant) standpoint I'd say it would be easier to bond rigid stainless tube into a tank than faff around trying to fix flexi tube onto internal tank spigots at each end.

Awaits incoming...

Sounds good to me if it works from Richard's point of view.

mangocrazy wrote:

D-Rider wrote:Richard will know best Dale but I reckon as long as we can have something for them to fit to top and bottom, the same sort of hose that fits between the fuel pump and filter could be used.

I've been thinking about that Andy, and have a suggestion. With bitter experience of those tubes on the blue Falco's tank, they are very small bore internally and clog up ridiculously easily. And when they do, they are a royal PITA to un-clog.

Now I'm not sure what material Richard would prefer, but I was wondering if he could use thin wall 316 stainless tubing, with an internal bore significantly larger than standard. 316 stainless is entirely resistant to ethanol, and if tubing of similar o.d. to the current plastic coated ones was used, the internal bore could be about 6-8mm, which would hugely reduce the risk of clogging, and would be comparatively easy to clean out in the unlikely event they did get clogged.

I'd much prefer something that didn't degrade over time, as even the best fuel hose has a finite life. 316 stainless would last the lifetime of the tank. There may very well be good reasons why Richard can't use rigid tube, but from my (admittedly ignorant) standpoint I'd say it would be easier to bond rigid stainless tube into a tank than faff around trying to fix flexi tube onto internal tank spigots at each end.

Awaits incoming...

I was going to look into adding an internal fitting to let me attach a stainless tube as I can hopefully get my hand into the tank. I need to talk to the mould maker about putting an insert into the mould to hold a fitting for the pipe.

Getting your hand into the tank is easy with the fuel pump removed - the access is very good.