An Auxiliary Fuel Tank for the PC800

For quite a while I’ve been kicking around the idea of having additional fuel tanks on my PC.  Sure, the PC can go 200+ miles between fill-ups, but sometimes you want the ability to carry more gas.  On several occasions, I’ve been spotted riding around Oregon with a two gallon jerry can strapped to the passenger seat.  Thus, it would be preferable to have an auxiliary fuel storage solution that is removable.

I obviously could go for a fuel bladder or RotopaX-style tank.  However, that’d be too darn easy!  Plus the RotopaX tank is entirely too square for our streamlined, curved bikes.  And the fuel bladder solution seems to be less-than-ideal from a DOT perspective.  Perhaps there is a DOT-approved bladder available, but I haven’t found it yet.  That makes me think that I’m going to have to find someone (or do it myself) to mold a custom plastic tank or two.

Placement of the auxiliary tank seems most logical in the trunk.  I would have two tanks — one on each side of the wheel.  Depending on what I want, I will either fill the trunk completely, or only have the tanks come up partway so some storage room is left.  I will want the tanks removable as well for the 99% of my time when I don’t need extended range.

Me being me, I want the auxiliary tanks plumbed into the rest of the fuel system.  That way I can fill everything at once (ideally) and transfer fuel between the tanks as needed during the ride.  Also this means that I will be able to have additional switches and knobs to play with on my dash.  Maybe even a couple extra fuel gauges 🙂

A pump such as a Mikuni vacuum pump might work nicely to slowly transfer fuel around.  It would also not require any electricity to operate — a big plus.

This project will be on the back burner to my fuel injection project.  Eventually I’ll get it done though.  As I have updates or notes to remember, I will post them in this category.

2 Replies to “An Auxiliary Fuel Tank for the PC800”

  1. Hi came across your website whilst looking for Pc800 parts.
    Did you manage to build that extension on the pc800 tank?
    I had this idea back in 95 when i went overland driving through Baltic route.
    But never realized it.

    1. Hi Bart,

      Nope, not yet. It is on the “to-do” list after I finish the fuel injection project that I am nearly done with. I think that I might blow mold or vacuum mold some tanks rather than welding like I originally had planned. Then all that will be needed is a transfer pump and a switch to turn it on or off.

      Cheers!

      Douglas

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