What do I need to make a carbon fibre fuel tank?

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#1

I want to make a carbon fibre fuel tank for my motorcycle.
It’s an original design so I need to create the pulg.

Is packing foam the best for this?

I then plan to wrap the foam in carbon and then disolve the foam with acetone.
Will there be issues with using acetone?
Will there be issues with fuel on carbon?

Any thoughts are most welcome :slight_smile:

#2

Is this a “one off” or a production item?

#3

yep
although I may make a mould out of it at a later stage, it’s a one off item for now.
Finish isn’t so important as it will be painted

#4

Before you get going, figure out how to do the cap and what fuel lines / petcocks that you will need (carb. or fuel injected) and how to attach them.

If you are going to melt out the foam, use PS (polystyrene) foam but you will need to use epoxy resins as PER melts PS.

Read just about ever post on this Message board as most has already been covered many times over…

JM

#5

Just make sure the epoxy or whatever resin you choose doesn’t dissolve in gasoline. That would be really bad.

#6

I’ll have to second what Scooter said.

#7

You WILL have to coat the inside of your tank. I think there are kits from places like Dennis Kirk that have coatings. If you crash, the tank might shatter when it hits something, so there is more of an issue. You might want to put some hybird/kevlar layers in there also.

#8

only 6 months late but a good link.
http://www.mci.i12.com/carbon/petrol_tank.htm

Richard

#9

only 6 months late but a good link.
http://www.mci.i12.com/carbon/petrol_tank.htm

Richard

#10

i was going to make tanks for race bikes, i was figuring that i need an internal bladder for crashes wrapped in a kevlar fabric for sliding down the track rash resistance.

#11

thread killa is that your site? If so thank you!!

that was the first site i found (ever!) in my never ending quest in to the realms of carbon. Loads of great info can be found there (although not as much as here)

#12

what ive seen done is a reg mold. no bladder nothing. no foam either. you have to get the org tank, which i have one sitting in front of me, im going to make a mold out of it soon. hopefully. first layer carbon, then kevlar, then carbon and kev. and 1 more kev. atleast thats what ive heard and seen. the seems are splits in the middle of the tank, upright. some ppl hate it. some ppl love it

#13

Not mine unfortunately. First site i found aswell, plenty of usefully ideas.

Richard