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View Full Version : Tank vent + Line shutoff = Uh oh.



sicam
07-25-2011, 06:53 AM
I am sure you guys have seen it all. Here is my uh oh moment of the day.

It was hot out, ... No, I mean really hot. Around 99 F with a heat index approaching 112 F. I put the bike in the shade under the tree and would work on it for about 20 minutes then go inside. I was working on the bottom of it so I put it up into the air (Front end up and balanced on rear bar. To insure gas didn't leak out I closed the tank vent and the gas line shutoff. Then it started to storm so I set the bike down and went inside. The storm was refreshing, it rained and the temperature outside dropped at least 15 degrees. :doh:

Went I went outside and looked at the bike, the gas tank has started to suck in on one side. The air in the tank - remember the equation pv=nRt. Yep, n and R stayed constant but T dropped by 15. So, who do you think gave p or v? p gave a little, the tank was now under vacuum and v gave a little, the side of the tank flexed in.

Long story short, never close both shutoffs at the same time.

Good news, the same equation works when air pressure is put into the tank. :headbang:

Mr. Richard
07-25-2011, 06:37 PM
WOW ... i have never seen that happen .. your right because i have seen most everything .... got some pictures?

sicam
07-25-2011, 07:21 PM
I right away took the tank off and pressurized the tank. It went boom and popped most of it out. I do have a real small dent on the left near my knee. I think I can push it out with a plastic spoon.

This is what it is left of the dent right now. Its tough to show a dent on a rounded surface in sunlight. A paint booth would make a person sick.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g1/hoopteeh/Honda%2070/b.jpg

Mr. Richard
07-25-2011, 11:36 PM
well it could have been worse!!!