Draining the tank....

[MikeO]

I've got to drain the petrol tank on my Adv before it's crated on Monday. I took the tank off this morning and, in the absence of any other logical plan, upended it over a bucket, draining off about 5 litres of fuel (which I then poured into the Scabalier via a funnel).
Trouble is, there's still fuel sloshing about in the tank. I've tried just about every angle to hold the tank at, but can't get the last fuel out (I don't want to take the filler cap & neck off, as I'm concerned about the gasket expanding etc).
I've left the tank, with the filler cap open, in the garage in the (slim) hope that the remaining fuel will evaporate over the next couple of days. Anybody got any other ideas??

Mike

 

[Fanum]

would putting it back on the bike and running it dry be too easy??

 

[Steve]

A lighted match?

Tried siphoning it out? If you can get all the fuel into one lobe and tip it forward, can you get a small diametre hose down there?

Other than that, I think the only way is to remove the filler neck. You've got a month for the gasket to dry out, or even buy a new one. Won't take long to fit at the other end.

 

[MikeO]

Nah, I'm pretty sure I've already drained all 'usable' fuel from it - the stuff that's left is not going to be picked up by the pump....

Mike

 

[Fitzdangle]

Fire it up !

You could try starting it up !

It seems to work for me.......... a litre or so will soon vanish, mine does.....far too quickly !

 

[boxer]

If you think removing the filler will enable you to empty the tank, then do it.

Even if the seal does expand, it'll only take a little while to shrink to it's original size......or so I'm told. I've had the filler off on a number of occasions and have never had a problem with expansion of the seal.
My only problem was ensuring that the whole assembly was level with the top of tank when it came to refitting. I needed 3off - 5mmx75mm coach bolts from B+Q. I put these through the filler flange and screwed them into the tank, I was able to then push the assembly down, with the coach bolts keeping the filler assembly level till the shorter torx bolts were able to reach the tank. This reduced the chances of the seal popping out one side or the other. A smear of vasline would help the seal slide home easier.

 

[Deadskin]

Mike
You could try Syphoning the rest out

 

[BiggaPope]

I just went thru this same exercise. Don't bother trying a syphon - I found it to be a waste of time. I drained most of it into a bucket, just like you did. I then shook the crap out of the thing, shaking it up and down and on every shake cycle more gas would come out. I don't know if I got it absolutely empty, but I couldn't hear gas sloshing around in the tank when I got done. It takes time and a lot of shaking and will make a mess.

 

[Vern]

Easy one

OK listen up girls, Before welding a tank, you want to be pretty sure there ain't much fuel in it (or make sure it's full, but we'll leave that for now!!!!)
Get as much out as you can (however you like) then get a roll of kitchen towel.
Take your tights/stockings off, and loosley stuff one leg with kitchen towel, and then feed it into the tank. Wait a few seconds, and then carffully wiggle it out (if you're a real tight wad) you can even wring all the kitchen towel out into a bucket.
It only needs two or three goes, and the tank will be bone dry. Worked for me for the last 20 odd years, and I've only blown myself up five times
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