Draining fuel tank on 6th gen?

While putting the VFR away for the winter, I topped off the tank and added some fuel stabilizer as normal. However, this time I was an idiot and now I have to fix it. To add fuel stabilizer I first opened the fuel tank cap, then removed the cap to the bottle of stabilizer and poured it in.

The problem is, when I opened the cap on the stabilizer, the cardboard disc fell out of the cap and into my fuel tank. I caught a glimpse of it just as it slide out of sight down to the deepest portion of the left side of the tank.:frusty:

How the heck am I going to get this thing out? I figure ill have to pull the tank off, which is conveniently topped off completely with fuel, so I figure I will have to drain the fuel out first.

Does anyone have a good idea on how to get this piece of cardboard out of the tank or at least a good way to completely drain it?

Thanks for any ideas you may have....

 

Siphon the gas out and use a flashlight to look into the tank to see if you can find the carboard. You might be able to get it out with one of those long narrow plastic detailing attachments that are used with those small handheld wet/dry vacs.

Regards,
Rollin

 

I'm not sure but what I might not just leave it there until I've ridden a bit and lowered the fuel level. What's it going to damage? (I realize I'm leaving myself wide open on this, but I can't see what harm it can do)

 

Be very careful,those fumes are flammable.Electrical devices ie cheap flashlights,vacuum motors make sparks,static electricity.Beware,be careful.I can,t see a problem riding most of fuel out,then drain,let dry and shake it like a piggy bank...Oopsie stuff happens,good luck,bro!

 

Whatever you do, don't use a vacuum to suck the gas out. I read a story about that a couple of years ago. If I remember right, the dude might have won a Darwin award.

 

You could drain it by taking the the tank off and removing the fuel line (if I remember its a 8mm hex). Then use one of those cheap little mechanical grabbers to fish it out.



Action

 

Seriously the same thing happened to me! What I did worked perfect I had help from a friend he's a Honda Bike Tech! It's the winter time so you still have time to do this properly! According to him;

1 Have a friend help you and get yourself a large clean plastic pail
2 Remove the tank from the bike but keep the area really well ventilated; (keep the garage door open big time)
it will be cold but it's alot safer.
3 Drain the gas from the tank from the bottom into the pale, once that is done you can safely look for and remove the piece of cardboard!

One thing to remember to put the gas back into the tank use a funnel and pour it in a gas can then pour it back into the tank! Or use new gas and put the stablizer back in, either way it's the safest and best way to do it at home! As "ACTION" (read his message again)said in his message remove it throught the lines and you'll be fine just don't use a vacuum. Just be careful and you won't have a problem but get a buddy to help you so you don't drop the tank while full or spill gas! Good Luck!

Cdn Vffer

 

Thanks a lot for the replies! I was hoping I would be able to drain it from the bottom, but I was having a hard time getting under there to see how to get the line detached as it's full and kinda heavy to hold the tank up by myself.

I'll get a hand removing and then draining the tank and go from there. That picture helps a lot. Thanks for all of the help. Still learning this bike and have not had to dig into yet as there has been nothing wrong with it.

Also good to know that I am not the only one this has happened to! Lesson learned.

 

Riding the VFR is the easiest thing,working on them is eh different story.I'll take that anyday compared to uh.I love my VFR!