Landracing Forum

Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => SCTA Rule Questions => Topic started by: peterdallan on August 13, 2011, 11:38:35 AM

Title: Motorcycle frame design question
Post by: peterdallan on August 13, 2011, 11:38:35 AM
Hi,

    Just beginning to sketch out a couple of designs for my frame for next year.

I will be going in the 650cc Pushrod Fuel/Gas classes, Special Construction frame.

Question, can I have a frame where the top tube is the gas tank and the downtube is the oil tank?

thanks 

Peter
Title: Re: Motorcycle frame design question
Post by: Dakin Engineering on August 13, 2011, 02:03:25 PM
For gas class, the tank must be sealed.
They like to visually verify the tank is empty before filling and sealing.

Sam
#6062
Title: Re: Motorcycle frame design question
Post by: ol38y on August 13, 2011, 02:10:41 PM
I don't know of any compliance reason you can't. But, you'll severly limit your capacitys , especially gas. JMO
Title: Re: Motorcycle frame design question
Post by: peterdallan on August 13, 2011, 02:16:35 PM
Thanks Sam,

                  Alternative is to fit a couple of tube tanks alongside the top frame rail, however wouldn't I come up with the same problem regarding checking the tank is empty as they would be quite long and thin?

JMO, what would be an ideal capacity for a run in your opinion? I was planning to have a much larger diameter top tube than normal if I went this route.

Cheers



Peter
Title: Re: Motorcycle frame design question
Post by: ol38y on August 13, 2011, 02:23:49 PM
IMO 1 to 1.5 gals for gas with the twin alum. tubes. Then you'd have the top rail and the down tube for oil. But, JMO
Title: Re: Motorcycle frame design question
Post by: Vinsky on August 13, 2011, 02:41:43 PM
You said fuel/gas class.  If you are running Alky, you need a much larger tank than for gas.
Title: Re: Motorcycle frame design question
Post by: 55chevr on August 13, 2011, 03:11:07 PM
I race a 1000cc pushrod bike at Bonneville and it uses more then half a gallon during the run ... it is 3 miles wide open ... youop are gonna need a really big top rail ... also your fuel weight drops as you consume the fuel during the run.   A lot of special construction bikes use a fabricated fuel tank that fits conveniently into the frame design.
Title: Re: Motorcycle frame design question
Post by: ol38y on August 13, 2011, 03:24:19 PM
You said fuel/gas class.  If you are running Alky, you need a much larger tank than for gas.

Yup, I glossed right over that. If you're running fuel you'll probably want 3 gals available.
Title: Re: Motorcycle frame design question
Post by: peterdallan on August 13, 2011, 03:30:24 PM
Ok all good info, thanks, will help with the frame design choice.

Peter
Title: Re: Motorcycle frame design question
Post by: RidgeRunner on August 13, 2011, 03:45:21 PM
Gravity feed for carburetor is one thing.  Any type of FI with  a return to tank could bring on aeration where the return dumps into the tank in which case baffles and/or larger capacity might be need to be considered.

Ed
Title: Re: Motorcycle frame design question
Post by: ol38y on August 13, 2011, 03:54:05 PM
Gravity feed for carburetor is one thing.  Any type of FI with  a return to tank could bring on aeration where the return dumps into the tank in which case baffles and/or larger capacity might be need to be considered.

Ed

Nuther good point. Also, when determining fuel line size, bigger is better.. :cheers:
Title: Re: Motorcycle frame design question
Post by: bak189 on August 13, 2011, 07:48:58 PM
What engine are you using????.......1.5 gallons should be enough if you are using gasoline for fuel........
We ran a 750c.c Triumph with a top tube frame tank on gas (record still stands) with no problem.......
To show the tank is empty ....just disconnect the fuel line and show the man the tank is empty..Simple..
Title: Re: Motorcycle frame design question
Post by: wobblywalrus on August 14, 2011, 01:18:14 AM
My experience with oil-in-frame is they are difficult to thoroughly clean out if the oil is contaminated, for example, by an engine failure.
Title: Re: Motorcycle frame design question
Post by: peterdallan on August 14, 2011, 04:31:05 AM
We are using a 1960 Triumph 6T engine as the basis for our build.

Peter

What engine are you using????.......1.5 gallons should be enough if you are using gasoline for fuel........
We ran a 750c.c Triumph with a top tube frame tank on gas (record still stands) with no problem.......
To show the tank is empty ....just disconnect the fuel line and show the man the tank is empty..Simple..
Title: Re: Motorcycle frame design question
Post by: bak189 on August 14, 2011, 03:14:48 PM
With the 6T Tri. engine on gas (petrol to you) about 1 gal. should be enough......Our frame tank was a 3 inch dia. tube, 2 feet long.....after our run on the salt we had about a couple of pints left in the tank.....
our engine was a pre-unit Tri. using a 750c.c. Morgo Kit, running thru a BSA close ratio gearbox.......
The bike has been retired and sold and is on display at some Texas truck stop....Oh, the shame of it all....


Title: Re: Motorcycle frame design question
Post by: Dakin Engineering on August 14, 2011, 03:25:21 PM
bak,
  Do you have any pictures?

Regards,
Sam
Title: Re: Motorcycle frame design question
Post by: peterdallan on August 14, 2011, 03:39:09 PM
It appears, when looking at the record books, that motorcycles using fuel are only marginally faster than their gas counterparts. From all your comments it looks like fuel mileage using FUEL is considerably worse that an engine using gas.

Am I right in thinking that fuel is often used because of it's cooling properties or are there other reasons I should consider this route?

Cheers

Peter


With the 6T Tri. engine on gas (petrol to you) about 1 gal. should be enough......Our frame tank was a 3 inch dia. tube, 2 feet long.....after our run on the salt we had about a couple of pints left in the tank.....
our engine was a pre-unit Tri. using a 750c.c. Morgo Kit, running thru a BSA close ratio gearbox.......
The bike has been retired and sold and is on display at some Texas truck stop....Oh, the shame of it all....



Title: Re: Motorcycle frame design question
Post by: 55chevr on August 14, 2011, 04:01:43 PM


That is because most of the fuel records were set with non event gasoline. Check out the big displacement push rod engines and you will see a dramatic difference ... as in Harley's on nitro.
Title: Re: Motorcycle frame design question
Post by: JimL on August 21, 2011, 11:50:52 PM
Re: fuel burn for 650cc pushrod (gas).  I'm running one PG/PF engine at 680cc (750 class) and an engine at 647cc.  We found less than 1/3 gallon gasoline burn per run (3 mile).  This with 38mm Mikuni and 230 main jets, for your comparison.

If you make your tank (tanks) very easy to get on and off, it'll be easier for fuel check and for record cert.  Food for thought; twin tanks means more connections and lines to route/cover correctly (especially for fuel class).  We're doing fine on the MPS-PG-650 bike with a single tank offset to the left (meeting the 5 liter minimum rule).  Leaves room for the coil pack on the right, and still get the rider low.

Hope this helps.

Regards, JimL
Title: Re: Motorcycle frame design question
Post by: bak189 on August 22, 2011, 11:38:58 AM
If you are planning on using real fuel (not petrol) in your 6T....best get some Carillo con-rods...........
Title: Re: Motorcycle frame design question
Post by: ol38y on August 22, 2011, 05:11:05 PM
If you are planning on using real fuel (not petrol) in your 6T....best get some Carillo con-rods...........

Plan on at least 2 months to get yur Carillo rods also...  :-(
Title: Re: Motorcycle frame design question
Post by: peterdallan on August 25, 2011, 05:30:48 AM
We are using R & R rods in the build.

www.rrconnectingrods.com

Peter
Title: Re: Motorcycle frame design question
Post by: oz on August 26, 2011, 09:18:46 AM
You know where I am if you need a hand peter, If you want oversized tube I can always roll and weld for you if need be.

Oz
Title: Re: Motorcycle frame design question
Post by: peterdallan on August 26, 2011, 09:35:52 AM
Cheers OZ appreciate it.

Was looking to give you a call sometime with some questions if that is ok mate?

Peter

Can't find your mobile, if ok can you pm me it, cheers
Title: Re: Motorcycle frame design question
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on August 26, 2011, 11:15:31 AM
Dare I ask - what's a "hand peter"?
Title: Re: Motorcycle frame design question
Post by: Stan Back on August 26, 2011, 12:03:29 PM
Same as a hand job?
Title: Re: Motorcycle frame design question
Post by: oz on August 26, 2011, 12:07:33 PM
LOL maybe I didnt phrase that quite right.
I dont mind helping anyone but I aint going that far not even for a fellow racer they can use there own spanners for that job!!
Pm sent