Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Petrol Tank Refilling

Having now changed to an america from a triple I have one problem. Can anybody tell me is there a way to fill the tank without petrol spray all over there is a small bar in the petrol tank which stops me putting the filler further into the tank and regardless of how much I slow down the filling I get spray.

It is a challenge at some pumps for me also. Thank goodness we don't have those sleeve/ribbed thingies on the fuel nozzles here. The bar in the tank may be there to keep you from damaging the fuel pump assembly with the nozzle and has been discussed several times over on that other site. I try to angle the spout down and to the back slightly and use a gentle trigger activation when possible. Some have had good luck with the McCuff to reduce the splash.
Here is a link to a discussion on it not that long ago.
http://www.triumphrat.net/cruisers-america-speedmaster/371545-fuelling-issue.html

edit: it does appear it may just be a blocking bar and not a "tube" for a vent or anything

I am assuming (yes, it can be dangerous) it is a newer EFI model.

my 2012 came with that little bar in the fill opening, that thing is the problem. it supposedly is an anti gas theft device. It is solid and performs no function. It can be removed but is a real pain to do, a look with a bore scope showed it is welded in place.
I used a small bolt cutter to snip thru the bar approximately in the center of the fill hole and then bent the two halves back out of the way. Done, Fixed.

Thank you it is a EFI model 2011. The cutting and bending seems a great idea was just worried it might be a vent thanks for the info

it's not a vent, that much is certain.

Take a paper towel poke a hole in it and put the nozzle through it, no more splash!

Not that I would want this anti theft device in my tank but someone did syphon gas from my tank and had I gone another 20 minutes down the road before switching over to reserve due to a stalling engine would have been hitch hiking back to town or at least not getting to see the light house and furthest east broadcast station owned by Marconi. Small blessings.

I replaced my fuel filter today and thought I would give some follow up on that wire at the bottom of the fuel tank neck. May have been in another thread but I remembered this one.
I think the wire must be there to prevent damage to the fuel filter assembly. The filter, not the fuel pump as it's in the lower left corner of the tank. For anybody who has not seen it yet,
here is a pic inside the tank with the filter/pump removed




And this is the filter/pump assembly

Thanks for the picture. Now i can see it properly and cutting it out won't cause any problems.
All i need to do now is figure out how i can remove it without blowing myself up when i use a carbide grinding burr to cut it out.
I'm thinking i could probably run the tank really low on fuel or even drain it and then put a big wad of rags into the neck and have them catch any grinding debris. Maybe i could grab the bar with vise grips and work it back and forth till it comes loose from the small tack welds that hold it. Once it's loose i could hold it with some needle nose pliers and snake it out of the tank. Sure will make fill ups less "Splashy".

Use good quality aviation snips, nip the offending wire right in the middle, and bend both sides apart. No sparks involved.