Buddy 150 too small of a gas tank!

CROSSBOLT · Post by **CROSSBOLT** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 10:22 pm

I think I saw it on this forum where someone added an aux. gas tank to his Buddy 150. Could you direct me to that thread or steer me to ready-made auxiliary fuel tanks.

Karl

PS: Why? 'Cause 1.6 US gallons is too little for a 100 mile trip! Yes, I tried the search but it just gave me all posts in Gen Discussion.

pdxrita · Post by **pdxrita** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 10:42 pm

I don't recall anyone ever successfully installing an auxiliary tank, but people have talked about methods for carrying extra gas. The containers you can get at a sporting goods store for camp stove fuel seemed to be the containers of choice.

Something like this:http://www.rei.com/product/784303/msr-f ... p-20-fl-oz

Howardr · Post by **Howardr** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 10:49 pm

I don't know. I have found that my Buddy's tank and my butt's ability to stay in the saddle match up pretty well.

unless you're riding WOT, you should be able to get to your 100 miles destination on a single tank as well.

That being said, check out the Modern Vespa "Official 2012 Cannonball Thread" If memory serves, one of riders on a Buddy 125, managed to hook up an auxiliary fuel cell.

Howard

jmazza · Post by **jmazza** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 11:02 pm

Yeah I can understand wanting a little more gas so you can do 100 miles in one tank (though at my MPG I think I probably could do that with the Buddy's tank...) but one other reason for the tank size is that on long trips like that the Buddy's engine benefits from periodic cooling down.

I remember a few threads trying to come up with auxiliary tanks but I don't remember any successful ones.

Dooglas · Post by **Dooglas** » Tue May 01, 2012 12:44 am

There are some small fuel tanks that can easily be strapped down on the luggage rack for longer trips where gas might be in short supply.

http://modernvespa.com/forum/topic97716 ... t=gas+tank

There are also some more expensive aluminum cylindrical tanks that folks install and plumb in on motorcycles.

http://www.tourtank.com/

Post by **ericalm** » Tue May 01, 2012 12:51 am

jmazza wrote:Yeah I can understand wanting a little more gas so you can do 100 miles in one tank (though at my MPG I think I probably could do that with the Buddy's tank...) but one other reason for the tank size is that on long trips like that the Buddy's engine benefits from periodic cooling down.

I remember a few threads trying to come up with auxiliary tanks but I don't remember any successful ones.

The TourTank will work.

But, yes, you want to let the engine cool every 100 miles or so, especially if you're riding WOT. A nice, easy cruise? You'll probably get more than 100 miles out of a tank anyways.

CROSSBOLT · Post by **CROSSBOLT** » Tue May 01, 2012 4:46 pm

Thanks everyone for such a rapid reply! Stopping every now and then is NOT a problem since neither one of us has anything larger than a thirty mile bladder! Got a coupla good ideas and let cha know what we do.

Karl

Post by **ericalm** » Tue May 01, 2012 7:08 pm

A better solution than a tank that feeds into the gas tank is a way to simply carry extra gas. There are all kinds of solutions, from bungie-ing a plastic gas can to the front rack to RotoPax.

I carry two liter fuel bottles. That's a little over half a gallon. That's more "emergency supply" than range-extending supply. Though I do have four of the bottles… Hm…

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Sat May 05, 2012 7:32 am

FWIW, a while back, for my peace of mind while riding, I tested my 150 for maximum milage per tankful and found I could go a max 120+/- miles before I'm pushing the scooter. Also, I'm not sure if this is the same for every 150, but on my scooter, once the needle hits the little post by E on the fuel gauge, I have roughly 20 miles of riding left.

Cheshire · Post by **Cheshire** » Sun May 06, 2012 7:00 am

Skootz Kabootz wrote:FWIW, a while back, for my peace of mind while riding, I tested my 150 for maximum milage per tankful and found I could go a max 120+/- miles before I'm pushing the scooter. Also, I'm not sure if this is the same for every 150, but on my scooter, once the needle hits the little post by E on the fuel gauge, I have roughly 20 miles of riding left.

That's pretty close to what Pooka got, so seconded.

Hwarang · Post by **Hwarang** » Sun May 06, 2012 7:07 am

Noob Q - what does "riding WOT" mean?

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Sun May 06, 2012 7:23 am

Hwarang wrote:Noob Q - what does "riding WOT" mean?

W.O.T. = Wide Open Throttle

2wheelNsanity · Post by **2wheelNsanity** » Sun May 06, 2012 2:18 pm

The 170 's tank is even smaller than the 125 and 150 (5.7L to 6.3L). I wish I had a larger tank so that I didn't have to fill up every 2 days, a minor inconvenience. Here in KS there is a fuel station every few miles anyway so no bug deal.

CROSSBOLT · Post by **CROSSBOLT** » Tue May 08, 2012 10:04 pm

Been carrying a 1 gal plastic can on the floorboard of my Yager with a square of drawer liner to keep it from slipping. Fits well between my feet and is only a nuisance getting on or off. I would agree with Skootz that about 20 miles should remain after gauge needle hits the peg since I have NEVER put much more than a gallon in the tank with the needle bouncing on E. One of these days maybe my wife will guts it to bone dry before we add the gallon!

I just thought y'all might have had some "trick" way to extend the usable fuel capacity.

That SUX the 170 has LESS fuel than the Buddy!

Karl

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Wed May 09, 2012 1:34 am

I'm not sure where you are getting your information regarding the Buddy 170i's fuel capacity. It has a 1.7 gallon gas tank, exactly the same as the 150cc and the 125cc.

Howardr · Post by **Howardr** » Wed May 09, 2012 2:22 am

Skootz Kabootz wrote:I'm not sure where you are getting your information regarding the Buddy 170i's fuel capacity. It has a 1.7 gallon gas tank, exactly the same as the 150cc and the 125cc.

I don't know that every tank is exactly the same. On first fuel tank on my Buddy, it was just a big metal contain with a hole at the top. I kept seeing people here on MB referring to filling it to the "collar" but had no idea what they were referring to. I managed to split that tank and when my new tank was installed, you guessed it, there was this collar thingy inside it. I don't think it holds as much fuel as my original tank, either.

My $.02

Howard

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Wed May 09, 2012 2:31 am

Howardr wrote:
Skootz Kabootz wrote:I'm not sure where you are getting your information regarding the Buddy 170i's fuel capacity. It has a 1.7 gallon gas tank, exactly the same as the 150cc and the 125cc.
I don't know that every tank is exactly the same. On first fuel tank on my Buddy, it was just a big metal contain with a hole at the top. I kept seeing people here on MB referring to filling it to the "collar" but had no idea what they were referring to. I managed to split that tank and when my new tank was installed, you guessed it, there was this collar thingy inside it. I don't think it holds as much fuel as my original tank, either.

My $.02

Howard

I'm just quoting the specs.

MYSCTR · Post by **MYSCTR** » Wed May 09, 2012 3:45 am

6.3 liters = 1.6648 gallons.

This is a surprise to me - we have run out a few times and never been able to add more than 1.42 gallons. Most of my fill ups are between 1.2 - 1.4 gallon.

Just noticed the wording "...At F (full) there are 6.3 liters approximatly, Including the reserve supply."

I would sure like to know how to reach the reservse fuel...

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Wed May 09, 2012 4:11 am

Even if you ride until you stall out from lack of gas there will still be some gas remaining in the tank. Plus, a 1.7 gal tank would be 1.7 gal when filled to the brim, so it's not exactly a realistic max capacity. 1.5 gal is probably closer the real world Buddy capacity. So filling up with +/- 1.3 gal (just as you say MYSCTR) would be most common I think.

SYMbionic Duo · Post by **SYMbionic Duo** » Wed May 09, 2012 4:26 am

I can vouch that you will still have gas in the tank when you stall out from not enough gas. the problem is that the fuel pump starts sucking air if you get too low, so you can't even use that whole 1.6 gal.

my experience is that 1.4 is the useable amount. every time i have run out, that is how much i could put back into the tank.

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Wed May 09, 2012 4:48 am

SYMbionic Duo wrote:... the problem is that the fuel pump starts sucking air if you get too low... .

And it does it even sooner if you are going up hill. I learned that the hard way...

iamryan25 · Post by **iamryan25** » Sun Apr 21, 2013 8:20 pm

My '07 Buddy 125 had a 1.7 gallon tank. I ran it out of gas and was able to get 1.6?? into it.

My '13 Buddy 125 has a 1.4 gallon tank? I've hit the peg and was only able to put in 1 gallon.

I'm almost certain the '07 (and earlier) had a plastic tank/cap. The '08 and newer have a metal tank/cap.

Just my .02 cents but I don't think they have the 1.7 gallon tank anymore, that spec is outdated.