TT600R - Insulation under plastic fuel tank
 

Howdy fellow riders.

I am about to license a 2001 model TT600R. I foolishly removed the insulation under the fuel tank as part of my maintenance overhaul of the bike. I did not realise at the time it was a heat reflectant/resistant cloth but rather some padding the previous owner had put on the bike.

Anyway my question is - What are the dangers of riding the bike without having this insulation underneath the plastic fuel tank. Is it likely to cause the tank to melt. From observation it appears as though there is a gap between the cylinder heat cooling fins and the tank - no direct contact so conduction can be ruled out. Thus only convection and radiation are possible?. I also would of thought that the small amount of air-flow through this area would disperse any hot air.

Is it to keep the fuel cool?

Please advice dangers of operating bike without this insulation in place.

I am attemping to get some adhesive backed heat shield cloth, but in the meantime would like to know if i am endangering the plastic fuel tank.

Cheers
Doug

Hi Doug

On my '84 TT600 there is no insulation on the plastic tank and it survived a few years and miles. I replaced the steel tank on my XT600 with a large Acerbis plastic tank, also without any insulation, no problems on that either.

I would say that as long as the tank clears the head by a few cm, it sould be OK without the insulation.

Cheers
Francois

Yes the fuel will get hot when riding slow or idling in traffic, don't worry it's not going to explode,. The down side is that hot fuel is more likely to vapor lock in the carb, this results in difficult starting and a poor running engine.
I belive that cool fuel gives better combustion. I have added heat reflective tape to the underside of my offroad bike and this greatly reduced the temp of the tank, it would get hot between my legs. The tape can be found at a most hardware stores as it is also used to tape up the joints on furnace duck work.