Belly pans - vague race org requirements

I had a discovery with my belly pans (more details below) and I was curious about CCS/WERA racing requirements for belly pans. Unless I'm reading the wrong rule books, was surprised to find, basically, nothing:

CCS -- Section 5.2.15 -- talks about a belly pan and routing of hoses into/out of a catch can but nothing about capacity or design. As clear as mud.

WERA -- Ch. 8, 9 and 11 -- sparsely mention belly pans and catch cans. But, like CCS, the requirements are basically non-existent. Muddier.

This research came about after I left the fairings and belly pan on during a spray wash and saw I needed to drain my belly pans. Instead, I used a hand pump to siphon the water from the belly pans into a bucket.

Using the formula for cylindrical volume (V=πr2h), cubic capacities were 286.1 cu in for one belly pan. 413.3 cu in for the other.

Pretty impressive.

But why aren't there rules considering how often the race schools espouse the benefits of using a belly pan?

 

Here's the contents of belly pan 1

 

Here's the contents of belly pan 2

 

WERA does specify capacity. "All machines are required to have a lower fairing capable of holding 5 quarts of liquid."

 

Thanks. I figured there MUST be a rule. My google search for the rule books didn't find it. 5 quarts would cover both oil and coolant/water capacities of any of my bikes.

 

CCS rule
"5.2.23 All 4-stroke machines must be equipped with a fluid catch pan of sufficient size and heat-resistant material to contain the contents of the crankcase in the event of an engine or crankcase failure. Minimum capacity of the fluid catch pan is to be 3 quarts."

At the end of the day, if you think about how much oil you put into your bike, you just want to make sure your catch pan can hold that much, right?


Also FYI in CCS, you can put a drain hole into you belly pan and use a plug. Makes draining rain/wash water out easier.

"C. A maximum of two holes, 1” or smaller in diameter, may be drilled in the fluid catch pan. These holes are to be plugged during dry conditions, and may be opened only when the event is declared “wet” by the Referee/Race Director. (Tape is not an acceptable plug for these wet weather drain holes.)"

 

Thanks @Mongo and @PeaPod

I didn't actually read the entire sections the first time because I did a "word search" for belly, pan and catch can.

@Mongo , re your last sentence. An N2 tech flagged me on Sunday for residual water in my bikes' belly pans using that very explanation (dry track and my dripping water). Said the corner workers might throw the meatball or red flag the session.

 

I am assuming that because it is not specifically called out that WERA does NOT allow for drain holes in even if they are plugged in a water tight manner? Can someone confirm that assumption? Thanks.

 

Thanks for the clarification.

I'll plan on putting two holes in the pan that are plugged up with bolts and orings to seal when it is dry.

 

It'll mostly fill up on the way to the track (unfortunately, I don't yet have an enclosed trailer ) or sitting in the pits if it is raining. The Sharkskinz kit for the 2017-21 R6 requires you remove both the sides to remove the lower and it's more of a pain than just taking out two bolts so that it'll drain.

 

It is all 1/4 turn phillips Dzus now . . . there are 8 or so in each side panel . . . for tech I only need to remove the LHS and you can then easily see the header bolts, coolant bolts/hoses, oil plug and filter without having to remove the belly.

 

Instead, get some rubber body plugs on amazon and drill the holes to match these. Lighter, simpler solution. (Or if you have an older F-series you can pull them out of the doors)

 

Something like this? https://www.amazon.com/Canitu-Gromm...t=&hvlocphy=9008068&hvtargid=pla-849992844668

(Wow thats a long URL)

Good idea. As long as it will pass tech.

 

Instead of buying a whole kit you can buy just a few 1" from Kurvy gurl