gas tank heat sheid...do I need it?

Bear with me, I have built many 400ex motors but have never actually put a 400ex together as I usually get the motors when their out of the quad and give them back and let my friends install them...
got my motor running in my project quad finally after dealing with some electrical super gremlins. But now that I got it running I went to put the tank on and realized i didnt get the heat shield with all the parts it came with so my questions...

1. Do I have to run the gas tank heat shield? or can I just put some heat reflective tape on the bottom of the tank or maybe do nothing at all? Its the wifes quad and she is just going to putt around on it, no racing or high revs really.

2. It appears the gas tank sits on top of the heat shield kind of like a mount? If I put the tank on without the heat shield on it seems that the gas tank rests on top of the carb, is that how its supposed to sit? just seems kind of odd because it appears the tank only has 2 mounting bolts (the 2 up front).
Any helps appreciated.

Since you don’t have one I would get one for sure. Reflective tape won’t help much if at all. You need an air gap between the two for it to work write. Going slow would create even more heat because there is less air flowing through it.

Make one out of similar heavy gauge plastic or find one, it really helps dissipate heat, cause the EX gets REALLY hot.

I had the same thing when I bought my quad. I had built my friends previously with a heat shield, and I didn't get the shield with mine when I bought it. I ran it without the shield for a year or so with no problems. I finally bought one off ebay for like $15 and put it on. I didn't like how the tank mounted with out it.

I have an extra, from a part out I am doing,if you would like it. $15 plus shipping if you're interested.

Hope this helps.

got one on ebay last night for $9 thanks guys.