Gas tank question

[MarkusN]

Guys, don't get your panties in a buch. Nothing in the OP's original text suggests that the friends recommendation to synch the carbs was in reply to the fuel problem. The two things could be (and probably are) completely untrelated.

[3imo]

I trust my friend, he made a mistake is all. The thing about syncing the carbs has more to do with the fact that I have only had the bike about 2 months and have no idea when this was done last if at all.

If you described the problem to him like you did to us, then the issue is much worse than a simple mistake.  It's a fundamental lack of troubleshooting skills.  However, it's your bike and your decision.

Ouch! Egaeus.  "fundamental lack of troubleshooting skills."   well beat around the bush why dont cha  

as the devils advocate, I say give the guy a break, he was trying to help.  
in fact, on this site, the first thing anyone brings up is carbs this and carbs that.  
on day I may be wrong one time in the distance future, although unlikely.

advise is advise, and you have to take it as such.
I'd give Sarah a pat on the back for checking with us before tearing into the carbs on "advise".

Sarah, thank your freind for his help, let him know he was wrong and laugh about it over a beer.

Don't gouge his eyes out just yet. he might be right next time  

[st8racin]

I trust my friend, he made a mistake is all. The thing about syncing the carbs has more to do with the fact that I have only had the bike about 2 months and have no idea when this was done last if at all.

If you described the problem to him like you did to us, then the issue is much worse than a simple mistake.  It's a fundamental lack of troubleshooting skills.  However, it's your bike and your decision.

No I didn't really describe the problem to him like I did on here. He was riding with me but I was a bit flustered after running out of gas in the middle of traffic. It was also just coming over a hill so I was rather worried about a car flying over the hill and hitting me. I also didn't mention that I sorta dropped the bike pulling into a parking space behind him, was hoping to leave that part out for the sake of my already bruised pride, so we were concerned that I might have screwed something up mechanically. The bike was acting wierd for just being out of gas but I suppose the messed up fuel lines would be cause for that. Trying to figure out what wrong with your bike on the side of the road with cars zipping by kinda suck. I'm gonna try to avoid that situation from now on.

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

I'm gonna try to avoid that situation from now on.

+1! And remember, keep the shiny side up, and the sticky side down! 

[st8racin]

WOOT!!! Got the lines all fixed. Almost forgot to turn the petcock back to the on position before I put it back together but I caught it in time. Started it up and seems to be running fine and I didn't see anything leaking so I'm gonna say that's a good sign.

[LimaXray]

oh no you want some gas leaking... gas spilling everywhere is good luck

[Onlypastrana199]

Glad u got it all sorted out 

[3imo]

Glad u got it all sorted out 

+1   

[kurtr]

The switch looks fine.  it is in the "ON" position. turn left and it will be in "RES"erve.  straight up in "PRI"me

I've only had my 2001 bike for a couple months and the fuel switch is confusing me.  I thought the switch was a shut-off switch.  Like, when the bike is parked, I should turn the fuel switch OFF.  From reading your post, it looks like the three positions are:
   ON   (Main "tank")
   RES   (Reserve "tank")
   PRI    (This one confuses me.  I figured this meant "Primary" -- sort of like "ON").

Your post says PRI means "prime."  What is that?  When is it used?

Much thanks, in advance!

Kurt

[LimaXray]

you can leave it set to 'ON' all the time.  'ON' and 'RES' vacuum feed the fuel into the carbs, so fuel will only flow when the engine is running.  'PRI', which it prime, allows fuel to run into the fuel with out the engine running to fill 'prime' the carbs after they have been drained or serviced

[3imo]

welcome .

The "PRI"  is for prime.  i may be off but someone will correct me if I am wrong.

Our engines use gravity to feed fuel to the carbs.
if the carbs reserviors are empty (for whatever reason)  "PRI"  uses a vaccum pump to "Prime" the empty carbs.

the vaccum pump is a diaphram in the frame mounted Petcock.  it is connected to the carbs. when the engine is cranked it will act as a fuel pump.

does that makes sense to ya?

[3imo]

uh..oh   

LX  who's right?  me or you?

[Chuck]

LX is right.

[LimaXray]

 

[3imo]

Ok, If I am wrong i'm wrong.   

I will check it out when I get to the house.

[3imo]

Yup, I am wrong. reference--  http://www.dansmc.com/gastank.htm

The second type of petcock has a diaphragm that automatically shuts off the gas when the engine stops. You will see a hose going from the petcock to a fitting on the intake manifold of one of the carbs. This supplies vacuum to one side of the diaphragm, opening the fuel valve inside the petcock. These petcocks have three settings. ON-RESERVE-PRI. ON is on. Reserve is reserve and PRI is Prime. Prime bypasses the diaphragm so you can fill the carbs with gas after they have been drained. Set it on PRI, fill the carbs and put it back to ON. Sometimes, ON is called MAIN.

like I said "someone will correct me if I'm wrong"   

[LimaXray]

It's ok, I forgive you, not everyone can be perfect like me 

[Egaeus]

you can leave it set to 'ON' all the time.  'ON' and 'RES' vacuum feed the fuel into the carbs, so fuel will only flow when the engine is running.  'PRI', which it prime, allows fuel to run into the fuel with out the engine running to fill 'prime' the carbs after they have been drained or serviced

or you run out of gas.

[Egaeus]

Yup, I am wrong. reference--  http://www.dansmc.com/gastank.htm

The second type of petcock has a diaphragm that automatically shuts off the gas when the engine stops. You will see a hose going from the petcock to a fitting on the intake manifold of one of the carbs. This supplies vacuum to one side of the diaphragm, opening the fuel valve inside the petcock. These petcocks have three settings. ON-RESERVE-PRI. ON is on. Reserve is reserve and PRI is Prime. Prime bypasses the diaphragm so you can fill the carbs with gas after they have been drained. Set it on PRI, fill the carbs and put it back to ON. Sometimes, ON is called MAIN.

like I said "someone will correct me if I'm wrong"   

You have a complete lack of troubleshooting skills! 

Seriously though, It's hard to believe that with all the bikes you've disassembled, you've never taken apart a petcock.  There is a diaphragm that stops fuel flow when closed.  When the engine's running, the diaphragm is opened.  PRI bypasses that diaphragm and gets fuel straight from the RES hose.

[Wrecent_Wryder]

d2