Third time I've run out of gas... What's wrong with my reserve tank!!!

[whitetiger]

So I ran out of gas for the third time today...This time I pushed her for about 4 miles to the nearest gas station... each time I try to switch to my reserve It seems empty... I get a few sputters of fuel and then it dies... my only thought is that the problem could be with my petcock... any suggestions 

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

Ever had the tank off? Sounds like the reserve/main lines are switched.

There is no actual reserve tank, the reserve pickup is just lower in the tank, allowing you to get the last .9 gallons or so of gas. If the two are switched, when you run on "on", you'll run it to the bottom of the tank, then when you switch to "res", you'll be picking up from higher up.. which is just air. Check your clymer's for proper routing. But if you don't have one, just switch the lines and try again, I'm 99.9% sure that's your problem.

[whitetiger]

Cool... I do notice though that there does seem to be quite a bit of gas left in the bottom of the tank when I try to swith to reserve... I will try swapping those lines though.

[The Buddha]

You need my winebag/gas can "invention". NOW !!!!! 
But yea ... the lines are swapped ... or the inside pickup filter screen is swapped around.
Cool.
Srinath.

[zOU]

2 tubes under the tank:

longer tube = reserve
shorter tube = normal tap

[whitetiger]

thanks for all your help guys... And I might get to thinking on that winebag/gas can thing... Srinath... we could be rich!

[pingpong]

I believe PRI also feeds through the reserve line, so if prime also doesn't work, either your lines are crossed (even the dealership managed to do this on my bike) or your petcock is busted.

[whitetiger]

One last question... How does the petcock work... Mine only goes in three positions and leaks gas when left in pri... can someone tell me the what the positions are and what they mean...Thanks!!!

[pingpong]

ON is just your main line that's vacuum fed. RES is for your reserve, which is fed from an outlet lower in the tank than the main line, so you can switch to it when your fuel reaches a level low enough that your main outlet can't reach it. PRI is prime, which is gravity fed. If you're leaking fuel from the carbs, it probably means your float or needle valve is clogged or something. If it's from the petcock, maybe the hose isn't clamped down tight enough or your petcock is broken?

[whitetiger]

Cool thanks for the help... I'm leaking gas when I leave it in Prime... My bike won't operate for long when it is in the on position... and when in reserve it is not running either although there seems to be almost a gallon left in the tank... I think I'll replace the petcock...

[The Buddha]

Leaking in prime. OK from where ... you may have some bad float O rings or gaskets or somehting.
Cool.
Srinath.

[vsboxerboy]

Just out of curiosity, about how many miles do you get on a full tank?

[pingpong]

It varies, depending on conditions, how you ride it, and any mods. For me, during the winter in 40-50degree temps, with all city riding, I got about 100 miles on a tank, with an aftermarket exhaust, rejet, and 1 tooth down in front.

[3imo]

So I ran out of gas for the third time today...This time I pushed her for about 4 miles to the nearest gas station... each time I try to switch to my reserve It seems empty... I get a few sputters of fuel and then it dies... my only thought is that the problem could be with my petcock... any suggestions 

out of gas three times in one day??  where'd you go?  I get roughly 180 miles on one tank. 
Please explain.

+1 on the reversed lines.  if not you have a fuel leak.

try this--->http://www.gstwin.com/fuel_hose_routing.htm

[The Buddha]

OK whitetiger Now that you have the info you need, time for some humor.
White tiger is a punch line in a joke my wife have going on for 3 years.

Back in 2002 winter we were walking to a store through the parking lot when we both saw a pair of white tiger toys in the rear window of a car. We were both curious if they were those soft slippers that have animal shapes (we have a pair of dogs like that called Chooey, and Booey) and as we got close enough to see, we saw that they didn't have the foot opening so I go yea they are dolls (meaning they aren't slippers) to which my wife says ... "yup, yup, you didn't think they were real white tigers did you" ... from then on anything that happens concerning a tiger like that seigfried getting attacked by one or them facing extinction etc, I tell her the story and say, "if they weren't real white tigers how did they do that"
Cool.
Srinath.