Reserve tank/petcock issue

gsatterw · April 22, 2012, 01:49:44 PM

So whenever my main tank runs out, the bike cuts out. Normal. She runs like an animal until this happens. I switch over to reserve and she will idle just fine, but when i give throttle, she bogs and dies. Is this a frame petcock issue??? Any ideas?

bombsquad83 · April 22, 2012, 02:07:45 PM

Does the bike still run on prime when this happens?

Are you sure that you have your lines connected properly? Maybe what you think is on is actually reserve, and you are just out of gas when you switch over.

gsatterw · April 22, 2012, 02:24:47 PM

It'll idle fine on reserve when my main tank is done, just when i blip the throttle it dies.

BaltimoreGS · April 22, 2012, 02:32:30 PM

Quote from: bombsquad83 on April 22, 2012, 02:07:45 PM
Does the bike still run on prime when this happens?

My first thought too.

-Jessie

gsatterw · April 22, 2012, 02:42:12 PM

it does idle on prime but when i blip the throttle, it dies.

bombsquad83 · April 22, 2012, 02:48:24 PM

Unless you are just out of gas from having the reserve and on lines reversed, I don't really see how this could have much to do with the petcock if it does the same thing on prime and reserve. Check this and get back to us.

gsatterw · April 22, 2012, 02:51:13 PM

The tube on the tank petcock that hangs down further is where the reserve line goes, right?

bombsquad83 · April 22, 2012, 02:53:24 PM

That's right. What year is your bike?

gsatterw · April 22, 2012, 02:53:47 PM

02

bombsquad83 · April 22, 2012, 02:57:23 PM

The line from that lower tube on the tank should go to the back of the petcock instead of the bottom (assuming that you have the stock petcock). Is that how yours is?

gsatterw · April 22, 2012, 04:17:37 PM

Yup, just rechecked, all fuel lines are routed correctly.

So i put gas in it, switched it over to on, started bike. It idled fine, when i gave it throttle it would die. Ok, here's where it gets a bit weird. So I'm trying to get the bike to rev properly and I try in all petcock positions for a while (ON, RES and PRI). All petcock positions yield the same result: idles fine, when given throttle, bogs and dies, rpm's max out at 4,000. I bust out the starter fluid. When its idling and I soak the carbs, she bogs and dies (small vacuum leak?). I try this for a while, no success, best result was that I got the revs to hang at 6 while idling with choke. I let all the starter fluid evaporate and I'm back to square 1. Then I try spraying the starter fluid while I open the throttle. She revved to life and I was able to get rpm's to redline. I let the starter fluid evaporate again, and what do ya know, she runs fine.

So my question is...wtf is going on? Why does my bike run perfectly fine until my main tank runs out? Do I have a bunch of gunk in the bottom of my tank maybe???

This guy that was watching me fuss with my bike said he used to race bikes, and advised that I could have fouled spark plugs.

Thoughts?

bombsquad83 · April 23, 2012, 06:21:07 AM

What do your plugs look like? I would also check your float height using a tube from the carb drain. The gas level should be level with the float bowl gasket.

benntn · April 23, 2012, 07:29:21 AM

Mine is doing the same thing. I've changed the plugs, took the carbs off twice and cleaned, installed new jets, new frame petcock, new fuel lines, added an in-line fuel filter, took the tank filter out twice and cleaned it, yet mine is still doing this too.

gsatterw · April 23, 2012, 08:44:40 AM

Quote from: benntn on April 23, 2012, 07:29:21 AM
Mine is doing the same thing. I've changed the plugs, took the carbs off twice and cleaned, installed new jets, new frame petcock, new fuel lines, added an in-line fuel filter, took the tank filter out twice and cleaned it, yet mine is still doing this too.

Frustrating problem isnt it? I'm thinking it has to be tank side. The bike runs flawlessly when there is fuel in the main tank so i feel like its not a problem with the floats. I'm thinkin gunk in the bottom of the tank. When the main tank runs out of gas and I flip to the reserve, I think a bunch of crap gets tossed into the carbs causing it to run like shaZam! until I fill the tank with gas and load up the carbs with starter fluid, causing it to blow out all the bull crap in the carbs. Just a guess. I'm running out of ideas.

All I know is this problem arose when I switched gas tanks.

BaltimoreGS · April 23, 2012, 10:00:36 AM

Have you pulled the tank petcock out to see if the filter is clogged?

-Jessie

gsatterw · April 23, 2012, 10:05:39 AM

That will be the next step after this tank of gas is done.

benntn · April 23, 2012, 10:27:32 AM

Except mine doesn't stay running weather it is on "on", "res", or "prime". I have to start mine on "prime" but it will not stay running. My tanks isn't full though but I've empty it and put fresh gas with seafoam too. First it was only a gallon of gas, then I added a second then a third.

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Reserve tank/petcock issue