Odd reserve problem

[jamesf]

So today I wanted to see how many miles my gs would go before hitting reserve.... Well I got to 240 and realized there was an issue. Checked the tank and there wasn't much there at all, definitely not a gallon. I rode a little more and she started to conk out, so I switched it to reserve. Didn't change anything. On and reserve were basically the same. Prime was a little better, but shortly after it started sputtering, it was fully dead.

Now as far as I can tell, the fuel lines are hooked up correctly. This is a 2002 bike, and the long barb on the gas tank is connected to the upper right barb on the pet chicken, the smaller one is connected to the Lower right on the petcock, and the left barb on pet chicken feeds the carbs (assuming you are facing the pet chicken). I haven't read of anyone having this issue  without the lines being switched, does anyone have absolutely any idea what else could cause the on position to suck from reserve?

Again, seemed to me they were both on and reserve were actually drawing from the tank reserve.

[ShowBizWolf]

Hiya jamesf,

Forgive me if you've already seen this! But are you sure the lines are hooked up like the corrected diagram from the wiki? (The manuals and parts diagrams are incorrect.)


The only other thought I have is maybe something is messed up in the petcock but that's just a stab in the dark, really

[user11235813]

I've have my lines on and off heaps of times, and I know that I get 350km till I hit reserve with another 120 kms on reserve, however in spite of always checking this every time I reassemble, one day I was riding and when it went over 380km I got suspicious and sure enough, I had them flipped! So although you are aware of the correct way they go, have you nevertheless checked anyway?

[jamesf]

I have referenced that diagram while checking the lines after this occurred, however I will triple. Check this tomorrow morning, although I'm 99% sure based on already checking it that it is correctly routed.

I may end up disassembling the pet chicken to check at some point, although I may end up ignoring this issue and just filling up after 200 miles every time

[BockinBboy]

Based on your initial description, you described the configuration that the lines are switched on the petcock.

They cannot physically draw from the same height/depth in the tank. You can look into the tank and see one is high and one is low; and you can see outside of the tank that there are separate lines connected respectively.

On your machine, remember this if it helps.

Longer/Lower. Longer tank barb connects to Lower petcock inlet
("Longer" is also the Lower on the tank - so Lower/Lower is how I remember it... I was just using words from your description)

Look at this way - if you switch em and find a reserve you've won. If not, you still run outta gas same as before... and we'll dust off the thinking caps to dig in a lil further. 

- Bboy

[gsJack]

.................The only other thought I have is maybe something is messed up in the petcock but that's just a stab in the dark, really

Or maybe the frame petcock was changed by a previous owner to one from a newer model GS.  Check the petcock to see which one you have.  The 01-02 models were the only ones where the hoses crossed, there's a pic of the older models in the wiki.

[jamesf]

Since I currently have a full tank, I don't want to bother switching the lines right now. But if the lines are switched, would that just mean reserve is on and on is reserve? I. E if I left the pet chicken on reserve for this tank and the lines are switched, will I be able to switch to "on" for reserve functionality?

[BockinBboy]

Brilliant, yes I believe so... If that is indeed the issue. I dunno why I didn't think of it that way LOL.

So you go through a tank and find if reserve is hiding in your ON position currently.

When the time comes, full or empty - clamp the lines to switch em, no mess, no hassle really. For a long time I didn't have proper clamps for fuel line work and just used vice grips (protected the line with a shop rag).

- Bboy


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[Peter Tez]

on my 2005 gs, both the petcocks   make the letters O and R on the outets and inlets. don't know for older models


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