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Author Topic: Reserve fuel problem  (Read 1887 times)
skull6
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Posts: 23


« on: August 02, 2009, 05:39:37 AM »

I have a 2003 and had an issue where I would use most of gas in tank before reserve was needed and reserve had very little available.
I rebuilt petcock with new tube and rebuild kit. I purposely rtan low to test and all was fine untill yesterday I went to reserve at 150 miles which is about normal for me. How ever bike was still starving for fuel and I limped off hiway and pushed to station. I only took 4.3 gallons. Before I filled I could see fuel sloshing around when I moved bike side to side.
How does reserve work and could I have done something wrong when I rebuilt?
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roboto65
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Posts: 878


Conroe,TX


« Reply #1 on: August 02, 2009, 05:49:00 AM »

Simply put the long tube is the ON fuel and reserve is whats left in the tank if you were to take the valve off and the filter you would see the tube and if you look down the tube to the top of the valve you would see a hole that is where the fuel for reserve comes from. 
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Allen Rugg                                                       
VRCC #30806
1999 Illusion Blue Valkyrie Interstate
1978 Kawasaki KZ 650 project
dreamaker
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Posts: 2815


Harrison Township, Michigan


« Reply #2 on: August 02, 2009, 06:56:55 AM »

Maybe your filter screen in the tank is twisted like mine was. The twist is in the reserve area.

Dan

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Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008
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Posts: 3025

Huffman, Texas close to Houston


« Reply #3 on: August 02, 2009, 07:37:52 AM »

I had a bike once that the previous owner never used res. After I got it the first time I ran it to res it wouldn't work because the pickup hole was plugged with trash in the bottom of the tank. I almost always run mine to res. now to keep the bottom of the tank clean.
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Grandpot
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Posts: 630


Rolling Thunder South Carolina Chapter 1

Fort Mill, South Carolina


« Reply #4 on: August 02, 2009, 07:57:43 AM »

Skull6:

Several of us have had this problem lately.  See this post from a few days ago:
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,6596.0.html

Most likely your stock petcock diaphram is going bad.  If the diaphram goes, you will not get gas in the normal position or reserve position.

Options are:
1. Rebuild the old petcock.
2. Convert the old petcock to manual operation (no vacuum) only and add a solenoid valve to shut off the gas when the engine is not running.
3. Install a Pingle petcock and add a solenoid valve to shut off the gas when the engine is not running.   tickedoff crazy2 cooldude
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crazy2 Experience is recognizing the same mistake every time you make it.crazy2
skull6
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Posts: 23


« Reply #5 on: August 02, 2009, 08:34:13 AM »

Thanks for the quick replys but I had replaced the tube and rebuilt petcock about 6 weeks ago so all is new.
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lee
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Posts: 263


Northeast Tennessee


« Reply #6 on: August 02, 2009, 09:32:22 AM »

I am assuming that when you say you replaced the TUBE you are talking about the SCREEN or FILTER.
Sounds to me like the valve is not switching.  Are you Feeling and/or Hearing the valve click when
you switch from on to reserve.  Takes two clicks to get from ON to RESERVE.

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Time is not what is taken but what remains.
C. Drewry
Ghillie
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Garland, TX


WWW
« Reply #7 on: August 02, 2009, 11:17:34 AM »

The chrome cover switch is bad about coming loose from the actual activation switch. Stranded myself on the side of the road when I first got mine before I realized it wasn't connected.
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skull6
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Posts: 23


« Reply #8 on: August 02, 2009, 04:11:36 PM »

Thanks again for more great info and pics.
Yes I ment to say the screen. I hear and feel distinctive clicks when I turn valve. The lever screw was loose but was still turning lever. I tightened it up.
Before I remove tank and investigate I think I will test by siphoning gas out and leaving half gallon in to see if reserve works and switch back and forth to see if bike dies and comes back as I go to reserve.
if problem is re-created then I will take off petcock to check and clean.
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MP
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Posts: 5532


1997 Std Valkyrie and 2001 red/blk I/S w/sidecar

North Dakota


« Reply #9 on: August 03, 2009, 05:10:20 AM »

Put in a "cover set" while you are at it.  Will not hurt, and probably will fix the problem.

MP
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"Ridin' with Cycho"
bludragon
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Posts: 209


Montreal, Quebec, Canada


« Reply #10 on: August 05, 2009, 07:11:57 PM »

As mentioned previously it is very important to occasionally run the tank on reserve.  main reason being you can get a build up of water ( from condensation) over time and if you ever really need the reserve she will stall because of dilution of fuel by water
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Farther
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Posts: 1680


Quimper Peninsula, WA


« Reply #11 on: August 06, 2009, 07:29:02 AM »

With the "new" ethyl alcohol used for the oxygenate the moisture problems have disappeared in both the vehicles and underground storage tanks.  If you still think you are getting water in your fuel then just run some SeaFoam or the Chevron Tech stuff through your tank once a year.
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Thanks,
~Farther
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