Bike is running out of gas with a full tank

[noobie]

Hi all,
Just about to bring my bike into the shop - I really don't want to live without it for a few days - but I may not have a choice... It's a 2009 Shadow Spirit. It holds 3 gallons and runs out of gas every 40 or 50 miles. I have to turn the reserve on. It'll stop doing it for a while and then start up again.
Yesterday, it ran out with a full tank of gas. But, the reserve works.
Anybody have any ideas what's causing this?

Gas-less in Seattle,
Noobie

[BuzZz]

It almost sounds like the gascap vent is plugged. Once a certain amount of fuel has been sucked out by the engine, there is more vacuum in the tank than the fuel pump can over come. Opening the cap should allow you to hear air rushing in. Then it's good until it builds up vacuum again.

If that isn't it, then it is probably a fuel pump problem (does that bike use a fuel pump, cuase I don't know). Could be an electrical problen to the pump, best to take it to the dealer for this.

If it doesn't have a fuel pump, then it's an engine vacuum/petcock issue, again best to let a dealer look it over.

One of those 3 things is likely the problem. The cap vent is the easiest to check yourself.

[noobie]

Thanks Buzzzzzzz,
I think this is over my head - I've gotta bring it into the shop.

Peace Out,
Noobie

[noobie]

Update: They (the shop) suspect the petcock... I should know in a couple days :/

Peace Out,
Noobie

[Wrider]

It should be the petcock. For what it's worth on most petcocks there are two tubes that stick up into the fuel tank. One is taller than the other, and it's the one that sucks fuel down when the petcock is switched to "ON". The shorter one is for "Reserve". They usually both have a screen type filter over them. I'm guessing what happened is that yours had that screen filter plugged up, and when the fuel pressure on the screen wasn't enough to push sufficient fuel through, it ran out of gas, which would also explain why the reserve still worked.

[noobie]

@Wrider,
That makes total sense
Is it a lot of work to fix something like that? The bike is still under warranty - I hope it's covered.

Peace Out,
Noobie

[Wrider]

@Wrider,
That makes total sense
Is it a lot of work to fix something like that? The bike is still under warranty - I hope it's covered.

Peace Out,
Noobie

Depends on if your shop likes you or not. Technically it probably wouldn't be covered, but if they like you it could easily be deemed as coverable.

As far as a lot of work to fix? Not at all. I'm sure you could do it without a problem!