Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I finally got my bike back after it dying on me, only to have it cut out on me 3 miles from my garage.

i'm beyond frustrated now. however, now the issue is that the bike runs for a while and then dies if the petcock is 'ON'. If i switch to res OR prime, the bike fires right up and runs normally, and i can switch back to 'on'

obiously this leads me to think that there is an issue in the fuel delivery from the petcock to the carbs in the main fuel line. the shop that just got the bike up and running put an inline fuel filter in. My question is should there be a significant amount of air in the fuel filter? I would've thought it was solid fuel... There is a visibly large amount of air in the fuel filter, so I'm wondering if this is preventing enough fuel from getting pulled into the carbs. does this make any sense?

Sounds like rust? in the tank? Does the inline filter have air in it when you are riding off the reserve? My tank had rust in it that I only really figured out was messing things up was when I took the petcock off the tank and saw the bits plugging one of the holes-- the reserve screen had slipped off and the rust was just waiting to plug stuff up.

I have a glass inline on mine now and can see what gets in. A little air is ok but it has to fill with gas faster than the engine can use it.

Good luck.

yeah, there is a little rust in the tank. they said they were going to be taking care of it when it was in the shop last time, hence this happening is an unwelcome surprise

I stripped inside my tank year before last- a muriatic acid mix that I bought from JC Whitney - part of a strip the rust out, then swirl around an epoxy mix that coats it and prevents the rust. I never did the second part- stuff was a couple of years old and dried up. But it really takes the rust out. There's a degreaser rinse too to get rid of the gas before the acid goes in. When it's etched clean- rinse it with water and let it dry in the sun.

Then add the coating. You have to have the petcock off and that hole plugged with something- I use a piece of inner tube as the seal and any backing screwed on to hold it-- wood peice with the petcock screws would work well.

Before my inline filter, rust bits got in the carb and kept the float valve from closing and it would drip gas like crazy. After the inline it would run then suddenly stall. After a bit if messing with the petcock - flushing it - it would run until more rust settled in. Check the petcock inlet filters to see if thay are still in place and blocking the rust. That was my problem. A filter had fallen loose inside the tank.

Make sure too that your fuel line isn't getting kinked anywhere- cuts gas flow too. Sometimes routing the line with an inline doesn't leave much room.

Good luck