Bought it used, the guy had it warmed up when I got there and we rode it home. It's now the next day and I tried to start it up, and it barely idled, and when I gave it gas it died, I switched the petcock to reserve and it started and drove ok for awhile.
Basically, I am asking "What are the symptoms of a low gas tank?" what are the common ways it acts and all that. may seem like a silly question, but I'm new to these big bikes.
I'm filling it up later anyways. but knowing the common issues with a low tank will help me in the future
2007-08-16 07:17:55 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Motorcycles
This says its an extension to the question, but really im adding thanks to all of you for the answers. I would pick all as best answer, but I can't.
2007-08-16 08:02:02 · update #1
Symptoms of a low gas tank have been different on all my bikes except for one thing, if you don't switch to reserve they die. When my KZ1000 hits reserve, it usually starts running on two cylinders. On my 6 cylinder Voyager with fuel injection, it just dies momentarily until the fuel pump sucks up just a bit more fuel. Had a Suzuki Intruder that would emit a unburned gasoline smell a few seconds before it ws time to hit reserve. Never have been able to figure out the gas smell, no logical reason for it but it was as predictable as sunrise. On most bikes you will oftentimes get a momentary period of rough running shortly before going on reserve when you accellerate or stop because the gas sloshed forward or backward, momentarily leaving the intake on the petcock high and dry.
2007-08-16 07:45:47 · answer #1 · answered by bikinkawboy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The petcock may be plugged on a bike this old. You might also lean the bike over on the petcock side to slosh any gas on the opposite side of the tank to 'fill up the other side of the tank.
You might replace the petcock and if there's a connecting hose between the tanks, that too.
2007-08-16 07:39:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you need gas, but know this you should flip the reserve on evrery now and then because as the tank empties condensation can ocure when the bike sits at night that condensate will fall to the tanks bottom and if you never turn on the reserve one day when low on fuel you will flip tp reserve and your bike will try stall besause of watery fuel.Of course if you allways fuel up before parking at night that cant happen.
2007-08-16 07:56:08 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, on every motorcycle I owned that was the symptom of low gas. (~less than 1/5 gallon).
One other thing to check is to make sure the center stand/kick stand is fully retracted. There is a switch that kills the engine when you let the clutch out if it's not closed by the centerstand/kickstand.
2007-08-16 07:26:43 · answer #4 · answered by DG A 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋