Bad Fuel Pump??? or just my mistake!!

[rpm289]

A couple weeks back I got gas and forgot to switch from "reserve" to "on". I rode about 70 miles with no problems at all. After about 4 hours I got back on and it started, but sounded sluggish. When I went to drive off it just plain died and I couldn't get it to re-start. I even used some starting fluid and it would run a few seconds and then die again. This is when I noticed it was still in "reserve". I switched it to "on" and opened the gas cap. When I opened the gas cap it had a very strong vacuum. After doing this it started right up.

Over the last two weeks I have had to relieve the vacuum on the tank before each ride or it will not start. This morning I was 15 miles into a 52 mile ride to work when my Max became sluggish and quit on me after pulling away from a stop sign. I relieved the vacuum on the side of the road and it started right up. Can anybody guide me as to what I may have done?? It seems like the bike is pulling fuel through instead of pumping it. I can hear the fuel pump when I turn the key to start it. Did I trash the fuel pump? Can I prime the pump? What can I do?? Any help or guidance is greatly appreciated. :ummm:

 

[Thevmaxrider]

I run my Max on reserve at all times and have never had a problem like you are describing. Sounds to me like the tank vent line is kinked or plugged and your pulling a vacuum on the tank. If the tank can't "breathe" you will eventually put enough of a vacuum on the tank that the pump cannot pull enough fuel out to keep the bike running. Once you relieve the vacuum your pump can work properly and the bike runs. I would start there and work my way to the pump.

 

[Rollie]

I run my Max on reserve at all times and have never had a problem like you are describing. Sounds to me like the tank vent line is kinked or plugged and your pulling a vacuum on the tank. If the tank can't "breathe" you will eventually put enough of a vacuum on the tank that the pump cannot pull enough fuel out to keep the bike running. Once you relieve the vacuum your pump can work properly and the bike runs. I would start there and work my way to the pump.

+1 on running on reserve all the time . Check for kinks in the vent line .

 

[[email protected]]

The reserve/on switch has nothing to do with your problem.

Sound like your tank vent is clogged. Check near the top of the tank. There are two rubber lines. One is the feed line to the filter and carbs. The other is the vent.

Follow the vent line. It should run in front of the battery box, down behind the headers, and terminate at the oil pan. Remove the line, check for blockages. There is a check valve in the middle of the line, this is often that part that gets clogged up. Try cleaning out the check valve and line. You may also want to check the little elbow on the tank that the vent line attaches too.