Gas tank dilemma - Horizons Unlimited

**che** · #1 31 Jan 2002

I am on a road trip from Miami to Patagonia. I reached Panama without any problems but the gas tank has a 9 ltr capacity right now instead of 17 lt which forces me to put gas every 100 miles. What could be the problem? The tank has no apparent damage. Any ideas?

Hernan

**Grant Johnson** · #2 1 Feb 2002

Hernan,

It would help if you'd tell us what kind of bike it is - model and year.

And are you actually empty of fuel when you have to refill? Perhaps the fuel is just not getting past the fuel tap.

Perhaps the reserve tap is plugged - if you have one. Remove the gas line and see if gas flows in the reserve position. If not, remove the tap and give it a clean, particularly making sure the reserve position allows fuel flow.

If you are actually out of fuel, I don't understand the 9 litre capacity.

We need more information!

------------------
Grant Johnson

Share the Dream!
at: www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

**Grant Johnson** · #3 1 Feb 2002

Ok, now I know you have an F650, although not what year.

If it's a 99 the vacuum hoses on the carburetors could be reversed. (from the factory - oops!)

The rear carb port hose goes to the charcoal canister, which I assume you have as you have a US address. The forward port hose goes to the airbox.

Otherwise, it could be just a kinked hose, so check very carefully that all the rubber hoses have nice smooth bends and no kinks. Did the problem start after you had just done some maintenance work? Also check that all the drain / vent hoses are clear. Disconnect and blow through them, and then make sure all hoses are securely attached.

I am still assuming you are just using 9 litres of fuel and there is still plenty of fuel left in the tank, it just doesn't get to it. If you are running out of gas and the tank is empty, that's another whole different problem.

For future problem solving, always try to give as much information as possible, e.g. what kind of bike it is, when the problem started, what steps you have taken so far to try and diagnose the problem, whether it only hapens at particular times etc.

Good luck, hopefully you have some ideas that will get you going. Let us know what the solution was for the next guy!

------------------
Grant Johnson

Share the Dream!
at: www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

**che** · #4 16 Feb 2002

Grant,
I have checked the gas tank and it looked fine, meaning the hoses were clear and there were no big dents. I was embarassed to find out it had more gas than I have ever been ever to fit in there. I couldn't check the hoses because they are side by side so I couldn't tell which one was the rear or the front carb ports.
More help?
thanks,
Hernan

**Grant Johnson** · #5 18 Feb 2002

Hi,

You haven't given me enough info to go on for sure.

Still not sure what year.

You are just going to have to follow the hoses one by one carefully.

However, if the problem happened suddenly and you didn't do ANYTHING to the bike in between running well and not, then that is unlikely to be the problem.

Is the gas cap vent plugged? Check carefully!

Let me reiterate:

WE NEED MORE INFORMATION!!!

MODEL AND YEAR,

EXACTLY what happened when. Was it ok and then something went wrong, or WHAT? We're trying to diagnose in the dark, and we're just not able to help you well.

Help us to help you.

Without detailed information we have no clue where to start.

It's kind of like asking a blind man to paint a sunset. Tough.

------------------
Grant Johnson

Share the Dream!
at: www.HorizonsUnlimited.com