Fuel taps.

[Martin.]

I wonder if someone can put me right on this...?
A little while ago I had cause to go onto reserve on my 1990 R100 GS. About 10 miles down the road it started to run out again so I change the R/H tap too. And spluttered to a halt !
On checking the tank,it proved to be bone dry. Luckily I only had to push a mile or so to the petrol station and it`s not like I don`t need the execise.
What would cause this? Was it some bizarre operator error?

 

[bumpmuncher]

either you have got your tap positions arse about face or the reserve tubes have been cut down. tap tails down for on up for reserve

 

[John Armstrong]

IIRC from my 88 100GS it was the same, you had to select the correct reserve to get the 30 - 40 miles you were hoping for, then I'd have a few more miles on the other one. Sounds like on your bike you should use the left, then the right.

To confirm, empty the tank and slowly add fuel, and see which side on reserve flows first, should be the right from your observations. Switch off that tap and continue to fill to see how much extra you add to get to the other reserve. Out on the road it won't be as exact given cornering / bumps / sidestand use etc etc.

 

[cookie]

as post 2, bet the pipes are missing on top of the taps.

 

[Kenny]

I'm with cookie on this...tubes ( and the filter that covers them ) will be missing. Can still be bought as a kit

 

[Martin.]

Yeah, all the above I`ve done. Taps down and normally go left/right, cos it`s the natural thing when you`re riding I suppose. It`s never happened before, so I`ll drop the taps off and have a look. Did start to question my own sanity at the time.

 

[Captain Black]

Do you chap's turn both your taps on ? Then If you go to reserve turn both onto reserve ?

 

[bumpmuncher]

Do you chap's turn both your taps on ? Then If you go to reserve turn both onto reserve ?

I do and try to refuel within 40 miles but, there are many variations and thoughts on the subject LOL personally I subscribe to the KISS principal plus there can be a fuel starvation issue if you only use one tap at a time

 

[Captain Black]

I do and try to refuel within 40 miles but, there are many variations and thoughts on the subject LOL personally I subscribe to the KISS principal plus there can be a fuel starvation issue if you only use one tap at a time

Oh good I can admit I turn both on now as well. And switch both to reserve, but I try to fuel up ASAP so as not to be sucking fuel from the bottom of the tank.

 

[John Armstrong]

I always ran mine for 10 miles or so on reserve after fuelling up to make sure I'd got rid of as much water / crap as possible, rather than needing the reserve and only getting the remains of a goldfish into the carbs.

Never spluttered so might have been a waste of time / effort.

 

[Martin.]

Me too. They`re normally down. I do try to refuel before I need to turn the R/H tap, but would expect to get about 10 "final" miles after that.
Usually look to get about 180 miles before I have to go to reserve, but obviously it depends on my riding style. (If you can call it that.)

 

[Jeremy Wilton]

Knurled bolts in netting bag in tank

Can anyone tell me why I have two netting bags of knurled bolts in my petrol tank - R100gs '89?

Were these for stripping rust from the tank or has she been interefered with?

 

[David Nimrod]

...or has she been interefered with?

Definitely a matter for the Social Services.

Or, call the Daily Mail news desk.