Ran out of petrol..

**hazard02** · 17th May 2006, 13:30

At the end of my 9(ish)km ride to uni this morn and the little FXR started spluttering. Bugger, fuel gauge still says tank is 1/4 full. Never mind though, I just make a mental note to flick the valve to reserve on my way home.
Anyway, home time comes and i remember to do so, thinking i'd make it the petrol station fine. 3-4 km later (along the motorway) the damn thing coughs and dies again and refuses to start. I tried to kick it over every few minutes or so while the AA was on its way, but to no avail.
Eventually one of our friendly boys in blue pulled up to see what the matter was. After reciting my sad story he looked in the tank, gave the bike a jiggle, flicked the valve back to main and told me to start it again. One kick later it rattled into life and i was told to be on my way, but not to put the valve back to reserve or I'd be stranded again...

Long story short, I made it to shell and filled up and got home fine. I'm still curious as to why it wouldnt run or start again on the reserve setting after the main ran dry, yet the empty main tank got me home...

**DemonWolf** · 17th May 2006, 13:35

hmmm... perhaps ya turned it off by mistake? Dunno really. Have you tried riding it on reserve before?

**Jonty** · 17th May 2006, 13:39

The reserve inlet could have a blockage. Also I have noticed on some quads that if the breather is blocked it will basically do the same thing. Once the bike has been sitting for a bit (i.e., waiting for the AA) it will kick back into lfe for a while.

**hazard02** · 17th May 2006, 13:42

I triple checked to make sure the valve wasnt in the off position for fear of looking a fool, as its its happened before.
This was the first time (since I've had it) that its been running on reserve though..

**hazard02** · 17th May 2006, 13:46

Originally Posted by Jonty

The reserve inlet could have a blockage. Also I have noticed on some quads that if the breather is blocked it will basically do the same thing. Once the bike has been sitting for a bit (i.e., waiting for the AA) it will kick back into lfe for a while.

Might be a blockage, I'll take it round to a mate of mine when i get some time to take a look...

**hazard02** · 17th May 2006, 18:37

After sitting down to do some assignment if found myself in the garage (funny how that happens) draining the tank. From the looks of it there was a bit of water at the very bottom of the tank, so that (i hope) explains it dying when I set the valve to reserve, and why putting it back to main made it go again.

Now to figure out the water got in there...

**9cents** · 17th May 2006, 21:39

condensation?

**ZeroIndex** · 17th May 2006, 21:43

also check your sparkplug.. my scooter died the other day and didn't really wanna go anywhere, turned out to be the sparkplug.. (even though it gaves signs of "i'm out of fuel")

**The Pastor** · 17th May 2006, 21:51

I ran out of gas ON the harbour bridge, good view from up there.

**hazard02** · 18th May 2006, 08:37

Originally Posted by renegade master

I ran out of gas ON the harbour bridge, good view from up there.

Costs a bit more than a tank of gas doesnt it?

**Speedracer** · 18th May 2006, 17:27

I ran out of petrol because I forgot my bike was on reserve. So as I was walking my bike to the nearest petrol station, this old lady asked what was wrong... and then gave me a couple of litres from her petrol can....I tried to tell her I only needed a little bit but she gave me heaps. how sweet is that?

**Eurodave** · 18th May 2006, 17:39

Originally Posted by hazard02

From the looks of it there was a bit of water at the very bottom of the tank, so that (i hope) explains it dying when I set the valve to reserve, and why putting it back to main made it go again.Now to figure out how the water got in there...

A cup of meths in the tank , fill it with petrol & then go for a ride,will do the trick!!

**Buster** · 18th May 2006, 17:40

Originally Posted by hazard02

After sitting down to do some assignment if found myself in the garage (funny how that happens) draining the tank. From the looks of it there was a bit of water at the very bottom of the tank, so that (i hope) explains it dying when I set the valve to reserve, and why putting it back to main made it go again.

Now to figure out the water got in there...

You can also put a cap full of meths into every few full tanks of gas to get rid of any water in the tank.