fuel line and the petcock

JoshWED · Post by **JoshWED** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 12:27 pm

Is the best way to test the fuel line just to disconnect it from the carb and check out the flow?

I've been "running out of gas" lately (gauge shows empty, also stalls out), but there's still gas in the tank. I'll switch to reserve and nothing happens. I add more fuel, and I'm off cruising again so I don't think it's any of the other myriad stalling explanations. Unless it's the spectre of vapor lock--which I don't normally have an issue with.

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 3:29 pm

You can have gas in the tank and still "run out." This has happened to me once. I shined a flashlight in there and realized that though I could see gas and it looked like there was some in the tank, it was very shallow.

JoshWED · Post by **JoshWED** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 3:36 pm

yeah--i've definitely done that before. but this time i could still see the float, well, floating. the thing that seems odd to me is that there is no response from the reserve position of the petcock after i "run out."

how much do you normally fill up (in gallons) when you are just hitting reserve? i normally put in 1.2 gallons when i'm nearing empty, and maybe 1.4 when it won't start.

(i've always thought the stella should have a larger tank...considering we give up all the under-seat space!)

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 4:01 pm

I think I have a different tank than the 2T Stellas, but the capacity is pretty low. Usually, it's hard to tell how much I might have in reserve. I pretty much keep the petcock turned to reserve, then fill up after having been on "E" for, um… "a while." Sometimes I'll peek in the tank.

JoshWED · Post by **JoshWED** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 4:07 pm

ericalm wrote:then fill up after having been on "E" for, um… "a while." Sometimes I'll peek in the tank.

That's exactly how I do too...sometimes with "doh" consequences!

Now only if reserve would give me a bit extra...instead of inducing some exercise!