--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "rockiedog2"
wrote:
>
> Rev
>
> I put one of the little cone shaped clear plastic ones in the line
> between the tank and carb and it would quit feeding about the time
I
> had to switch to reserve-about 25 miles before it used to run
out...I
> assumed there was just enough restriction that the head pressure
was
> inadequate when fuel got low. After removing the filter it was back
to
> normal. Anybody else had this problem?
>
> Joe
>
Joe,
I am glad you asked.
My A-15 'stored' 25 miles of gas when it had a cone-shaped filter
installed. Jeff Saline had the identical filter, bought off the same
card at the BMW dealer in Sturgis...no problems. shrug. (stored gas=a
lot more fuel than you would think was in the tank at the next fill
up. ie it took only 4.8 gallons after running ~10 miles on
reserve.) I immediately went to the tractor store and change the
fuel line! After two heave-ho's to get to the double secret reserve,
I was through with that filter.
Fast forward, 4 years.
My recently purchased A-12 had a red-canister with a stone filter
installed; guess what! It also stored gas--except the performance
was even worse! It would not allow you to smoothly switch to reserve
without coming to a complete stop--and then cranking, cranking,
cranking. When it ran out of fuel on "main", it was like turning of
the lights. Absolutely no warning.
This past week, the dumb beast ran out of gas (I knew I had forgotten
to remove the filter, cough, and it reminded me ~4 miles from home.
Home I went, and to the tractor store for fuel line.
While it was so low on fuel, I thought I would look in the tank.
sort of like, "if you don't want to know the answer, don't ask the
question"....sigh.
Rust? No.
Missing short straw on the petcock. fritz.
Off with the tank, drain the fuel into a measured container; 1
gallon, 3 pts!
!WHAT!!
That is nuts. I am sure to kill that filter now. Two bikes,
identical performance on the filters.
Long story short: 1/4 inch fuel line (metric 7mm would have been
better) install, short straw on the petcock chased down ~30 minutes
later, the tank, petcock and straws installed, and the fuel back in
the tank.
Guess how far it went before going to reserve? Joe you got the
answer there! about a total of 25 miles. Driving the final ~8 miles
to the shell station after switching to reserve, (filter removed) it
took exactly 5 gallons of fuel.
Fuel filters are a nice idea, but they don't work for me, in my own
application of long distances between gas stations.
If I go to Mexico, then I will reinstall the filters (carried on both
bikes) and lug around a gallon of fuel I cannot use.
As a side bar note: where the short straw lay in the tank, there is
a ''stain', could be rust started, definitely was some reaction,
likely due to moisture trapped between the loose straw and the tank.
YMMV, but the next time you are low on fuel, shine a flashlight in
the hole.
Mark V.Horn said he had gone for some time without a petcock straw--
had I not found my petcock straw, I would have reinstalled the
filter. It was really annoying to have the fuel-filtered bike go to
reserve at 157 miles (the first time (big head winds, heavy
throttle), and then cough, cough, cough and run at only ~55mph
because it could not transfer enough fuel to run 65.
The second time I hit reserve was at 188 miles--but it would still
not pull more than 55mph without cough, cough, cough--even dying a
second time. Even coasting with the engine engaged, neither time did
the vaccum petcock allow the fuel to drain.
Note: If you remove the petcock and want to drain the fuel--use a
big funnel. No, use a BIGer funnel, cause it isn't all going to go
in the 'lil 6" funnel--however, it will go on your shoe, shop floor
and on your pants.
you might say, the whole thing was a 'gas'.
revmaaatin. no fuel filters for me.