Have reassembled an RE that was in bits in a shed for maybe 20 years. The bike looked like the 30000km showing on odometer were probably correct from component condition. The tank is rusty and I’ve fitted a good FE tank till I fix the original RE tank.
Problem: bike starts and runs, however fuel pump frequently runs continually, and the bike seems to starve?
Pump is new, flow is good. I have a cleanable filter on the suction side of the pump, no filter on delivery side.
I’ve tried running on gravity only, which was ok when the tank was full, but not below half a tank.
I’m beginning to think that maybe I have a breather problem. I have open vented the carbs to short hoses just in front of the coils.
Anyone experience something similar?
When it goes, it pulls hard and clean. Erratic idling, and running on happens before it starts starving. Choke use doesn’t help.
May be a partial blockage in supply pipe inside tank ?
Remove fuel tap,see what flow coming into tap,old piano wire up the pipes.
I probalay not put a fuel filter to carbs,just on suction side to also protect pump
If the pump is continuously running, it must have a feed issue from the tank, I’d pop the fuel tap off the tank and poke the solid lines through with a flexible wire just to make sure they’re clear.
Have you had the carbies apart at all..?? After 20 years they may well be all gummed up with stale old fuel and the float valves possibly sticking. The engine should run fine with just gravity feed until you get well into reserve.
Yeah, have previously cleaned all of those stupid internal pipes, all clear, no rust coming through.
All carbs cleaned as a whistle and rebuilt. When it doesn’t starve, it pulls harder than any other VF I’ve had, the jetting seems spot on, but the fuel supply is lacking?
I’ve tested the current set up by taking line off at carby tee, and running into a container. Continuous, non interrupted flow. This is why I’m starting to think it must be a breather/ venting issue at carbs? The bike starts and runs fine from cold, but then after about 3-4 kms starts to starve. Once I stop it won’t start, even struggles with choke.
When the bike stops,have you opened a drain screw to check if there is fuel in the float chamber?
I ask this as I’m currently helping a mate who has a similar problem with a 500.
On his operating the choke made the problem worse and from a few other details I’m now suspecting that it is in fact over fuelling.
When the carbs are modified to run vented to atmosphere,the main jet is reduced to #115 from #145,so good chance you are running rich with your present set up
