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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> question: Reserve tank
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Message started by Josh C on 07/18/08 at 06:59:14

Title: question: Reserve tank
Post by Josh C on 07/18/08 at 06:59:14

I apparently don't know how to use the reserve tank. When I bought the motorcycle, and the guy was giving me motorcycle 101 (I'd never owned one) he said you could reach down and switch to reserve whilst riding. I don't need to do that... but I can't even get the motorcycle to start when I switch to reserve. Two times the bike has run outta gas on me and I've pulled over and switched to reserve and tried to start it and nothing. Do you just have to sit there and keep trying to start it for awhile? I wouldn't have thought so if you could switch it over whilst riding.

also, twice over the last week or two when I've shut bike off, I've smelled a kind of sweet smelling smokey something, smells familiar but can't put my finger on it. No visible smoke, just a pleasant smell, but does this smell indicate something wrong? Or is my motorcycle just telling me it loves me.

Title: Re: question: Reserve tank
Post by youzguyz on 07/18/08 at 07:07:47

Are you sure you weren't on PRI when you ran out of gas?
Common mistake. People assume PRI means Primary, when it means Prime (as in to Prime a pump).
ON is normal - gets gas from top of tank
RES is reserve - gets gas from bottom of tank
PRI - gets gas from bottom of tank as well

Title: Re: question: Reserve tank
Post by Josh C on 07/18/08 at 07:11:44

yeah, I was running on "on" the whole time then ran outta gas, looked in the gas tank, saw a little in the bottom of the tank, switched to reserve, couldn't start. Maybe I should've just tried to start it longer, but there was a gas station a block away so I just rolled it

Title: Re: question: Reserve tank
Post by Sandy Koocanusa on 07/18/08 at 07:14:52

If you run it out of gas and DON'T get it switched over to reserve before the engine stops, you may have to set it to prime for a few seconds, then go to reserve. The long side of the petcock lever is your pointer, so when you are looking at the petcock, the setting you are on should be hard to read. It will be covered by the lever.

Hmmm... sweetish, smokey smell? That could be the cause of your trouble understanding motorcycle 101. Sluggo! Where are you? Can you come interpret for this gentleman? :)

Title: Re: question: Reserve tank
Post by mornhm on 07/18/08 at 07:15:39

If you have completely run out of gas in the carbs while riding, and then switch to reserve, you will need to have vacuum at the petc0ck to get the gas out of the tank. That's what the prime position is for. However, I don't remember on the Savage if the prime pickup is lower in the tank than the run pickup (like the reserve) or not. If not, you may have to tilt the MC to get the gas to run to the carbs.

Otherwise if your vacuum system is in good shape (no leaks - plenty of vacuum) and your battery is fully charged, you can probably just crank the engine and get some gas to the carb through the petc0ck on reserve that way.

Basically switching while you are still sputtering means you haven't run completely out of gas in the carbs and since the engine is still turning you still have vacuum.

Title: Re: question: Reserve tank
Post by verslagen1 on 07/18/08 at 07:30:47

I believe the prime pick up is the same as reserve. ;D

Title: Re: question: Reserve tank
Post by Josh C on 07/18/08 at 07:32:44

can you run on reserve all the time instead of on "on" so that you're always drawing from the bottom of the tank and you're just using your whole tank instead of dividing it into two for use (ignoring the obvious danger here of getting stranded somewhere)

Title: Re: question: Reserve tank
Post by Sandy Koocanusa on 07/18/08 at 07:40:55

Yep.

Title: Re: question: Reserve tank
Post by Toymaker on 07/18/08 at 14:40:56

I run on prime all the time. I keep track of how many miles I have ridden and at the 110 mark (100 for me cuz I have a bigger rear tire), I stop. By that time I am just hitting the reserve part of the tank.

Title: Re: question: Reserve tank
Post by Reelthing on 07/18/08 at 15:07:30

are you real sure about the petcock lever ? - you put the long part on setting you want there's a cast in arrow on the tip

Title: Re: question: Reserve tank
Post by Max_Morley on 07/18/08 at 15:35:24

Whatever, sitting on the bike the lever goes forward for Reserve and back for Prime. Once you get tuned into the bike you will feel it stutter about 90 & 102 miles since the last fill up, and be able to shift to Reserve before you loose many MPH. If you left it on Reserve last time, you and pilot just before they crash will share that "O nuts" feeling. Max

Title: Re: question: Reserve tank
Post by T Mack 1 on 07/18/08 at 19:57:55

The way I remember where Reserve is when it starts to spit & sputter, arrow/lever pointing front, which is the way I want to go....

Title: Re: question: Reserve tank
Post by Dj12midnit on 07/18/08 at 20:12:55

This I know if the long part is down it is on run. Turn the long part towards the front wheel it is reserve. towards the back tire is prime. Now what ever makes you think I dont keep track of my miles.

Title: Re: question: Reserve tank
Post by bill67 on 07/18/08 at 20:17:28

I only have one tank where is your reserve tank ;)

Title: Re: question: Reserve tank
Post by Paladin. on 07/18/08 at 20:50:11

One gallon reserve in my Saddlebag: http://paladin.savageriders.com/images/gas_reserve.jpg

Title: Re: question: Reserve tank
Post by verslagen1 on 07/18/08 at 21:40:05

I have the same reserve tank, but I don't know where to put it. :-?

ok, no suggestions from the peanut gallery. :o

Title: Re: question: Reserve tank
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/19/08 at 16:59:06

When it kicks & sputters, I want gas in the bowl, quickly, so I reach down & pull the lever back, putting the thing on Prime. Not worried about letting the bowl run over, since I am headed for a gas pump.

Title: Re: question: Reserve tank
Post by flcruzr on 07/20/08 at 06:28:14

I am starting to get the hang of turning the petcock to res while riding once I feel the bike start to putter.