I have just got a 2002 savage LS.  I really like the bike but I am having a problem with the fuel.  I ride only 30 miles or so a day and everyday I have to refuel.  I ran out of fuel and have to go on reserve somewhere around 35-40 miles when I refuel the tank is full after 0.9 gallons.  So I know it is not leaking but what is happening?

Any help would be great.

Thanks
T

Wow this is so simple but it never occurred to me to try it.  I will try that next time. If it does run like that what would that indicate?

If I understand correctly, you have the symptoms of running out of gas after using about a gallon. There's still fuel in the tank when you "run out?"

Here's a guess. There might be a problem with the vacuum function of the petcock -- either the vacuum line leaks (more likely) or the diaphragm has hardened (less likely). What might be happening is that the diaphragm doesn't want to open enough. When the tank is full, the weight of the gas is enough to force it's way around the diaphragm, but with less gas there isn't enough weight.

But that's jus a guess.

One way to test if it's something to do with the diaphragm is to turn the petcock to PRI. This bypasses the diaphragm. Just remember to turn it back to ON or RES when you stop riding or you might flood the carb.

Or you could try filling the tank.  Holding the nozzle into the tank, compressing EPA vapor boot junk, will leave you with less than 2 gallons.

If you have a used bike it could have been dropped, with a big dent in the tank, filled with plastic body filler.

Pushing to the gas station I have measured and my tank holds 2.93 gallons, filled to the lip.  Twice to test that I was correct.

Yea,, Pladin is probably on it.. get where you can see into the tank. There is a tube lookin affair going down from the gas cap hole. Fill to the bottom of that tube.

No,, you understood,, & if Im reading you right, its actually over full..
Now,, fill to where I said, run it, when it starts acting like its out of gas, open the gas cap & look in, if its still got gas, see if itll run again, maybe the gas cap vent is plugged?

Another possibility is the tank isn't venting properly, creating negative pressure in the tank so the gas doesn't want to flow. You can check this by popping the cap the next time it seems to run out. Then, if it runs again, you know where the problem is.

Paladin. wrote on 06/15/11 at 07:23:43:



If he can put only .9 gallons in after he thinks he's out of gas, that "big dent" would have to be more than half the tank.