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Explorer - Low Fuel Lite Comes On Too Quick (I Think)


johnmc408
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I have posted before about the tanks and I think I have them connected correct and with safety wire on the tubes between tanks.

 

I filled the tanks slowly, bounced the bike around etc.  On the trail, after about 5 miles, the low gas light comes on.  I figure I better head back (slowly).  It did seem to run out of gas and I would lean left/right and I even blew into the top tank to try and push gas lower. I was able to keep riding and made it back.  I think the top tank is the bigger of the two...shouldn't that go more than 5 miles?

 

Some complications:  I was at maybe 6000 feet and the bike didn't run great.  I don't think there is an idle adjustment.  I doubt it has updated software.  I didn't do it as Lewisport is too difficult to get to and the guy I bought it from wasn't technical...

 

All that said, the tanks should be mechanical.  And I think the tanks should get ?50? miles (read this somewhere).

 

My thought is to drain the gas and try and put in 2.2 gallons.  If I can't get in at least 2 gallons, something must be wrong.

 

What is the best way to drain the tanks?

 

Thanks!

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I think it really only holds a bit under 2-gallons.

Try this,

Unhook the line coming off the lower tank fri the upper tank (by the fuel filler)

Put a brake bleeder type vacuum pump on it (with appropriate reservoir)

Put a slight vacuum on that line, the slowly fill the upper tank.

Stop filling once fuel comes out of the lower tank breather you are connected to.

NOW e lower tank is really full.

Hook the line back up,and slowly full the upper tank.

In real life you should not need to do they, but since you have some issues, that will alleviate not getting it full..

Where are you located?

(I think your told me, but I forgot)

Edited by lotus54
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Thanks!

 

I don't have the vacuum stuff at the moment, but I did find:

 

The bottom tank was full (I could see the gas).  If the manual is correct, it is .70 gallons in there.

The top tank also had some gas, so I removed it and poured it into a can.  Maybe 1 gallon (might have messed up my counting ;-)

 

So, tons of gas, why did the light turn on...

 

Since you mentioned vacuum, does the top tank drain into the lower tank because of vacuum?

If so, I might have idea.  The bottom fuel tank cap has a brass hose attachment to connect the "fuel tank air hose"

7 9435010512 ALUMINIUM FUEL TANK CAP 1

That brass hose attachment swivels freely and can be removed.  It is NOT air tight.  I assumed that gravity moved the

gas between tanks, but I don't know.  The parts_diagram just shows 1 piece for the "aluminum fuel tank cap" and doesn't

show the brass hose attachment...

 

What does yours look like?  What do you think?  I'll take a picture tomorrow.

 

Plus, if the bottom tank was always full, why would the low gas light come on?  It is possible that I rode ~5 miles on the

bottom tank, the light came on and then blowing into the top tank started to push gas to the bottom tank.  After that,

the low gas light did seem to not be as bright, but after it came on the first time, I was sure I was going to be a long walk from home,

so might not remember correctly ;-)

 

Strange things...

 

ps (and a few more questions)

 

I am in San Jose, Calif.

 

Do you know if I can take off the "stuff" that need the software update and just send it to the shop?

Or, do you have to hook it up and do the settings while it is running?

 

And finally, is there any manual idle adjustment that might be "good enough" until I get the software done?

Just want something to get by...

 

 

 

 

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The vacuum I mentioned was only to assure all the air was out.

Normally the fuel will push the air up through yet breather hose into the upper tank- that means the lower is full (no vacuum under normal operation)

On mine that part you mentioned leaked- so I tightened it up put some safety wire on the hose.

Sounds to me as if there is either a bad , or the fuel sensor is bad.

Yes, I think you could send the ECU and throttle body in for a pretty close setup (and update firmware)

Of course it is better to do it in the bike.

You could,measure the resistance across the TPS now. Then try adjusting the idle and see how it is.

Not the right way to do it- but if you measure first, you can always set it back.

Yes, I recall now your location etc.

The system is pretty simple, but really wants to be set up correctly to work right.

When correct, it will fire up in one or two kicks from cold, idle perfectly right from cold and run cleanly all the way up.

Mark

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Thanks Mark, just to double check, the fuel from the "top tank" drains from the underside of the "top tank" into the "bottom tank", right?

The air hose between the tanks, allows air to circulate between tanks and does not pass fuel, right?

The top tank is the only one with a breather hole (yea it leaks ;-)

 

I do think it ran out of gas once I turned around. It could have been the poor idle, so I am not sure.

 

If all else fails, I'll just fill up the lower tank manually with a hose.  I did have one in my pack, and if I was really stuck, I assume I would have noticed that I had lots of gas in the top tank.  Fortunately once I got it started, I made it back.

 

thanks again

-john

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