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First Time Ran Out of Gas

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by SLKid, Apr 2, 2009.

  1. SLKid

    SLKid Active Member

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    It kinda sucked. Luckily I wasnt too too far from home. I jsut stopped and put on the reserve tank. But I almost had a full tank about a week ago and my Odometer olnly read 40 MILES. Holy crap! I was estimating I'd have to refill around eigthty or ninety jsut to be safe!
    Hmmm. Guess my small drip leak isnt so small in the long run... Only leaks when she's runnin though. Stops completely when I shut her off, and she's only leaking from the Mounting bolt and from the Fuel Line connector. I DID do a lot of test Idles and stuff to get her ready and whatnot for me to run around on her, but it shouldnt affect my MPH THAT much. 40 miles on 2.5 gallons of gas?? Still better than my car, but... What do you guys think?? New Fuel Line connector and some gaskets and O-rings for my mounting bolts?
    -SLKid

    At Least I got to feel what she's like when she's runnin out of gas. Wont scare me next time.
     
  2. mlew

    mlew Well-Known Member

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    16 mpg, thats prety bad. You should get at least 35mpg. I get 35 from my XJ1100, I would assume a 700 should get a little better. Is there a possibility that your odometer is not reading correctly? Maybe that fuel leak is worse than you thought. Better fix it soon, could save you some gas and quie possibly keep you from lighting yourself on fire.
     
  3. midnightblu

    midnightblu Member

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    i am guessing you diddnt have your fuel light hooked up. that thing comes in handy :D
     
  4. SLKid

    SLKid Active Member

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    Nope. My Fuel Sending unit is all jacked up from PO. Glued Shut and wires cut. All I've got left is the harness near the battery. So I plan on getting one soon soon.
    Honestly though, if I get a new connector you think the conection from my Petcock to Fuel lines will be more secure??
     
  5. Andy04180

    Andy04180 Member

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    My XJ550 died on me at around 120 miles. lol.. Last time I ran outta gas was on a RVF400 ( Honda ) Hauling down the highway in california... next thing i know... hit the throttle.. nada.. LOL
     
  6. lorne317

    lorne317 Member

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    I ran out when I first got mine too.I'm pretty good at reaching down and switching it to reserve when I feel it starting to lose power now.
     
  7. SLKid

    SLKid Active Member

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    Yeah I figured thats what I'll do next time. I wasnt sure what to do! I turned down a country road with my GF on the back and felt my efforts on the throttle not really responding. Called it back to my GF "That jerkin isnt me baby!" And she's like, "Oh god.." And we're only three miles from the house, so as the engine stopped and we coasted into a driveway I got off and suddenly realized in my head that that is what happens when you run out of gas. Started her up, turned to reserve, and headed home. No biggie, jsut never happened before.
    -SLkid
     
  8. XJ700VET

    XJ700VET Member

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    Hmmmmm? Bad mileage? Just how big is your GF? :lol:
     
  9. SLKid

    SLKid Active Member

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    Ha ha! We're both 120 lbs. Not a big deal for the 700. Its probably thinks we're ants
     
  10. sushi_biker

    sushi_biker Member

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    I can attest to the fact that you'll waste a heap of fuel just idling while tuning and troubleshooting. You won't really know your mileage until you just RIDE the bike and until you know how to ride it efficiently.
     
  11. SLKid

    SLKid Active Member

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    Thanks Sushi. You're right. I've spent about 40% of the time tuning it and maybe 60% riding it; This full tank. The Leak probbably doesnt help.. Anyone ever welded the Nipple onto a Petcock? Thinking thats my next option I'm informed that the Nipple isnt supposed to actually come OUT of the petcock
    -SLKid
     
  12. wdenny

    wdenny Member

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    I pushed mine 2 miles on two consecutive days. Ran out one day with the woman on the back, that was the longest mile of mile life. Put a tiny bit in to make it to the gas station, and ran out in the SAME place. NO WAY! I screamed! I get 50 mpg, and I put in at least a quarter gallon! Turns out, when i had the tank off to work on flashers, i did not PROPERLY reattach the fuel line to the carburetor nipple. SO it was kinked the first time. Rattled loose, drained the little bit of fuel i added over night, thankfully did not set me on fire, and then died again a mile away.

    Moral of the story, i don't smoke cigars when i ride anymore, i smell it before i leave and actually LOOK in the tank.

    AND WHAT IS THIS I HEAR ABOUT A FUEL LIGHT!?Q?
     
  13. SLKid

    SLKid Active Member

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    Yep. Chacal has em in stock. Attaches On the underside of the gas tank Heres a pic in one of my posts. I thought it was another Petcock, like the other malfunctioned and the PO just made another hole for it. But nope

    http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic ... rt=15.html
     
  14. wdenny

    wdenny Member

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    Ah... IC.

    I have an '82 XJ650J... so i was wondering where this fuel light business was coming from... i just usually fill it up every 100 miles... and until this incident, have never run out of fuel. And then twice in two days.
     
  15. ktcubed

    ktcubed Member

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    I just run it till it stumbles (about 150) and then switch to reserve on the fly. Get gas ASAP after that, but it will still go a stretch.
     
  16. MN-Maxims

    MN-Maxims St. Paul Minnesota

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    I don't think there was a 650 Maxim that had a low fuel light. My 750 and 1100 maxims do show low fuel and the red warning light comes on.
     
  17. wdenny

    wdenny Member

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    I think you are 100% correct. I just wanted to make sure it was a model thing, and not "Tim-the-Toolman-Talor" PO who screwed mine up.

    But all in all... the 100 mile rule has been working for me.
     
  18. wdenny

    wdenny Member

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    i am guessing you are not 6'4" and about 300lbs? Plus the bike, that means i am pushing about 850 or so pounds when i run it out of gas... add the incline... and it's a killer.

    :)
     
  19. mlew

    mlew Well-Known Member

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    I have a fobia for running out of gas, I don't want to push a XJ1100 its a little heavy. I'll fill up when my trip odometer gets to 100 or 110 miles. It will go 125 before I need reserve. Works out good , every 3 days I fill up.
     
  20. SLKid

    SLKid Active Member

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    See, thats what I kinda got her for. Save a little on gas each month, yeah? So, fix a leak, and finish tuning and that should be a wrap! Instead of welding the nipple on, anyone try Auto Epoxy?? That might work well until I can purcahse a new petcock
     
  21. Don_A

    Don_A Member

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    JB Weld fixed a small leak on my petcock. I used it as a temporary fix for a cracked gasket. I left it on there for about two weeks of (nearly) every day riding until I could get a rebuild kit to really fix the problem.
     
  22. Ltdave

    Ltdave Member

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    my 750R was getting horrific mileage until i realized the odometer was turning the SINGLE miles consistently but the TEN miles digit only turned occasionally...

    it wont run on reserve (yeah and it will hardly turn over) so ive got to write the mileage down with a grease pencil and watch the clock...
     
  23. SLKid

    SLKid Active Member

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    Can you purchase JB Weld from Adavnce or Napa? Its a solution for metal? Expoxy is really a solution for plastic and I'm worried the gas may eat through it in a couple days.
     
  24. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    The Seca 550 has the ultimate solution; was it the ONLY XJ with a true gauge? I think the big Virago had one, and some later bikes, any other XJ's?

    [​IMG]
     
  25. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    JBWeld isn't a "solvent" for metal, and it may very well work in your situation IF you can get both parts clean. Use Brakleen or another DRY solvent to get the parts molecularly clean; mix the JBWeld on a piece of glass (the bottom of a glass jar bound for the trash is good, be sure it's clean.) If the JBWeld gets a "grip" on the parts, it will most definitely hold. I used it to patch the oil pan on a car once and it lasted longer than the car. Once fully cured it is impervious to solvents of any sort.

    OOps, sorry. You can get it almost anywhere, auto parts stores, Meijer, Wallyworld it's pretty commonly available. My local hardware store has it even.
     
  26. SLKid

    SLKid Active Member

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    Cool. JB Weld it is tomorrow. The peices of my Petcock are pretty clean and intact, been washed with gas and whatnot for the past couple weeks. I'll wipe her up and try some cleaner and apply the JBWeld. Any idea on how long it takes to cure?
     
  27. wamaxim

    wamaxim Active Member

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    JB weld works great around fuel. The also have a product called WaterWeld that comes in a long plastic tube. It is a two part epoxy that has a core and an outer coating. Slice off what you need, knead it between your fingers until thoroughly mixed, apply and smooth.

    WWeld has been sealing a small link in the corner of my gas tank for a year now. Nary a drip.
     
  28. SLKid

    SLKid Active Member

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    WaterWeld or JBWeld Heard! Thanks guys. Off to work and then to the auto store
    -SLKid
     
  29. ktcubed

    ktcubed Member

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    By the way, both products set up pretty fast as they are a chemical reaction (hence a cure not a dry).
     
  30. ktcubed

    ktcubed Member

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    Fitz, like the speedo that goes over 80!
     
  31. sushi_biker

    sushi_biker Member

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    The XJ 750 Seca has a LCD bar graph fuel gauge as well as the "Warning light of Doom".

    I don't know what your criteria is for a "true" fuel gauge...if you mean an old-fashioned needle under glass, the answer is no.

    Either way, the 750 Seca had 3 ways to tell you that you were out of fuel- Gauge, warning light, and a sputter to tell you to switch to reserve.
     
  32. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    So do I brother, so do I. Had the bike up to around 92 last evening and KNEW IT! It was great!!!
     
  33. SLKid

    SLKid Active Member

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    So, got home from work! Applied JB Weld to the petcock and connector, (thanks wal-mart) And after it Cures I'm going to apply the WaterWeld to it. Just a bit. That thing is NEVER coming out again. It was my fault it came out in the first place! Mounting bolts washers and O-ring on its way from Chacal. Kroil on its way too. No more leaky petcock and time to check the fuses in a couple days! So excited. Next job it to clean the flasher relay! Maybe then my blinkers and brake light will work
    -SLKid
     
  34. wamaxim

    wamaxim Active Member

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    I use WaterWeld on my riveted aluminum boat. Every now and then a rivet will start to leak a little bit. Not dangerous but a PITA.

    WaterWeld will set up underwater with no problems. I love the stuff. Right up there with Kroil!
     
  35. 85MaximXX

    85MaximXX Member

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    I can usually got 75-80 city miles before neding the reserve on the X and about 95 highway miles before the light comes on. I have never ran her dry if I feel the Familiar bog I reach down and turn it to reserve but then I have been riding most of my life so that part is second nature.
     
  36. SLKid

    SLKid Active Member

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    No more leak. JB Weld and Water Weld worked. Until I get a new petcock this'll have to do. Tuning the Idle screws now just for the hell of it. Waiting on my GF to get home... Trying to get that nice chocolaty tan on my plugs for my Idle.
    Making a new to-do list too for all the new stuff I found. Pretty much all electrical for now..
    Thanks guys!
    -SLKid
     

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