Fuel behavior in in line filter

My XJ900 is almost ready for the road. Just need to do a synch and colourtune. Synch and YICS tool on the way. And new tyres of course.

Big thank you to everyone on this site. Thanks to the carb cleaning tips etc. I sometimes leave the bike for 4 weeks or more, but it starts straight away and idles no problems.

The fuel tap functions ok. No rise in the sump oil level or fuel smell.

I have a see through in line fuel filter - the brass mesh type, between the fuel tap and carbs, and I've noticed with the engine running, that the fuel pulses into the filter, when I thought it would be a steady flow. Is this normal behavior?

I'm assuming the pulsing is because the fuel is only drawn from the fuel tap when #3 cylinder is firing, which is where the vacuum hose is attached too. I thought the filter would fill up too, but it empties into the carbs just as fast as the fuel goes into it so it's never more than 1/2 full.

 

The pulsating becomes a nearly solid flow at higher RPMs. The filter gets "fuller" too (at least on my 550s.)

 

That's what mine does, works fine.

 

Had one of my GS's do that and it ran just fine at normal speeds. But at wide open throttle on track it would run out of fuel on the second straight or at the end of a long one.
Drove me crazy finding the problem but in my vacuum op valve there's a rubber check valve between the vacuum and the back of the diaphram.
Pretty sure it dampens the pulse so the diaphram dosen't keep slamin' the valve shut. And in effect only opening half the time, lowering the fuel level in the float bowls.
You might want to check out that fuel valve.