Simple Question... shouldn't fuel drain out of the gas tank - it doesn't.

Hi VFR Team,

Just bought a 1985 Honda VF1000R.
Trying to troubleshoot why I have no fuel out of fuel pump.

Fact: Gas does NOT drain., dribble or run out of the fuel tank.
With over a gallon of gas in the tank and petcock set to ON or RESERVE - I don't get so much as a drop.

Question #1: Is this a vacuum pull petcock? or.. should fuel be dribbling out the gas tank fuel line?

I get nothing no matter what setting of the petcock or position of the tank - vertical, angled etc.. with over a gallon of fuel.


Thanks from Ohio
Graham.

 

Open the filler cap and blow compressed air into the outlet line with the petcock in both ON and Reserve settings.

 

Update: The 85 Honda VF1000R gas tank requires the fuel level to be at least above the side fuel petcock - for fuel to come out the fuel line by GRAVITY. That tank is huge. Once I filled it with almost 5 gallons of fuel, I had plenty of pressure pushing out fuel.

With 1.25 gallons of fuel - I had not a drop! Nothing! DRY. I almost started taking the tank apart.

Summary: When doing any fuel / engine diagnosis - on a '85 VF1000R - be sure you have A FULL TANK.
Many thanks to "Toe Cutter"
His response of "The internal plumbing of the tank ,associated with the petcock being on the side, prevents the fuel from just flowing out until the fuel level is above the petcock." ... saved me hours chasing a fuel tank issue - that didn't exist!

Thanks to all.

Graham

 

I'm only guessing but I think that once the fuel gets above the tap it will then allow fuel to syphon, no different than syphoning fuel out of a jerry can