I have a 1984 fltc, great running bike ran out of gas on the way home yesterday flipped over to reserve and nothing the tank was bone dry. anyone have any ideas on why there was no reserve fuel?

 

You sure you didn't have the petcock on the reserve position all along? On is straight down, reserve is all the way forward....on mine.

 

Mine is down for main and up for reserve. If you had it the right way round then the pipe that creates the reserve could have fallen off the gas tap where it sits inside the tank.

 

Because you used it all!

Seriously, as the others have said, make sure you in fact had the valve in the right position to begin with.
If it was, pull the petcock and see what's going on with the tube.

 

the long part of the petcock lever is down for the main and up for reserve.

 

Appreciate all the replies, yes the fuel valve was in the right position will pull petcock see what is going on thanks

 

It is possible to pull the tap apart and assemble it so it works backwards. Test it when its off by blowing up the outlet and seeing where the air exits for each switch position.

You will need to either have someone suck on the vacuum port or remove the diaphragm to do this test.

 

No vacuum diaphragm on an 84

 

Lucky for him..... won't get arrested doing the test....I must admit I hadn't taken on board the year of the bike.....too many "craft beers" on yesterday's road trip

 

Did somebody say "craft beer"? I think I will (am)