Fuel reserve question 1986 classic
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
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From: Bedford UK
When I turn the gas tap onto reserve I reckon on around 20 miles. I have managed a few more, but try not to! When it gets to what I will call the start of the red, there is a little over a gallon left. That's an Imperial gallon by the way old chap, not your short measures - so a US gallon and a bit! 
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 350
Likes: 0
From: Reidsville, NC
I wrote the post about the no reserve petcock just to let him know there is no set rule stating when you can turn the reserve on. I wait till I sputter. My sportster has 5 gallon tanks but I can only go 12 miles on reserve. That's just because the tanks were mounted to flow with the frame.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 272
Likes: 1
From: Salem, Oregon
+1 on Dr Hess. Dont trust your guage until you get to know what is really in there!! I dont have a guage so I always reset my trip meter every fill-up. I know I can go about 160-180 miles before reserve on my wg. After reserve goes on I have another 40 miles before I start pushing or walkin... I have a Pingle petcock so my reserve isn't same as stock.
Anyway, I would test your tank so you know exactly how much you have on reserve.
As a general rule the S&S carb isn't very cold blooded unless you have it jetted fairly lean. Here at 500' above sea level I have to run a 29.5 intermediate and a 72 main jet with a stock 80" engine and Vance 2-2 exhaust. When I lived in Montana I used the 28 intermediate and a 70 main. When I start cold (and this is with 2 current bikes with S&S carbs) I pull the enrichener on, wick the throttle 2 or 3 times and hit the starter. As soon as it starts I'm slowly pushing the enrichener off. Within 2 or 3 minutes it's all the way off and I set the throttle stop screw for about 1200 rpm till the engine gets warm. It may sputter once or twice till I get on the road, but that's it.
And again as Dr Hess said you MUST warm your engine till the cylinders are warm to touch before you take off or rev your engine!!! If you dont you will soon be wanting to know how to change out your cylinder base gaskets to fix that leak!!
Sorry I'm so wordy at times!!
Hope this helps!!
Dr Hess, I grew up on hwy 16, 2 miles south of Weddington right before the Benton county line. The Ozark national forest bordered 3 side of our property. We got mail from Fayetteville. Small world!!
jim
Anyway, I would test your tank so you know exactly how much you have on reserve.
As a general rule the S&S carb isn't very cold blooded unless you have it jetted fairly lean. Here at 500' above sea level I have to run a 29.5 intermediate and a 72 main jet with a stock 80" engine and Vance 2-2 exhaust. When I lived in Montana I used the 28 intermediate and a 70 main. When I start cold (and this is with 2 current bikes with S&S carbs) I pull the enrichener on, wick the throttle 2 or 3 times and hit the starter. As soon as it starts I'm slowly pushing the enrichener off. Within 2 or 3 minutes it's all the way off and I set the throttle stop screw for about 1200 rpm till the engine gets warm. It may sputter once or twice till I get on the road, but that's it.
And again as Dr Hess said you MUST warm your engine till the cylinders are warm to touch before you take off or rev your engine!!! If you dont you will soon be wanting to know how to change out your cylinder base gaskets to fix that leak!!
Sorry I'm so wordy at times!!
Hope this helps!!
Dr Hess, I grew up on hwy 16, 2 miles south of Weddington right before the Benton county line. The Ozark national forest bordered 3 side of our property. We got mail from Fayetteville. Small world!!
jim
Crap, well I have been doing that wrong. I will usually pull the lever all the way on, turn on my fuel, twist the throttle a few times and start her up. than go on the road and lower the enricher to about half and it stays there until I get to work, I dont let it idle I just crank it up and roll after it has sat overnight. I guess I will let it warm up now (much ot my neighbors disliking for 5 min. or so, glad I was warned now!
Thanks, and my ride home is about 10min so by the time I am home I am able to turn off the choke completely (I did yesterday because I took the long way around).
Dear lord I hope I havn't hurt it!
Jesse
Thanks, and my ride home is about 10min so by the time I am home I am able to turn off the choke completely (I did yesterday because I took the long way around).
Dear lord I hope I havn't hurt it!
Jesse
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 272
Likes: 1
From: Salem, Oregon
Crap, well I have been doing that wrong. I will usually pull the lever all the way on, turn on my fuel, twist the throttle a few times and start her up. than go on the road and lower the enricher to about half and it stays there until I get to work, I dont let it idle I just crank it up and roll after it has sat overnight. I guess I will let it warm up now (much ot my neighbors disliking for 5 min. or so, glad I was warned now!
Thanks, and my ride home is about 10min so by the time I am home I am able to turn off the choke completely (I did yesterday because I took the long way around).
Dear lord I hope I havn't hurt it!
Jesse
Thanks, and my ride home is about 10min so by the time I am home I am able to turn off the choke completely (I did yesterday because I took the long way around).
Dear lord I hope I havn't hurt it!
Jesse
jim
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