Reserve
Novice
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Havana, IL
Me too
I just spent about an hour in this forum looking for information about the reserve tank on my 2002 FLHTCI, only to find out that it doesn't have a reserve. I knew it was fuel injected, but no where in the manual does it mention that the fuel injected model doens't have a reserve. So I guess I fall into that D.A. category as well, I guess it's okay though since this is my first Harley.
I am a school teacher, so this goes under the category that there is no such thing as a dumb question, except the one that isn't asked.
Thank you for all your help!
I am a school teacher, so this goes under the category that there is no such thing as a dumb question, except the one that isn't asked.
Thank you for all your help!
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Dutchtown, Louisiana
I was told there was no such thing as a reserve in most tanks. How it was explained was that there is a tube sticking up from the petcock and when the fuel level reached the tube and gas could no longer flow, then you changed the port on the petcock to take the last remaining juice in the tank.
Last edited by Work0rDie; Aug 5, 2010 at 05:39 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 270
Likes: 2
From: West Palm Beach, Florida
All I got to say is Thank God for reserve on my Springer!! Kinda sucks when I leave work and start riding home and feel the engine sputter and reach down and THEN remember that I switched on the reserve that morning on the way to work......
Ran out one day about 5 miles from the nearest station and had to suck up the pride and call the wife to come and bring me some go juice.....
Ran out one day about 5 miles from the nearest station and had to suck up the pride and call the wife to come and bring me some go juice.....
Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 876
Likes: 1
From: Gloucester County, Southern NJ
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,630
Likes: 17
From: Central FL
The biggest reason there is no reserve is that a pressurized fuel system like the fuel injected one does not work well when you introduce air into it. Carburated bikes are just gravity fed and when you run low on fuel before you switch to reserve there is air traveling down the fuel line into the carb. When you turn on reserve it simply fills the line again and you resume normal operation. On an injected bike there is a fuel pump and when it runs low on fuel no you introduce air into the fuel rail and injectors and sometimes clearing that air out is no a smooth transition. Not something you probably want to do while riding a bike.
The way I have heard it explained is that because the fuel pump is in the tank, and the Bearings of the pump are actually lubed by the gasoline, and that running out of fuel on a fuel injected bike could be costly, and since the fuel injection runs at a high pressure (I think it is 40 psi), a petcock would not withstand the pressure, besides why would you want to introduce air into four pressurized fuel system.
BUT like I said, this is how it was explained to me, I DO NOT know the exact reason or science behind why the MOCO went away from a reserve.
BUT like I said, this is how it was explained to me, I DO NOT know the exact reason or science behind why the MOCO went away from a reserve.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 5,615
Likes: 9
From: Escondido, CA
I knew that the gauge and light were there to help me remember to fill up. Use my mileage as a backup but the gauge has always been very accurate. Light comes on at one gallon left. Forty miles to find a station.
But because of this thread I now understand why there is not a lever to turn on a reserve. Fuel pickup for pump is at lowest point in tank. There can't be two lowest points. Simple.
But because of this thread I now understand why there is not a lever to turn on a reserve. Fuel pickup for pump is at lowest point in tank. There can't be two lowest points. Simple.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
And it came to pass that the rider said "I have seen the light."
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 7
From: Clermont, GA, CSA
My '02 Heritage is fuel injected and has a reserve. The gas guage doesn't work right, but I've only hit reserve once, depending on the trip meter and mileage.
When I hit reserve, the motor 'coughed' as it ran out of gas, then the reserve kicked in and I made it to a gas station.
KISS
,,
When I hit reserve, the motor 'coughed' as it ran out of gas, then the reserve kicked in and I made it to a gas station.
KISS
,,
