Does anyone know if these things are supposed to spray fuel in the tank when looking into the hole? I have a stumble at low, constant speed problem. It seems to have just started. So i look in my tank hole and hit the "Run" button and noticed a spray going across the tank(until the pump stops). I think this is normal to relieve the pressure already in the line? But when i start the bike it has a continuous spray. I don't think this is normal? Or at least I hope not. But figured i would ask before ripping the tank apart and making a mess.

My problem is at low speed and low rpm i can't hold constant throttle. It stutters like it has a dead spot under 1900rpm. Only when I'm barley cracking the throttle. Cruising slow on back roads. If i ride it like a dirt bike it's fine. But I can't maintain a constant, smooth, slow speed. So my guy told me to check the in-tank lines and looking last night I saw this spray.

Does anyone know if it should spray when the bike is running (and spray when not running but when you hit "Run" to prime the pump)? I should also say I have a half tank. I checked for bubble when the tank was full but didn't notice anything. Not till it was half full did I notice the spray. It's like someone is in my tank with a Windex bottle pumping the trigger.

Googling to find my answer I'm seeing some saying yes and some saying no. Can't get a definitive answer. Everyone guesses and assumes on all that i have read. I need someone that actually knows if it should spray or not

thanks in advance

 

I agree that it sounds like you have a issue in the tank with the lines . some of the earlier bikes had a problem with the fuel lines inside the tank rubbing a pinhole in them causing symptoms you describe,but I thought they had corrected it on newer bikes, it sounds like you make have a loose line or hole in yours. I've never noticed a spraying inside any of mine. Since you say it occure with a half tank I,m betting it sucking in air or losing fuel presure when the gas evel drips below the hole or loose connection.

 

No.

I thought they fixed this problem, but apparently not. The fuel line in the tank rubs and gets a pin sized hole that sprays fuel and causes the bike to sputter and die at low RPMS since it's not getting all the fuel it needs. Replacing the line will fix it until next time.

Someone posted a fix on here of using a heavy duty fuel line for a DIYer, but I had the dealer fix mine since it's such a pain dealing with fuel.

 

it actually happens all the time. Been through 3 tank of fuel in case it was bad gas. I just couldn't see it spray until half tank.

It is also something you wouldn't notice unless looking for it. I needed a flashlight to see the spray. Some say it's supposed to do that and it's how the pump relieves the pressure. i get contradicting answers the more i read about it

Only way to find out for sure is to rip it apart I guess. Or buy pressure gauges. But i've had it out before putting on my CVO dash or console(had to change to the CVO pump in order to mount that setup. That was done 4 years ago though and this just started so it wasn't me putting together wrong). I did forget a O-ring back then and it ran similar till I put the O-ring back in. But i remember then it was like an ocean when i looked in the tank. Everything was circulating it was so bad.

I'm thinking something wore out or pin hole(hopefully)

 

I don't like to give out bad info or anything but i just got a call from my tuner guy. He actually has a Test stand gas tank to test fuel pumps and stuff in the tank. And he said they do spray. It releases the extra pressure from a hose and sprays back into the tank.

I might still have a leak. And i don't know if we should be able to see the spray or not. But according to him the fuel pumps do spray back into tank.

Once i take apart tonight i will know the definite answer and i'll post back so other don't have to go through what i am.

 

I've had my 2006 Softail tank apart when I had it painted. I replaced all the internal fuel lines with Gates submersible fuel lines. There are several threads about it on the forum, and there's a good one in the Dyna section.

I also had my 2011 Touring tank apart recently, and just put all the guts back in it last night.

I'm familiar with the internals for each tank - I don't think there is a blow off for the pressurized fuel on start up. I might be wrong, but there is nothing obvious in either tank that looks to serve that purpose.

It basically flows as follows:

Fuel Pickup --> Fuel Pump --> Fuel Filter --> Pressure Regulator --> High Pressure Hose to external tank fitting

After that, everything else is outside the tank.

 

Thanks Red. This is the bad part about the internet. You never get the same answer twice. My guy actually test on a open stand and saw it spraying gas. But who knows. Maybe the breakout is set up different. Or maybe it does spray but sprays down so you can't see a splash. I will find out tonight for sure..


Mine sprays during start up and while running. it doesn't seem right. It sprays so much that it actually comes out of the hole and onto the tank (only a little bit but i can't see Harley making something that shoots gas out the fill hole)

I will let us all know if i figure out though. I've had that stuff out of my tank 3 to 4 times already. But never really looked to see if there was a blow hole or anything. I'm hoping i can unscrew and pull that plate high enough to see it all hooked up when the bike is running. I'm sure it will be tough. Most likely not made to be able to run with the plate lifted

 

When you start your bike is it cranking a lot more than before? I currently have a similar issue, but only when my tank is low on fuel. I can hear the spray. Havent had a chance to get into the tank yet to replace the lines, but I will soon.

 

EFI fuel pumps all use a pressure regulating bypass that returns unneeded fuel back to the tank.
The pump puts out it's full volume all the time. The motor only uses a fraction of this output, so the pressure needs to be regulated. What ever fuel isn't sprayed by the injector nozzles, gets returned to tank
I believe the pump has a discharge port that accomplishes this. It'll discharge fuel all the time. The only way it won't is either if the fuel pump is not running, or the motor uses all the pumps capacity which is never. In cars, if the pump is outside the tank, there are return lines.

 

Thats what my guy said Mike. But should i be able to see the discharge!!??(is the question). does it discharge to the bottom of the tank and never seen. or does it discharge across the tank and across the fill hole. this is what i'm trying to figure out. I would think they wouldn't have it set up to spray across the hole like mine is.