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  • Ran out of gas - on the freeway!

    So I'm going NB on 101 Gilroy to San Jose when I notice the red light come on. Ok, it's telling me I'm low on gas. NOT! It suddenly stopped running and I put it in neutral and pulled over to the side, fortunately under an over pass for the shade as it was hot. Got off the bike and opened the gas cap and sure enough, it was dry. I put the valves on reserve and drove to the nearest station, which was *not* near. Filled up and continued.
    So, what's the purpose of the low gas warning red light?
    2006 Yamaha Morphous "The Space Ship"
    2004 Honda Aero VT750 "Black Beauty"
    2003 Yamaha VStar 650 Classic "primero"
    2000 BMW K1200LT Like new as of 5/10/16
    1999 BMW K1200LT "The Silver Bullet"
    1996 Kawasaki KZ1000P "the 5-0"
    1989 BMW K100RS "White Ghost"
    1986 Honda Goldwing Espencade 1200 (work in progress)
    1982 Honda Goldwing Interstate 1100 (same)
    1980 Yamaha XS1100 fast
    1979 Yamaha XS1100 just as fast

    +6 CTs

  • #2
    I think its kind of obvious... how many miles did you go before you recognized it was on? Once the light comes on just reach down and throw the petcocks on reserve and proceed to the nearest station. I wish my 79F had the light because then I would know if Im dipping into the reserve or not. As of now, I ride with them on prime and have the vac operated petcocks blocked off. When I ride the bike keeps running until its completely dry, no hiccup to let me know I need to switch to reserve. I have to watch my total miles and start looking for gas at 150-160 miles to be safe.

    I know when I had reserve I had at least 3/4 of a gallon (about 30 miles give or take).
    '79 XS11 F
    Stock except K&N

    '79 XS11 SF
    Stock, no title.

    '84 Chevy K-10 "Big Blue"
    GM 350, Muncie SM465, NP208, GM 10 Bolt with 3.42gears turnin 31x10.5 Baja Claws

    "What they do have is an implacable, unrelenting presence and movement that bespeaks massive power lurking behind paint and chrome. They don't wail like a screeching ninja, the don't rumble like a harley. They just growl like a spactic, stressed out badger waiting to rip your face off and eat your soul." Trainzz~RIP~

    Comment


    • #3
      Mine starts to run like crap when it gets low. Haven't run it dry yet.
      Nate

      78 XS11 "Matilda" 2H7 000364

      2001 Raptor ACCT, T.C. Fuse Box, TC Bros Forward Controls
      Kuryakyn Iso Grips/Throttleboss/Bar End Mirror, Custom Covered Seat
      Shinko 712s, HID Headlight, RC Performance Exhaust
      Bikemaster Daytona Handlebars, Galfer SS Brake Lines
      Barnett HD Clutch Springs, T.C. Spin On Filter Adapter
      K+N Air Filter

      88 Voyager XII
      81 XJ650 Maxim

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by eddielo View Post
        . . . So, what's the purpose of the low gas warning red light?
        If you forget to switch your petcock(s) back to ON after filling up, the red light is your best friend.
        82J · 81SH · 79SF Fire Damage · 78E · 79F Parts Bike · 04 Buell Blast
        Website/Blog

        Comment


        • #5
          That red light means switch to reserve and start hunting a gas station. Normally I can go about 20 miles on reserve...............unless your fighting a headwind.

          I was coming back to Tulsa from Ivan's in Wichita 3 weeks ago and had just tuned off of I-35 onto OK-412 which is a tollway. No place to turn around and the next gas is 40 miles. I had about 50 - 60 miles on that tank so I figured I'd be OK. I neglected to take into account the wind.

          As soon as I had passed the LAST gas station and gone about 5 miles, on came the light. Switched to reserve and slowed down trying to conserve fuel. Didn't work. I,m sitting bone dry in the middle of nowhere Oklahoma.

          Luckily I was only about 10 miles from Maximan's place in Stillwater so after a few phone calls and about an hour I rounded him up and he brought me a gallon or so and I made it to the next station.

          WHEW! Thanks Cody.

          NEVER underestimate the power of wind!
          Greg

          Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

          ― Albert Einstein

          80 SG Ol' Okie;79 engine & carbs w/pods, 45 pilots, 140 mains, Custom Mac 4 into 2 exhaust, ACCT,XS850 final drive,110/90/19 front tire,TKat fork brace, XS750 140 MPH speedometer, Vetter IV fairing, aftermarket hard bags and trunk, LG high back seat, XJ rear shocks.

          The list changes.

          Comment


          • #6
            The red light is controlled by the sensor in the tank,which responds to fuel level. I find their sensitivity "adjust" over the years, so the light may or may not come on at the fuel level it was intended to from the factory.

            Yes, the red light means "Switch to reserve before your engine starts stumbling, And find fuel.....NOW!!!".

            And keep in mind that PRIME is the same as having your petcock on RESERVE, only it bypasses the vacuum valve if you still have one. So, you may find your have no reserve when the engine starts stumbling. If you get your petcock components swapped around, left and right levers on the opposite sides body, ON is actually PRIME. Found that out on a lonely stretch of I-74 a few years ago riding with a fellow XSive. His bike ran dry, fortunately we could double up on mine to get fuel. Time we were done, we both needed fuel.
            Life is what happens while your planning everything else!

            When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt.

            81 XS1100 Special - Humpty Dumpty
            80 XS1100 Special - Project Resurrection


            Previously owned
            93 GSX600F
            80 XS1100 Special - Ruby
            81 XS1100 Special
            81 CB750 C
            80 CB750 C
            78 XS750

            Comment


            • #7
              On my 78, a PO replaced my petcocks with some cheapo universals.. The tag is flipped on the valve so last year, I too ran out of gas. RUN was reserve. lolfail.

              I gotta replace those anyways. They really are cheap ones...

              Congrats on running out of gas tho! I have been a member of that club 2 times on my various bikes..
              1) Fire up Internet Explorer
              2) http://www.yahoo.com
              3) type "www.mapquest.com" into the Yahoo search page.
              4) go about day as VP managing multi-million dollar financial contracts.

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by DGXSER View Post
                And keep in mind that PRIME is the same as having your petcock on RESERVE, only it bypasses the vacuum valve if you still have one.
                Actually, prime is the same as on as far as reserve goes. The reserve will get the last half gallon or so left in the tank after it gets to low for the on or prime settings. I thought the same thing until I was just recently working on that green tank.

                When I was trying to get it patched and putting fuel in it to test only the reserve position would let all the fuel drain back out.
                Greg

                Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

                ― Albert Einstein

                80 SG Ol' Okie;79 engine & carbs w/pods, 45 pilots, 140 mains, Custom Mac 4 into 2 exhaust, ACCT,XS850 final drive,110/90/19 front tire,TKat fork brace, XS750 140 MPH speedometer, Vetter IV fairing, aftermarket hard bags and trunk, LG high back seat, XJ rear shocks.

                The list changes.

                Comment


                • #9
                  I rode the bike to Florida back in 1993 with 2 pickup trucks with 20 gallon backups on each truck.I rode with a bunch of Harley guys,a BMW and me.They were also towing a trailer just in case someone broke down.The fuel light would come on constantly and then i would signal the pickups to stop and fuel me up.Made for an interesting trip as i had the smallest gas tank in the group.
                  1980 XS1100 SG
                  Inline fuel filters
                  New wires in old coils-outer spark plugs
                  160 mph speedometer mod
                  Kerker Exhaust
                  xschop K & N air filter setup
                  Dynojet Recalibration kit
                  1999 Kawasaki ZRX1100
                  1997 Jeep Cherokee 4.5"lift installed

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by BA80 View Post
                    Actually, prime is the same as on as far as reserve goes. The reserve will get the last half gallon or so left in the tank after it gets to low for the on or prime settings. I thought the same thing until I was just recently working on that green tank.

                    When I was trying to get it patched and putting fuel in it to test only the reserve position would let all the fuel drain back out.
                    Interesting, I purposely tested this on my first SH years ago, and confirmed that PRIME drained it dry. Even looked over the fuel path on the petcock to confirm PRIME and RESERVE feed from the same inlet hole, just to different outlet holes. On the Special petcocks anyway.
                    Life is what happens while your planning everything else!

                    When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt.

                    81 XS1100 Special - Humpty Dumpty
                    80 XS1100 Special - Project Resurrection


                    Previously owned
                    93 GSX600F
                    80 XS1100 Special - Ruby
                    81 XS1100 Special
                    81 CB750 C
                    80 CB750 C
                    78 XS750

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      I just worked on mine a week ago. Maybe yours is different.
                      Greg

                      Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

                      ― Albert Einstein

                      80 SG Ol' Okie;79 engine & carbs w/pods, 45 pilots, 140 mains, Custom Mac 4 into 2 exhaust, ACCT,XS850 final drive,110/90/19 front tire,TKat fork brace, XS750 140 MPH speedometer, Vetter IV fairing, aftermarket hard bags and trunk, LG high back seat, XJ rear shocks.

                      The list changes.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Prime will drain the tank the same as reserve. It just comes out different spigots on the petcock. I just did a test with my petcocks off the bike and the different ways one can blow thru it are different but each will drain it down to empty.
                        2-79 XS1100 SF
                        2-78 XS1100 E Best bike Ever
                        80 XS 1100 SG Big bore kit but not fully running yet.
                        Couple of more parts bikes of which 2 more will live!

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Try putting them on prime instead of reserve when you run out of gas.
                          Greg

                          Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

                          ― Albert Einstein

                          80 SG Ol' Okie;79 engine & carbs w/pods, 45 pilots, 140 mains, Custom Mac 4 into 2 exhaust, ACCT,XS850 final drive,110/90/19 front tire,TKat fork brace, XS750 140 MPH speedometer, Vetter IV fairing, aftermarket hard bags and trunk, LG high back seat, XJ rear shocks.

                          The list changes.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Try priming your bike when it needs it with a low fuel condition. Works the same way.
                            2-79 XS1100 SF
                            2-78 XS1100 E Best bike Ever
                            80 XS 1100 SG Big bore kit but not fully running yet.
                            Couple of more parts bikes of which 2 more will live!

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              I have....................
                              Greg

                              Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

                              ― Albert Einstein

                              80 SG Ol' Okie;79 engine & carbs w/pods, 45 pilots, 140 mains, Custom Mac 4 into 2 exhaust, ACCT,XS850 final drive,110/90/19 front tire,TKat fork brace, XS750 140 MPH speedometer, Vetter IV fairing, aftermarket hard bags and trunk, LG high back seat, XJ rear shocks.

                              The list changes.

                              Comment

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