wchargis
06-16-2009, 08:17 AM
Ok--here is my attempt to show that I can be an idiot at times on my bike.
I took my new (at least new to me) 1971 R75/5 on a 1 hour trip to Williamsburg, VA. It was a beautiful day, sun shining and about 70 degrees.
My bike started up perfectly as i began my fun filled rifing day. I got down to about 12 miles from Williamsburg when my bike began to sputter and stop running.
Well I was a little concerned. I just bought the bike and figured--Great here is the first a a number of events that are going to irritate me about this bike. It is the first BMW I have ever owned--all my other bikes have been Ducati's (and all new).
I stop the bike--tried to start it again and nothing. then I began my checklist of items that could be causing this. I checked the gas tank and there was gas in the tank. Not full or even half by a visual inspection but still some in the tank.
I checked the petcock to make sure fule supply was on (I have been forgetting to turn it on-not being used to them). It was on. After about a 15minute look around, I tried starting the bike again. Wow it cranked right over. I decided to head back towards home just to be safe. Well abouut 10 minutes later the same thing. Ok must be something in the carbs--maybe the flaking inside the tank has lodged in the carbs (I had an Alfa Romeo that did this). the Alfa would set the carb would release the particle and run for a while until I changed the fuel filter. Nothing in the bowls of the carb that concerned me. another 15 minutes later the bike cranked over again.
10 minutes down the road and the same thing--OK fuel starvation but why--where is that damn reserve tank on this bike?? Cant find it--dont understand how it works. Now the bike wont start--battery run down--thank god it has a kick starter!! I am trying everything to restart this engine for the next hour when suddenly I decide to pull the fuel lines from the tank to see if they wer clogged. NO FUEL comming out of the lines--the petcock in in the on position. I blow into the fule line to see if there is an obstruction too free up. blows in ok and air comes back out--what the heck!!!
Well lets see if I adjust the petcock and see if I can get fuel out--I'll be damned when its in the reserve position fule comes out fine. I know that damn mechanic put the petcock in reverse. Ok I can ride with it in the reserve position. THANK GOD FOR A KICK STARTER!!! It cranks right up!!! I get home just fine.
Monday I take the bike over to the shop--I tell the mechanic he put the petcock on wrong--He says NO WAY. then Proceeded to explain to me since the BMW does not have a fuel guage that the tank will run in the on fuel position until it gets below a certian point. At that time the engine will be starved of fuel and you switch to the reserve position on the petcock and the fulw draws from lower in the tank--that is the RESERVE!!! HAHAHAHAHA what an idiot I am--great idea--wich I would have understood how it worked. what an Idiot I am!!!!
I took my new (at least new to me) 1971 R75/5 on a 1 hour trip to Williamsburg, VA. It was a beautiful day, sun shining and about 70 degrees.
My bike started up perfectly as i began my fun filled rifing day. I got down to about 12 miles from Williamsburg when my bike began to sputter and stop running.
Well I was a little concerned. I just bought the bike and figured--Great here is the first a a number of events that are going to irritate me about this bike. It is the first BMW I have ever owned--all my other bikes have been Ducati's (and all new).
I stop the bike--tried to start it again and nothing. then I began my checklist of items that could be causing this. I checked the gas tank and there was gas in the tank. Not full or even half by a visual inspection but still some in the tank.
I checked the petcock to make sure fule supply was on (I have been forgetting to turn it on-not being used to them). It was on. After about a 15minute look around, I tried starting the bike again. Wow it cranked right over. I decided to head back towards home just to be safe. Well abouut 10 minutes later the same thing. Ok must be something in the carbs--maybe the flaking inside the tank has lodged in the carbs (I had an Alfa Romeo that did this). the Alfa would set the carb would release the particle and run for a while until I changed the fuel filter. Nothing in the bowls of the carb that concerned me. another 15 minutes later the bike cranked over again.
10 minutes down the road and the same thing--OK fuel starvation but why--where is that damn reserve tank on this bike?? Cant find it--dont understand how it works. Now the bike wont start--battery run down--thank god it has a kick starter!! I am trying everything to restart this engine for the next hour when suddenly I decide to pull the fuel lines from the tank to see if they wer clogged. NO FUEL comming out of the lines--the petcock in in the on position. I blow into the fule line to see if there is an obstruction too free up. blows in ok and air comes back out--what the heck!!!
Well lets see if I adjust the petcock and see if I can get fuel out--I'll be damned when its in the reserve position fule comes out fine. I know that damn mechanic put the petcock in reverse. Ok I can ride with it in the reserve position. THANK GOD FOR A KICK STARTER!!! It cranks right up!!! I get home just fine.
Monday I take the bike over to the shop--I tell the mechanic he put the petcock on wrong--He says NO WAY. then Proceeded to explain to me since the BMW does not have a fuel guage that the tank will run in the on fuel position until it gets below a certian point. At that time the engine will be starved of fuel and you switch to the reserve position on the petcock and the fulw draws from lower in the tank--that is the RESERVE!!! HAHAHAHAHA what an idiot I am--great idea--wich I would have understood how it worked. what an Idiot I am!!!!