This is my first riding season with the HSR 42 and being pumpless. Trying to recall when the low fuel light typically comes on. Does it light up before or after switching to reserve?

Asking because on a ride the other day, the bike started to stall and eventually shut down as I coasted her to the side of the road. Fuel gauge read between 1/8 and 1/4 tank. Switched to reserve and after a couple tries, she fired up and away I went...sort of. About 1/2 mile later, happened again. Pulled over, waited a minute and started her back up again. This happened a couple more times before I was lucky enough to roll into a gas station a few miles up the road. Low fuel light never came on. Switching to reserve didn't help as much as it should have. Popping the gas cap, I could see gas barely covering the bottom of the tank.

Had heard stories of going pumpless and running out of gas sooner than normal. Sounds like what I have going on here.

I do have a Pingle petcock and thought that maybe I didn't have the lever in the correct location for reserve. But if it was close enough it should have been fine.

I've never switched the petcock on mine to reserve and the light has come on before just a few times. So it has to be that it comes on before you switch it.

Did you vent your cap when you went pumpless?

signal20k9 wrote:
I've never switched the petcock on mine to reserve and the light has come on before just a few times. So it has to be that it comes on before you switch it.

Did you vent your cap when you went pumpless?

Yes, cap is vented along with drilling out the vent tube and removing the rollover valve.

Bike almost felt like it would run until the float bowl emptied and then when I would pull over, it would refill and away I would go for another half mile or so.

If this is the case, at least now I know the "new" range on my tank and when I better start looking for fuel.

If your caps vented and it had gas in it, I'm at a loss. Did you fill the tank up and it was good to go again?

When I made it to the gas station, I only put around 2.5 gallons in. Should have filled it up to see what she could have taken and what I should of had left in the tank. I bet I didn't get more than 150 miles before I had to limp in for fuel. Will test again soon with some "back-up" fuel with me.

Do you have screen in the inlet side of the carb? The screen will restrict the flow of gas. Experience talking.

dvblair wrote:
Do you have screen in the inlet side of the carb? The screen will restrict the flow of gas. Experience talking.

I have the 42 flatslide carb. Does it have the same inlet screen as the CV40?

I carry enough stuff as it is on a trip but it's worth a look.

Reda Gas Can

My low fuel light comes on, and I look for a station. It usually takes about 3.5 gallons(to the ridge in the bottom of the neck).....so, I still have plenty left. I don't think I've even switched mine to reserve when the light comes on. I'm usually within 5 miles or so of a station. Sounds like your low fuel light is taking a break.

It is, to bad you didn't fill it all the way up.

Just curious, are you running an inline filter?

SKWEARpeg wrote:
Just curious, are you running an inline filter?

Yes, a Pingle.