Fuel light = rough running?

Right, a few times before ive posted saying my bikes running like carp what is it and its normally been sorted by fresh fuel among other things! So....am i right in thinking that once the light starts to flash it means there is a litre or two of petrol left? And then when it goes solid i have to worry and it should last a good 30-40 miles?? If not then ignore the rest......

Pretty much as soon as the light starts to flash i have 10 miles before it will run very badly (almost as if it has no power and sounds awful) and then god forbid if i stop or pull in the clutch it will cut out and not start again untill i fill it up. At this point the solid light hasnt registered.

Pretty much why is it doing this? Oh and its a 2000 carb model. I know some clever sod will say fill up as soon as the light comes on but the other day i only just managed to find a station that was open and it litterally cut out as i was pulling in!

Many thanks!
Ash

Originally Posted by arcdef

am i right in thinking that once the light starts to flash it means there is a litre or two of petrol left? And then when it goes solid i have to worry and it should last a good 30-40 miles??

sorry can't help, but i would also like to know if thats true.

Originally Posted by arcdef

Oh and its a 2000 carb model.

My bad, was buried in the text abit!

I would say 2 things, get your carbs balanced, take 5 minutes and drop out your fuel joint/tap (can't remember the name i'll find a pic) and check you have no crap pulling though when it drops down low.

Hmm yeah a carb balance is due, it that the part that joins at the base of the tank? im guessing ill need to run the petrol right down before i can disconnect it?

Cheers.

Here you go the Fuel C0ck -

http://alpha-sports.com/spst/2000%20SV650,S/29.htm

Yes that's the name.

Originally Posted by arcdef

Hmm yeah a carb balance is due, it that the part that joins at the base of the tank? im guessing ill need to run the petrol right down before i can disconnect it?

Cheers.

Yep your need to drain the tank... got any jerry cans.

[the_lone_wolf]

is the curvy not a twin pipe sticking up into the tank job?

might be **** in the shorter reserve pipe?

Yep, could also be the pipe might be a little split or something, I'd pop the tank up and have a good look about. Make sure you have no strange leaks.

[jambo]

The curvy has a fuel c0ck, as mentioned by Grinch. There is no reserve pipe, just a single fuel filter, and fuel c0ck arrangement. Lights (both flashing & solid) are triggered by a sensor higher up the tank.

I was getting something like 10-15 miles from flashing->solid, and something like the same again to empty.

Drain the tank entirely, removing the fuel c0ck and checking the filter. Drain the fuel lines and the float bowls of the carbs to try and remove any water or debris from the fuel system.

Check that the drain pipe for water getting to the recess for the filler cap is not blocked or rusted through (seal one end and blow in it) as this will let water into the tank.

Best regards

James