HELP: I am abroad and fuel pump playing up :-((

[robelst]

Hello there!
I arrived in Holland today to celebrate my mother's birthday after quite a nerv-wrecking ride from Bristol to Harwich. It seems the fuel pump is not (or hardly) working anymore. I can manage 80 miles at 70 mph on a full tank (had this bl**y wind today as well ) Only just made it to the ferry in time, but Monday I will be travelling back: No time to get new parts / massive repairs, yet hoping for a less hectic ride back. The pump either does not do anything at all (esp when tank is full: is that normal?), buzzes loudly, or I can feel something knocking inside, but whatever it does, it is not enough for proper fuel delivery at standard motorway speeds. Seems the pump even short-cuts the circuit every now and then (rev-counter has funny dips and the (brand new!) battery does not charge well when lights are on (I disconnected one of them which helps)).

Idea: I have the feeling the pump is just blocking the flow most of the time and distorting the electrical circuit. Could I simply connect the fuel hose from the tank directly to the hose that connects to the carbs and run on "gravity" and disconnect the pump from the elctric circuit completely, or would that just make things worse? How many miles do you reckon I could run on a full tank without the pump? (there is this nasty gap in fuel stations between A12 and Reading ).
BTW: The engine is running like a dream as long as it gets enough fuel, it does 90+ mph when needed, but not for very long.

Sorry if I sound like some sort of Jack Jones ("don't panic Mr Manwairing") but I am a bit under stress. Anyone who has a golden tip gets a pint of lager

PS! I already know about the bad reputation of the original pump and some of the better alternatives (vacuum pump, Pierburg pump etc), but I need a quick resolution to get home on what I have right now.

[gibbo]

The fuel will gravity feed with the pump bypassed but only if the tank is more than half full ie; above the level of the carbs.
Alternatively, screw the end off the pump & have a look at the contacts, you may be able to clean them up with some emery cloth or a fine file.
Good Luck.

P.S. 100 Posts! YAY! (do I get a medal?)

[YEN_POWELL]

I pulled the pipe off the pump and plumbed it straight to the tank at the roadside a few years ago as a get me home measure. It ran fine at town speeds even with a half empty tank(95 miles done from full tank. The next day I decided to go the 50 miles to work and all seemed well until I hit the motorway.

Everytime I got above 70mph the bike would stutter and cut out and I would pull onto the hard shoulder. The bike would restart easily, only to repeat the process next time I got over 70. I had a can of spare petrol with me which I used to top the tank to keep the head of gravity up. Also I turned the fuel tap onto reserve as that pulls fuel from a little lower in the tank (just a theory and probably makes no difference though).

[robelst]

Thank you all for your advice! I have a day left for experimenting, see what goes best. I have a map with fuel stations for my 260 miles trip back, will do motorway at "sight-seeing-speed". If I'll have the same wind in my back as I had against yesterday it should work out well.
Ta,
Robert!

[YEN_POWELL]

Petrol defintely available on A12 at Marks Tey exit (A120 to Braintree), petrol station is 2nd exit from roundabout(Straight ahead really). Left out of petrol station puts you back on A12 toward Chelmsford London, M25 etc).

Witham Exit(B1389) petrol/services. That is the extent of my local knowledge.

[robelst]

Well, I made it back last night

I bought a 5 litres petrol jerry-can "just-in-case" that I carried in one of the throw-over bags (simply not wanted to think about what could happen if I'd drop the bike on that side )

By-passing the fuel-pump made things even worse (cutting out at 60 mph after only 50 miles drive), which gave me the idea the pump was still working a "little bit". Then I discovered I could "tap" it back to life by knocking on the top-cover, a bit like our old television at home. Taking the cover off and cleaning contacts did not help (amazing btw how many mechanical bits are in there ). In the end, I put the pump back in the circuit, I put a heavvy nut at the end of my little finger(!), checking the pump every five minutes or so and hammering it back into action when needed, without having to stop. I could even afford a "blazing" 65-70 mph, stopping every 80 miles to top-up, so wasn't half as bad as I feared.

I don't know if all fuel-pumps die in the same way, otherwise the tap-solution could be one for the FAQ / tips archive? (never leave home without a nut around your litte finger ).

Thanks for your quick responses. I am going to look for a better alternative, probably the Pierburg or a vaccuum driven one.

[YEN_POWELL]

I've had a vacuum pump from Africa Queens (Mikuni) fitted for the last 20,000 miles and it's been fine so far. Cost about £50 I think. I had it a year before fitting as I was waiting for my second Honda fuel pump to break first (waste not want not etc).

[Lord Stig]

I may have to order one of those as mine is on its way out. I remember hearing that several car pumps fit. Has anyone tried this and does anyone have the part numbers? Got to be cheaper I would have thought.