Topic: CB550 No reserve - tube must be gone?

[jakec]

When I got this bike the tank was very rusty, I cleaned it out and rebuilt the petcock with new parts. I did not take the petcock off the tank because the screws were tight, and it wasn't leaking so I let it be. I've never worked with this type before, only the reverse threaded (sane) kind.

Yesterday I ran my tank bone dry and had to walk my bike to the gas station. I'm guessing this means the reserve tube is broken or damaged. What to do? I see an OEM replacement petcock is only about $50 on cmsnl.

[BenelliSEI]

Jake...... if the petcock is the older style with a spin off style bowl/filter screen assembly, fuel runs into the TOP of the tube, when in the “ON” position. You can probably see the tube, if you peer in through the filler opening (and use a bright flashlight)? When you go on “RES” the fuel flows directly from the bottom of the tank, through a small hole at the base of the tube, that leads right to the bowl. If you’ve never removed the  petcock, it’s probably full of crud. If your petcock lever retaining plate is held on with small screws, you can take it off and blow some compressed air up the ports under the lever. It may clear it temporarily? Take the tank off and have it on your bench, petcock side up, so the small amount of fuel is in the other 1/2 of the tank, and won’t leak out.

MOST IMPORTANT, have the gas cap open when you blow in air and go easy. Small, short blasts!

[Gene]

Yeah, I would guess the same. the hole for the reserve is clogged. OTOH, a new one with a new sock filter (if it's the type I'm thinking of) is certainly worth the investment.

[jakec]

Unfortunately it is not the sock type filter (that's the much smarter reverse thread type that's on the 400F).

I didn't remove the petcock all the way but I did soak the tank and then blast it with water rinse. However I can see how the holes could get clogged. BUT: the other day I rant the tank BONE DRY which would mean I would have to be using the lower holes. When I filled up I put in 3.1 gallons (overall capacity 3.7 gallons and I never completely fill).

So this would mean that I would have to have the lower reserve holes clear, and that the pipe is either broken off or cracked neat the bottom (because I never switched the valve to reserve before I ran out of gas.

[BenelliSEI]

Have a look inside with a bright, focused flashlight. You should be able to see it is there or not.

[jakec]

Ok, I will next time I can empty the tank. At that point I will just take the petcock off and check, I think.

[carnivorous chicken]

You could also just pull the petcock -- it's not hard to do even if the screws are tight.

[Gene]

Yeah - sorry. I was thinking of my 550 petcock, a 1-year only model.