Faulty Reserve Switch

[Squirelly666]

Hi All,

This afternoon I bought myself an FZR400RR (3TJ) and on the way home I ran out of petrol on it. So I switched the fuel switch to the reserve position (as you would, it was already on the On setting) and tried to start it up again. Nothing..

Open tank cap, rock the bike, tank is bone dry!! Get a can of petrol (luckily friend of mine had come with me to pick the bike up) and hey presto it's running again. So (after trying to do some digging around this evening) I now have a couple of questions.

Does the FZR400RR have a reserve? What is this I've read about running on two cylinders when the reserve switch is activated, surely that can't be correct?

If it does have a reserve, how would I go about working out why mine isn't working? Does the switch activate some sort of pully on an old fashioned fuel tap somewhere below the tank (when I flick the switch to on there seeems to be some form of whirring noise from inside the fairing, but no noise is made when switching to Res)? Or is it a little more complicated than that?

Really happy with the bike, runs like a dream, and handles like nothing I've ridden in a long time. However I'm a little worried about the thing keep running out of petrol all the time. With no warning light, no reserve and my complete lack of organisation when it comes to checking if things have petrol in them or not etc. I'm likely to spend more time pushing it than riding it :D.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

[plodder]

The reserve is provided by a level sender within the tank (on-off). When below a certain level, it cuts the fuel pump unless the reserve switch is set to "reserve"

If the tank sender is disconnected then it will run dry without reserve.

If the ceramic resistor has a broken connection then I think it only runs on reserve.

If the reserve switch has a broken connection the it will always be in the ON position.

Breaks in wires are very common, so check them all.

Also check someone has not put a jumper to connect the wires on the reserve switch in lieu of repair or replacement.

Most components are common to the other FZs & FZRs of the era if you need spares and can't find (or PM me as I have lots off the FZR1000 I can sell).

[beasthonda]

I had the same problem when I bought mine.
When you turn onto reserve the fuel pump should work again to build up the fuel pressure.
Mine was just the switch the contacts were corroded so check with a meter that the switch is working.
It comes apart easy
Hope thats all it is good luck

[Evilchicken0]

If you speedo runs in Kilometers then go to a set amount before you fill up how about 160 km or if it's bee converted to miles 100

[sportspromatt]

been riding fzr 400 for about 6 or 7 years now, ran out of petrol for the first time ever a few weeks ago,
lucky a mate was at hand, and took me to a petrol station for some juice.
Not bike orientated, he asked how the hell did I run out of petrol, not knowing a guage wasnt fitted.
The switch was on reserve, couldnt believe it when i reached down to flick the (SAVE MY LIFE SWITCH) it was already on.
I was really enjoying the spin, up until then. maybe it as my hard pushing that made it thursty!

I would also judge the fuel, on the trip meter,(about 150mph) or look into it, if the level is below the raised bar inside the tank towards the front, at the bottom of the tank, then its time to panick!

How long will the reserve last, how many miles would it get you.

interesting treat, at least I know how it works and what can go wrong!

[plodder]

I had the same on my FZR1000EXUP when I bought it because the tank sender was disconnected. Never mind the featherweight 400, the 1000 is fkn heavy I can tell you

Lucky for me a Honda Pan pulled over and gave me a lift to get some juice.

Did it again on Boxing day pushing my luck on reserve. Bl00dy petrol stations all closed caused it... what they up to closing at Christmas This time an ex-EXUP owner WVM pulled over after I had built up a hell of a sweat.

Some nice peeps out there :D

[Evilchicken0]

The Bimota only has a fuel low light, but it comes on after about 75miles so you don't really know how far you can take it.
Now you'd have though I could simply go by the Trip ... but the trip jams at 58miles .... so I reset it when I fill up and wait until 50miles then reset it to fill up about 100miles ... it's either 50miles light off or 50miles light on.

Bimotas have character

[Squirelly666]

Thanks for all the info/suggestions.

I'll dig my meter out, and get the fairing off, tomorrow and see if I can find any problems with the switch/sensor etc.