07 Sportster Fuel Injection & Running Tank Dry - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

NA7A · 09-02-2007, 06:56 AM

Has anyone done this yet? Were there any issues to getting it started after filling the tank? Hearing lots of negative rumors so I always fill up tank when low fuel light comes on even though I still have a little over a gallon in reserve.

Most guys are getting about 200 miles on the 4.5 gallon tank Sportster. Low fuel light comes on at about 140 miles (about 3 gallons).

palanon · 09-02-2007, 07:40 AM

Now that's a good question. I don't own any FI bikes. It's not good for a car or truck with FI to run them real low or out of gas completely.

**Clint** · 09-02-2007, 10:43 AM

There are no real issues. You wouldn't want to make the fuel pump run for any length of time dry, but otherwise it's no big deal.

Except for the fact that you ran out of gas.

NA7A · 09-04-2007, 02:34 PM

Ok, I was just wondering if anyone has done it yet and could tell me their experience with getting it started again after filling up.

We had a FI deisel moving truck once that ran out of fuel and it was hell to get it primed back and running. Took us over 3 hours to do that.

eb77k · 09-05-2007, 11:54 AM

It won't take 3 hours unless the gas station is a long way off. Rowdy is right, you don't want the fuel pump running with no gas going through it, they will definitely charge you for a new fuel pump.

NA7A · 09-06-2007, 12:04 AM

I bet that would not be cheap!!!

Copronymous · 09-06-2007, 09:05 AM

Restarting an FI bike won't be a big problem. Once the pump primes the line, it should start right up.

DrBob · 09-06-2007, 10:17 AM

Been there, done that on a FI Harley. Add gas, turn on the key, let the fuel pump run for a few seconds to fill the lines and pressurize the system, fire her back up. Diesels are a whole different animal, especially older-style commercial ones with mechanical rather than electronic injection, so you have to bleed the air out of the lines and prime tham to get them fired back up.

NA7A · 09-06-2007, 05:50 PM

Hey Cop and DrBob, thanks for the info....I guess I feel a lot better now if I did ever run out of gas. That makes since DrBob about turning on the key to the start position and flip the on switch (but not the starter) and let the fuel pump prime the lines.

GregR1 · 09-06-2007, 06:07 PM

difference between cars and bikes is that in a car / truck, the pump has to suck the fuel UP, whereas in the bike the pump is usually below the tank so gravity helps to feed it.

in either case - car or bike - the fuel pump primes the system when you turn the ignition on (unless you've got an ancient mechanical fuel pump, but as far as i know that's only on carb engines)

NA7A · 09-06-2007, 11:55 PM

Good to know Greg, thanks for your input.

09-02-2007, 06:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
NA7A Clunked into first gear Joined: Sep 2005 Bike: 07 HD Sportster 1200C, 05 Suzuki M50 (sold) Location: Oregon Posts: 220	07 Sportster Fuel Injection & Running Tank Dry Has anyone done this yet? Were there any issues to getting it started after filling the tank? Hearing lots of negative rumors so I always fill up tank when low fuel light comes on even though I still have a little over a gallon in reserve. Most guys are getting about 200 miles on the 4.5 gallon tank Sportster. Low fuel light comes on at about 140 miles (about 3 gallons).

09-02-2007, 07:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
palanon No Significant Other Joined: Apr 2006 Bike: 2003 Bandit 1200S Location: Newmarket, NH Posts: 2,307	Now that's a good question. I don't own any FI bikes. It's not good for a car or truck with FI to run them real low or out of gas completely. __________________ " In the name of the Speedo, the Tach and the Holy Throttle, amen. "

09-05-2007, 11:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
eb77k Found second gear by accident Joined: Mar 2007 Bike: I'm lucky, I've got alot Location: minnesota Posts: 327	It won't take 3 hours unless the gas station is a long way off. Rowdy is right, you don't want the fuel pump running with no gas going through it, they will definitely charge you for a new fuel pump. __________________ MOTO GUZZI loud valves save lives

09-06-2007, 10:17 AM	#8 (permalink)
DrBob In The Zone Joined: May 2004 Bike: several Location: Decatur, GA Posts: 2,517	Been there, done that on a FI Harley. Add gas, turn on the key, let the fuel pump run for a few seconds to fill the lines and pressurize the system, fire her back up. Diesels are a whole different animal, especially older-style commercial ones with mechanical rather than electronic injection, so you have to bleed the air out of the lines and prime tham to get them fired back up. __________________ Dream like you'll live forever, live like you'll die tomorrow. You MUST obey the pug dog!

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09-04-2007, 02:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
NA7A Clunked into first gear Joined: Sep 2005 Bike: 07 HD Sportster 1200C, 05 Suzuki M50 (sold) Location: Oregon Posts: 220	Ok, I was just wondering if anyone has done it yet and could tell me their experience with getting it started again after filling up. We had a FI deisel moving truck once that ran out of fuel and it was hell to get it primed back and running. Took us over 3 hours to do that.

09-06-2007, 12:04 AM	#6 (permalink)
NA7A Clunked into first gear Joined: Sep 2005 Bike: 07 HD Sportster 1200C, 05 Suzuki M50 (sold) Location: Oregon Posts: 220	I bet that would not be cheap!!!

09-06-2007, 09:05 AM	#7 (permalink)
Copronymous Found second gear by accident Joined: Jul 2007 Bike: 2007 M50 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 345	Restarting an FI bike won't be a big problem. Once the pump primes the line, it should start right up.

09-06-2007, 05:50 PM	#9 (permalink)
NA7A Clunked into first gear Joined: Sep 2005 Bike: 07 HD Sportster 1200C, 05 Suzuki M50 (sold) Location: Oregon Posts: 220	Hey Cop and DrBob, thanks for the info....I guess I feel a lot better now if I did ever run out of gas. That makes since DrBob about turning on the key to the start position and flip the on switch (but not the starter) and let the fuel pump prime the lines.

09-06-2007, 06:07 PM	#10 (permalink)
GregR1 ... Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,308	difference between cars and bikes is that in a car / truck, the pump has to suck the fuel UP, whereas in the bike the pump is usually below the tank so gravity helps to feed it. in either case - car or bike - the fuel pump primes the system when you turn the ignition on (unless you've got an ancient mechanical fuel pump, but as far as i know that's only on carb engines)

09-06-2007, 11:55 PM	#11 (permalink)
NA7A Clunked into first gear Joined: Sep 2005 Bike: 07 HD Sportster 1200C, 05 Suzuki M50 (sold) Location: Oregon Posts: 220	Good to know Greg, thanks for your input.

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