Hi Guys, I have just purchased 1999 883 Sportster, that had been laid up for ten years plus,
I have drained all oils and refilled, fitted new brake pipes and fluid, new battery, drained and cleaned the tank and filter, refitted the tank now I can't get fuel to flow out of the tank, if i sqiurt some fuel in the carb and press the starter it runs for about 15/20 seconds thats all, iv'e dropped the float chamber off and cleaned it out, how do I get fuel to flow out of the tank ?

 

there is a vacuum line that runs from the carb to the back of the petcock … if that line is cracked or missing you won't get any fuel

 

Thanks I'll check that one in the morning , so if I fit a pipe on it and suck fuel should flow , I take it the carb crates a vacuum then as soon as I hit the starter ,

 

the vacuum opens a diaphragm in the stock petcock that allows the fuel to flow … no vacuum, no fuel … it's something like a 1/4 rubber hose

 

Hi thanks for helping me out, I've put a new pipe on the vac side of the fuel tap , and sucked and sucked , I can't get a vacuum or fuel to flow , so could the tap be at fault ? If I suck or blow on the pipe to the carb there is no resistances and I can hear the air flowing, can I change this to a manual system , with no vacuum, so I just have to turn the fuel on and off myself

 

you can replace the stock petcock with an aftermarket one … Pingel comes highly recommended

 

I second the Pingel idea. I run one on my FXR and it's is so nice compared to the stock type.

 

Sorted, I removed my fuel tap stripped it, removed all the vac bits, made a rubber gasket , fitted it between the fuel tap and the back part of the old tap ( the bit with the vac pipe on) , and now the tap works like a gravity feed unit, sealed off the old vac pipe from the carb, pressed the start button and the beast fired up, and all this work to keep the original look

Freedomrider many thanks for you input ,

 

There's also a rubber diaphram in the carb.

 

Yes the carbs been off a couple times , the first time it was like golden syrup in the float bowl, the bike has been laid up for 15 yrs ish I think since 1999 , it has 1802 miles on the clock, not run in yet I need to get its mot booked , then find a set of pipes next