Very embarrassing questsion...

[dwarf8]

Everybody please start laughing now and get it out of your system...
Done?

Okay, here's my embarassing question.

Does my 1980 GS850G have a reserve or is the red zone on the guage my reserve?

I was too chicken to test because I'd hate to have to push the old darling five miles, in the rain, up hill, against a head wind 'cause you KNOW that's when I'd find my answer!
I figure I can save myself all that and ask the experts.

Okay, restart laughter

[chuckycheese]

Reserve

No, I'm afraid you've got the same crappy petcock that came with all of the 1980 models. The reason they are so small is because, on the '80 models, there was very little clearance and a larger petcock wouldn't fit. By the way, 1980 was the only year that particular petcock was used. If you're interested, a Pingel will fit.......

[80gs1000e]

I hate my petcock not having a reserve. I really have to keep an eye on the mileage. No wonder they ditched them.

[Anonymous]

I was wondering the same thing about my 82 850 GL. I've been afraid to test it for the same reasons dwarf8 has. Just how much gas is my tank supposed to hold?

[Wingnut]

I can't speak for your 1980, but my 82 GS850G sounds the same. When full, the gauge reads full. I have run my gauge down to the bottom of the red zone, empty on the gauge, about 175 miles, and the bike is still running on main fuel. At that point refills only take 3.5 gallons into a 6 gallon tank. As the bike is new to me, I haven't figured out how much fuel is main and how much is reserve yet. I am thinking of going into the tank to bend the float arm to make this gauge a little more usefull. If empty on the gauge corresponded with the begining of reserve that would be good, but it doesn't now. When I first saw the gauge I thought the red zone would be the reserve but it isn't on mine.

[focus frenzy]

Re: Reserve

No, I'm afraid you've got the same crappy petcock that came with all of the 1980 models. The reason they are so small is because, on the '80 models, there was very little clearance and a larger petcock wouldn't fit. By the way, 1980 was the only year that particular petcock was used. If you're interested, a Pingel will fit.......

strange?? my 80 1000g has a nice large clearly marked "fuel valve"
lever foward is reserve, down is main, and pointed back is prime.

[wrench]

Re: Reserve

No, I'm afraid you've got the same crappy petcock that came with all of the 1980 models. The reason they are so small is because, on the '80 models, there was very little clearance and a larger petcock wouldn't fit. By the way, 1980 was the only year that particular petcock was used. If you're interested, a Pingel will fit.......

strange?? my 80 1000g has a nice large clearly marked "fuel valve"
lever foward is reserve, down is main, and pointed back is prime.

Same as mine Leon

[Anonymous]

Mine is the same as Leon's and John's as well only it leaks in any position but main 8O By the way thanks for the headlight info Leon.
Mark

[Anonymous]

Both of my 82 GL's need to switch to reserve at the top of the red zone on the guage. I usually fill the tank at that time and it usually takes three gallons. The tank is supposed to hold 4.5 gallons, which means the reserve is about a gallon and a half.

[chuckycheese]

OOOOPS!

OOOOOPS! I was wrong about that...it looks like both the GS1000G and the GS1100G came with different petcocks than the other models. The GS1100ST was built with both (one or the other) but the GS1000ST has the crummy one. :roll: (This refers ONLY to 1980 models)

Also, Wingnut mentioned bending the sending unit float arm in order to make it more accurate. I've thought of doing that, too, because mine behaves exactly the same way. Has anyone ever done this?? It seems like it would work pretty well.

[Anonymous]

Thank you Karl. That ansers my question without me getting stuck somewhere running out the tank.

[Anonymous]

if you have a fuel gauge and a vacuum petcock you may or may not have reserve. mostly likely not though. thats only according to what I have read previosly though.