Suzuki V-Strom (VStrom) Owners Club DL250, DL650, DL1000 & DL1050
V-Strom specific discussion => V-Strom specific discussion => Topic started by: mjc506 on July 05, 2013, 07:34:58
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This incredibly long and technical post should hopefully show you how to test your fuel pump for adequate flow :) you may wish to do this if your bike bogs under WOT conditions, fails to start (ie, is there any fuel flow at all?), or if you just need to empty the tank and don't want to syphon it out :shy:
I'm assuming that you've removed the plastics and lifted the tank. You will also need a 12v power supply (ie, your battery) and two leads long enough to reach from it to the fuel pump connection. A stop watch or wall clock with second hand is kind of useful, as is a measuring jug/old clear (clean) container - a jam jar works OK here. You will also need a flexible hose to connect to your fuel tank. I used the fuel delivery tube (I unclipped it from the throttle bodies) but it may not be accessible on an assembled bike. You could use the overflow/water/crap tube that runs from the RHS of the tank and drains by the RHS footpeg - pull it out of the bike in this case.
The following pictures show the tank completely off the bike, and mine is in a state of... disassembly. This procedure is easier while the tank is on the bike. Also make sure you have at least one 'blob' of fuel!
Step 1) Remove plastics, and lift the tank. Detach the fuel delivery hose and fuel pump connection. Mop up any fuel that drips out.
Step 2) Measure out 168ml and mark it on your collection jug/jam jar. The fuel pump should pump this much liquid in 10 seconds.
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-TPW631w-zCk/UdWut5GhNjI/AAAAAAAACLU/oJnDDZ0tLsA/w993-h745-no/IMG_20130704_181616.jpg)
Step 3) Make sure the collection jug is completely dry and clean (assuming you want to reuse the fuel)
Step 4) Set up! Connect your hose to the fuel tank discharge port, and hang the other end in your jug. Connect your leads (crocodile clips are easiest) to the fuel pump connector - -ve to black/white, and +ve to yellow/red. Connect the other end of the negative lead to the black terminal on your battery.
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-oL88MgbEMP0/UdW2W1HEmXI/AAAAAAAACLs/FZn0efMh3os/w993-h745-no/IMG_20130704_182402.jpg)
Please bear in mind that you're playing with fuel and electricity - don't short anything out, or you get a nice combination of fuel and heat...
Step 5) Make sure you can see your clock/stopwatch. Hold the +ve lead to the +ve battery terminal, and hold it there for 10 seconds (don't worry too much about split second accuracy - if you're borderline enough for it to make a difference, you probably have problems)
Step 6) Be happy - the fuel pump has pumped more than the minimum required :)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-W3q9ad4QZpk/UdW2eSMiLMI/AAAAAAAACME/AsJoE3mwevw/w993-h745-no/IMG_20130704_182802.jpg)
Step 6 (alt) Be sad - the fuel pump hasn't pumped more than the minimum required :bawl: You'll need to perform the external fuel filter mod at best.
Step 7) Clean up, and reassemble the bike :)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-nFX0baepj1Q/UdXS3kEWB6I/AAAAAAAACM0/8B6SvZPvYrY/w559-h745-no/IMG_20130704_202735.jpg)
oh, ermmm
:fix:
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Hi fellas
OK, fuel flow rate test run. Good news & bad news...
1) 168ml in 10secs - approx OK.
2) The "petrol" that ended up in the jam jars was disgusting! Yellow, cloudy & rust particles...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/donline/sets/72157634927905602/
I think the filter will need changing - it's going to look nasty coz this "fuel" is from the "clean" side!!!
Anyone have any ideas about cleaning / de-rusting the inside of petrol tanks?
:fix:
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Wow, that's rusty, my bike has done over 100k and it still looks great when I look into the fuel cap's area.
I'm no expert on getting rid of rust from fuel tanks, but I'd take it off, take the fuel pump out, throw in some ball bearings and shake them around to loosen rust inside. Then keep flushing with paraffin until you get no rust particles out any more. Then flush the paraffin with a bit of clean fuel.
After that I have no idea on how to stop rust coming back, it will need some sealant treatment. While you have the fuel pump out you can check if it just needs a clean or if you will need to bypass the filter and fit an inline one externally. I think I would add an inline filter anyway, considering what the fuel looks like when it's coming out of that tank. You don't want that getting to your injectors and they are much more of a PITA to get at.
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Just enlarged the pic and the rust in the tank looks quite bad . A lot of the sealer type chemicals used to treat rust don't mix to well with modern unleaded fuels .. I had the same problem with a old James that I restored . I used shattered toughened glass to shake inside the tank to remove most of the rust and just kept repeating and washing out . I then treated it with Petseal Ultra and its still OK 10 years on . There's better products out there these days so have a search and see what's available . Might be worth looking for a good used tank but they can cost a fair bit ..
Might be worth giving these a call .
http://www.tankcareproducts.co.uk/ (http://www.tankcareproducts.co.uk/)
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The rust is bad isn't it?
Honestly, you should have seen the fuel as it was being pumped out, cloudy & yellow, with rust particles!
That's what happens when you lay a bike up long term with no prep...
Spent ages looking up various articles, and have come to a cheap & safe option.
Some of the options sounded a bit dangerous & quite pricey.
I think this should work & has less likelihood of killing me & Suzi!
1) Remove tank, filler cap, pump/filter assy.
2) White vinegar & ball bearings. Wash, rinse, repeat - until comes out clean.
3) Nutralise acid with baking powder solution.
4) Dry tank thoroughly.
5) Wash tank out with fresh fuel.
6) WD40 blasted all round the inside.
7) Reassemble tank with new internal filter (also possibly ext filter) & bottom O ring, etc.
8) Keep the tank fairly full to avoid condensation & ride regularly (no great hardship there!).
9) Do not leave the bike in storage for 2 years (how I bought Suzi).
Some good articles:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JxBTpkgMzs
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110910082108AAvU28R
http://www.mopedarmy.com/wiki/Removing_rust_from_a_gas_tank
I like the sound of http://www.tankcareproducts.co.uk/ & might go for this once I cleaned out all the nasties from the tank.
Fingers crossed! :eusa-pray:
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Hi
Not trying to hi-jack you thread here, but I have a blue fuel tank sitting in my garage that I have been trying to sell.
It is an extended fuel tank (about 28 litres), and I thought I had sold it on Ebay, but the chap let me down.
£100 and its yours, and its near St.Albans.
It it might an option to think about.
Again apologies in going off thread slightly.
Regards
Crazyhorse
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The storage would explain it, at least you know what the reason is so no further worries :thumb: If you use a tank sealant, make sure it's ethanol proof.
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:shock: holy sh*t!
Good luck with the cleanup. I would still consider Crazyhorse's offer and get it painted, as the amount of rust in there must be staggering!
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Right! Looking better - the situation has improved drastically!
I have restripped the bike. Throttle bodies & butterfly valves - squeaky clean.
Pumped & filtered all the fuel from the tank.
Coating the inside of the tank / at the bottom - was a nasty sludgy mess.
Washed out with some petrol: almost rust free!
Removed fuel pump assy from tank - what a mess - massively gunged up.
Stripped the pump assy - horrendous! Thick brown sludge, often dry & solid.
Washed the gunge & deposits out! Cleaned out fully, temporarily rebuilt.
https://plus.google.com/photos/109105353880364617519/albums/5909429782350987777
I have got one of these on order with Haslemere M/Cs:
1542005H00 Strainer Fuel Pump Suzuki DL-650 V-Strom '07-'11.
Hopefully with me on Friday.
I may have Suzi back on the road for the weekend! :)
:auto-dirtbike:
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Shees, that looks really bad. Good thing you sorted it before it left you stranded at the side of the road :thumb:
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Holy crud! :shock:
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I'm going to stick my neck out here and say the bike will be running slightly better once it's all put back together clean. I know, bold prediction, but I'm quietly confident. ;)
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I imagine you might be right :)
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I'm certainly hoping that you're right!
:fix: = :auto-dirtbike: = :grin:
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Horray: Suzi is all well again!
Took her out for a spin Loads of SMOOTH power!
Reassembled & ready for a proper run later.
:auto-dirtbike: :ty: :grin: :thumb:
Thanks to all for their comments & suggestions!
The MAIN issue was the fuel filter in the end.
These photos don't come close to showing the amount of crapola that was gunging up the fuel system.
No wonder I was loosing power, amazing she was running at all!
https://plus.google.com/photos/109105353880364617519/albums/5909429782350987777
Some photos of my Suzi - rebuilt & ready for action in the next few hours!
https://plus.google.com/photos/109105353880364617519/albums/5906810856403648465
BTW, I have a winter project lined up:
Uberclean of the tank & then reline with 2 pack epoxy.
Comscale 650. http://www.caswelleurope.co.uk/Comscale%20650.htm
GTS1750. http://www.caswelleurope.co.uk/gastank.htm
Caswell are helpful & a pleasure to deal with.
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great, glad to hear it :)
Seems to have been a good weekend for fixing v-stroms :)