hornet fuel light fubar'd?

Motorcycling
1

just wondering (hoping) that the fuel light on the 04 hornets (or mine in particular) is rubbish?

bike just died by the shepherds bush roundabout (was sluggish for about half a mile before). light came on just before this journey and have done a couple of miles max. main trip got cleared as battery died on friday whilst i was sat with the lights on for 5 mins so not sure what i’ve covered since last fill up.

left the reserve tap open assuming assuming i’d just fill up as normal when the light came on. bad plan then?

have to go rescue her from the bike bay shortly so if there’s anything else i should look for let me know

ta

2

I had an SV1000 with a fuel warning light and no reserve tap - which I really resented - I’d much rather have the reserve tap (closed) :wink: and not have to trust electronics.

3

my r1 has a seperate trip for time spent on reserve which is spot on.

picked up fuel and got the bike running on idle only for it to die again. couldn’t seem to get her running again even with the jump leads (altho didn’t want to overdo the starter motor action in case i made the problem worse)

got the AA out. turns out the battery is shagged. barely taking 2amps so whilst it was idling it prob just ran out of juice. anyway, new battery should sort, and will rely on the reserve tap and trip from now on

4

Yeah - best to avoid running it too low to avoid the crap that can collect in the bottom of the tank getting into the carbs/injectors.

5

is there any easy way to tell if this has happened?

6

Only by stripping it down.

Use the reserve mate but remember to turn it off everytime you fill up.

7

Unless you’ve obviously got a fuelling problem your carbs are probably ok.

I’ve heard people recommending adding redex to the fuel to clean carbs injectors if you think you do have a problem with gunked carbs/injectors.

Haven’t used it myself so can’t recommend/dis-recommend it.

8

ran the bike this morning and no obvious issues. having said that, didn’t do any real high speed/high revs.

picked up the new battery which is on charge. the service guys at honda chiswick haven’t heard much in the way of issues with the fuel light.

anyone have a link to a user handbook pdf?

9

I wouldn’t specifically worry about dirt getting drawn through to the carbs/injectors. All bikes have inline filters in the fueling system which will catch any dirt that may be present.:slight_smile:

10

I’ve never heard of problems with the reserve light either and I’ve never seen a question about it on the Hornets Nest Forum. I’ve run to 30 miles on reserve after my light has illuminated on my 04 Hornet. But now you have a decent battery you can use the trips to see how you are doing on, Fill up after 120 miles and you will be fine. As I said It will go to about 150 miles if necessary (if you are gentle).

11

Could be a dodgy fuel level sensor

12

Can’t say my riding is gentle and it’s all urban so will defo be looking at the lower number :wink:

13

Had fuel tap set to off and ran against it this morning shortly after setting off so tap on again to reserve.

Went and fueled up (after 8 miles) and it only took 10L to full? It’s a 17L tank? Reserve can’t be 7L surely?

Something else going on with the fuel feed?

14

“Had fuel tap set to off and ran against it this morning”

Mine only runs for about 3/4’s of a mile with the just the fuel in the bowls. So you did well there:)
Why don’t you ask this question on the Hornets Nest? That is the font of ALL knowledge about the Hornet.

15

hi mate… got an 05 so cant be of much help in terms of reserv tap (i dont have one). i know that most fuel lights on bikes are crap and i dont trust them,

I just zero the Trip A everytime i fuel up and know got about 120miles - i can do more but then i start panicking.

as for the PDF I got one. pm me your email and ill email it too you :wink:

as for the rest as Huckero said post on the nest :wink: (if you havent)

16

Sounds like you ran out of electricity, not fuel. First thing to look at with a honda is the regulator/rectifier. My Firestorm now has an Electrex one on it, no worries since. Your battery was probably OK too, just needed charging.