| Author | Message | ||
     Dr_greg |
I'm nearing 50,000 miles on my '06 Uly, and I'm thinking of likely failure points. I carry a spare belt, of course, but what about the fuel pump? I know of at least one Uly owner who was stranded by it. How long are these pumps likely to last? Would it be prudent to carry one as one's mileage passes 50K? | ||
| Metalstorm |
The one thing to watch out for is chaffed wires on the pump inside the frame. If it ever runs continuously after turning the key on instead of turning off after 5 seconds that is a great sign that one of the wires is chaffed. It will continue to work in this state until the second wire gets chaffed causing a ground to 12 volt resulting in ign fuse blowing immediately upon turning the key on. Other than that I have no knowledge of any fuel pump failures. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Mine was replaced at 1,000 miles. No problems since. | ||
| Jlnance |
Dr Greg, I had the chaffed wire issue recently. The mechanic at the dealer removed the pump and repaired the wires. Look at this thread for more info: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/384 2/356435.html?1212537863 The pump is $360. That's kind of steep for a "just in case" part, at least for me. If you're worried about it, you might want to drop the pump and slip some heat shrink around the chafe point on the wires. | ||
| Jlnance |
How long are these pumps likely to last? Would it be prudent to carry one as one's mileage passes 50K? I don't know. They seem to last for a long time in cars. Lots of the stuff on our bike cross references to automotive parts, I'd guess the fuel pump does too. Replacing the pump involves removing the swing arm, and of course draining the fuel. I'm told it's not too difficult, but I bet it would be a bitch on the side of the road. Rather than carry one, you might just replace the one you have. Again, that assumes there is reason to believe that 50k is nearing the end of it's life. I don't know that it is. | ||
| Mr2shim |
50k on an 06. Jesus. I thought I was racking up more miles than I should be on my 03. I'm almost at 15k now. Bought it in Jan with 9k (Message edited by mr2shim on June 16, 2008) | ||
| Xb9 |
I've got a couple of used pumps for sale... | ||
| Mmcn49 |
Most automobile fuel pumps should be good for 140-150K, maybe more. Automotive shops that work on EFI systems will tell you that after about 125K you're on borrowed time. | ||
| Dr_greg |
I had the chaffed wire issue recently. The mechanic at the dealer removed the pump and repaired the wires. Look at this thread for more info: Thanks for the reminder; I've been meaning to pull my pump and check for this problem. Maybe this weekend. The pump is $360.  Well, that answers my question! I'm not spending that for a "spare!" Thanks for the "price check." The fuel pump (in fact, the entire bike) is still working like it was new; I'm not going to change anything. Er, except check the FP wiring...  | ||
| Azxb9r |
Fuel pump life varies. Automotive fuel pumps are generally good for any where from 50k-150k, but I have seen many fail in less than 10k, while others have lasted over 200k. If you want an idea of your pumps condition, you can start by testing pressure and volume. When a pump starts to go bad, the first thing to go is volume. I have seen many fuel pumps that were capable of creating the specified amount of pressure, but had driveability problems because they were unable to produce enough volume. Another thing you can check is the amperage draw of the pump. As the pump wears, the amperage draw will go down. You will need to know how much amperage a good pump draws to make the comparison. Keep in mind that you will have different numbers for different applications. If you (or someone you know) has access to a DSO and a low amp clamp, you can look at the scope pattern of the pump, and see how it looks. Most auto pumps will draw about 6A, some high pressure pumps(like the one used by GM in their Vortec engines) will draw around 8A, and lower pressure systems will draw less. I am going to be riding my Firebolt to work tomorrow, if I can remember, I will see what mine draws. At 12k, with no performance problems, I believe that my pump should be a "known good unit". |
