Out of gas

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jan nelder said:
having dropped a paper wipe into a nearly empty Rotary tank, I thought I’d just use the vacuum cleaner to retrieve it..... it worked, followed by bang and puff of smoke as vapour went through vac, which just kept on running. If only that bike had worked as well......
Click to expand...
Maybe there’s a new engine design concept there Jan…
 
Wow! I never knew there could be so much to talk about! 80-90 miles for me, stop and fill. Has worked for years. I simply reset trip meter and know when to look for gas.

Edit: I fill on the way home after any ride as my rides have become shorter.
 
baz said:
And what happens if the breather in the filler cap becomes blocked ?
Click to expand...
Your engine dies and sputters to a stop. riding your bike creates a vacuum in time without any venting so the fuel will not gravitate to the carb/carburettors.
 
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  • Haha
Reactions: baz
CanukNortonNut said:
Your engine dies and sputters to a stop.
Click to expand...
This really happen to my friend who was at the National Rally years back. He fueled up and went to the hardware store bought a new tub rubber drain plug to replace his old one, so to stop gas leaks at the filler cap. He didn't want to wreak his paint job from gas leaks.
He didn't put a vent hole in it when he installed it!

Ran great for the first 5-10 minuets then chug chug chug to a dead stop. We have the video.
We ended up putting it on the back of a pickup truck, thinking it was a problem with the Boyer.
shit happens.

T
 
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JimNH said:
Wow! I never knew there could be so much to talk about! 80-90 miles for me, stop and fill. Has worked for years. I simply reset trip meter and know when to look for gas.

Edit: I fill on the way home after any ride as my rides have become shorter.
Click to expand...
What’s a trip meter:)
 
In my humble opinion.... a Roadster tank is good for 2 hours riding.... that is to be safe with out getting off, and pushing your bike if you are alone.
"You" are looking for a gas station soon after that 2 hr+. time line.
This can vary some, with gear box sprockets, 19 or 21 makes a difference.
It changes your rev's during the time on road.
In addition on how hard you ride, influences the fuel usage .
Interstate tanks are Bowsers.
We have refueled out of gas bikes with these tanks in my travels.
Cheers,
Tom
 
This is a tough crowd to modernize.
Someone is trying to nudge us forward to 1920 auto standards and we just won't go, there's no need to change a thing!

" in 1917, John Gilbert Collison invented the dashboard gas gauge and took the idea to General Motors Co. in 1920. It was universally adopted, and now serves a very useful purpose."
 
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CanukNortonNut said:
In my humble opinion.... a Roadster tank is good for 2 hours riding.... that is to be safe with out getting off, and pushing your bike if you are alone.
"You" are looking for a gas station soon after that 2 hr+. time line.
This can vary some, with gear box sprockets, 19 or 21 makes a difference.
It changes your rev's during the time on road.
In addition on how hard you ride, influences the fuel usage .
Interstate tanks are Bowsers.
We have refueled out of gas bikes with these tanks in my travels.
Cheers,
Tom
Click to expand...
Tom
What does Bowsers mean?
Thanks
Mike
 
CanukNortonNut said:
In my humble opinion.... a Roadster tank is good for 2 hours riding.... that is to be safe with out getting off, and pushing your bike if you are alone.
"You" are looking for a gas station soon after that 2 hr+. time line.
This can vary some, with gear box sprockets, 19 or 21 makes a difference.
It changes your rev's during the time on road.
In addition on how hard you ride, influences the fuel usage .
Interstate tanks are Bowsers.
We have refueled out of gas bikes with these tanks in my travels.
Cheers,
Tom
Click to expand...
People of my age should not ride for two hours with out getting off. What happens when you pull in for gas and you can't get your foot off the peg onto the ground?.... fortunately the pump was in reach to grab onto.
 
worntorn said:
This is a tough crowd to modernize.
Someone is trying to nudge us forward to 1920 auto standards and we just won't go, there's no need to change a thing!

" in 1917, John Gilbert Collison invented the dashboard gas gauge and took the idea to General Motors Co. in 1920. It was universally adopted, and now serves a very useful purpose."
Click to expand...
Mind you, can't think of many cars with the fuel tank stuck in your crotch, or the fuel cap under your beak.... Willing to be educated, though :-)
 
worntorn said:
This is a tough crowd to modernize.
Someone is trying to nudge us forward to 1920 auto standards and we just won't go, there's no need to change a thing!

More like a respect for elders that don’t need “modernization”. Elderly Commandos that is.
Click to expand...
 
YING said:
Tom
What does Bowsers mean?
Thanks
Mike
Click to expand...
A Brit saying for a large fuel truck same as what they use at airports for re-fueling.
The original movie, Battle of Britain; starring Christopher Plummer, Michael Caine, at the very beginning of the film, leaving France used that term.
"Get that bowser out of here, we'll go with what we got."
Great movie by the way.
Cheers,
Tom
 
CanukNortonNut said:
A Brit saying for a large fuel truck same as what they use at airports for re-fueling.
Click to expand...

...Although the name originates from early US petrol/gasolene pumps made by S. F. Bowser and Company in Fort Wayne, Indiana, also manufactured in the UK.

americanhistory.si.edu

Bowser Gasoline Pump

S. F. Bowser and Company in Fort Wayne, Indiana made this example of an early style of gas pump in 1916. The pump is operated by a hand crank using a rack…
americanhistory.si.edu americanhistory.si.edu
www.bonhams.com

Bonhams Cars : An early English-made Bowser skeleton hand-operated petrol pump,

restored in Shell livery, fitted with Shell "When You Think Of Speed Think Of Shell Motor Spirit" brand plate, Shellmex Guaranteed 1/4d price plate and a Shell transfer to the pump cylinder, polished steel pump lifting rack, working rack stop bar for delivering 1 pint, ½ gallon or 1 gallon...
www.bonhams.com www.bonhams.com

en.wikipedia.org

Sylvanus Bowser - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
"Sylvanus Freelove Bowser (August 8, 1854 – October 3, 1938) was an American inventor who is widely credited with inventing the automobile fuel pump. Bowser Avenue in his hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana is named after him."
 
L.A.B. said:
...Although the name originates from early US petrol/gasolene pumps made by S. F. Bowser and Company in Fort Wayne, Indiana, also manufactured in the UK.

americanhistory.si.edu

Bowser Gasoline Pump

S. F. Bowser and Company in Fort Wayne, Indiana made this example of an early style of gas pump in 1916. The pump is operated by a hand crank using a rack…
americanhistory.si.edu americanhistory.si.edu
www.bonhams.com

Bonhams Cars : An early English-made Bowser skeleton hand-operated petrol pump,

restored in Shell livery, fitted with Shell "When You Think Of Speed Think Of Shell Motor Spirit" brand plate, Shellmex Guaranteed 1/4d price plate and a Shell transfer to the pump cylinder, polished steel pump lifting rack, working rack stop bar for delivering 1 pint, ½ gallon or 1 gallon...
www.bonhams.com www.bonhams.com

en.wikipedia.org

Sylvanus Bowser - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
"Sylvanus Freelove Bowser (August 8, 1854 – October 3, 1938) was an American inventor who is widely credited with inventing the automobile fuel pump. Bowser Avenue in his hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana is named after him."
Click to expand...
So it is kind of like how Xerox became synonymous for photocopying, hoover for vacuuming, Klennex for wiping your nose.
 
CanukNortonNut said:
A Brit saying for a large fuel truck same as what they use at airports for re-fueling.
The original movie, Battle of Britain; starring Christopher Plummer, Michael Caine, at the very beginning of the film, leaving France used that term.
"Get that bowser out of here, we'll go with what we got."
Great movie by the way.
Cheers,
Tom
Click to expand...
That is exactly how I first encountered the term.
 
My old 99 is so economical i regularly forget to check the fuel ,can do over 300 miles on a standard slimline tank full. But that is when running on proper E0 gasoline , not the current E10 crap.
 
CanukNortonNut said:
In my humble opinion.... a Roadster tank is good for 2 hours riding.... that is to be safe with out getting off, and pushing your bike if you are alone.
"You" are looking for a gas station soon after that 2 hr+. time line.
This can vary some, with gear box sprockets, 19 or 21 makes a difference.
It changes your rev's during the time on road.
In addition on how hard you ride, influences the fuel usage .
Interstate tanks are Bowsers.
We have refueled out of gas bikes with these tanks in my travels.
Cheers,
Tom
Click to expand...
I can drain mine in ONE hour.
Done it multiple times.
If you chuffing along 50-60mph, 120 miles, no problem.
80-85mph, then 80 miles to empty.

JMWO
 
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