Marauder won't start, no fuel

I have a 98 800 cc maurader that just started shutting down last night
like it was out of gas right after I filled the tank. It started
sputtering, front cylinder shut down then the rear. I let it sit for
about 1/2 hour and it started up and ran fine on a 4 mile test drive.
Then started it up to drive to work this morning and it did the same
thing after about 1/2 mile. Started sputtering and shut down like it
was out of gas. It would start and run for a few seconds if I didn't
give it any throttle. Had to push that sucker about 1 mile to get it
home.
Anyway I drained the tank and the gas looks good, air filters are
spotless, (bike only has 3,900 miles on it. I am suspecting the fuel
pump. Does anyone know how to test one or if it's possible. I found a
new pump is $198. so I need to make sure that's it first. When I turn
the engine over I cannot feel any suction or vibration from the pump
to
make me believe it's working. My multi meter says I am getting power to
the connector.
Any ideas?

Thanks,
Brian

 

Typically, one tests a fuel pump by directing the output of the pump
into a container and running the pump for a specified period of time,
then measuring the output. The factory service manual should have the
test in it, I'd think.

--
Later,
John



'indiana' is a 'nolnn' and 'hoosier' is a 'solkk'. Indiana doesn't solkk.

 

I looked at the parts diagrams on www.partsfish.com and I see that
there is a fuel pump relay in the circuit.

Fuel pump relays are usually just simple devices that have a control
circuit and power contacts to carry the heavier current that the
engineer didn't want going through the ignition switch.

More complicated fuel pump control relays have timers or they have to
get a "run" signal from the engine control unit telling them that the
engine is running (or being cranked by the starter).

You probably hear the fuel pump relay click when you first turn the
ignition key on and you say you have power to the pump.

Is the pump a rotary type that goes "whirrrr", or is it a solenoid type
that goes "clickety click?"

The solenoid type will have a set of contacts inside that shut off
power to the solenoid when it moves, then a spring returns the solenoid
core to the original position and the
electromagnetic winding is reneergized, moving the core the the other
position, opening the contacts and on and on and on.

Some pumps have a removable cap where you can get at the contacts and
clean them.

The rotary type fuel pump would have brushes inside and an electrical
armature. Sometimes brushes wear out, or the commutator on the armature
gets dirty.

How about a fuel filter? Is there a fuel filter on the intake or outlet
side of the pump?

I was having a fuel starvation problem with my pickup truck, which has
a solenoid type fuel pump. I thought the original fuel filter was clean
enough, but when I blew back through the fuel hose into the gas tank,
it cleaned the filter well enough that the starvation proble went away.

 

I'd try the coil and the fuel pump (maybe the fuel filter) sometimes in
these days of shortages the gas is so old it is ready to be thrown
away. If gas stinks like gas, it's older than me.

 

Thanks for all the help guys.
This bike has a fuel filter in at the tank outlet and on built onto the
fuel pump. The one at the tank outlet is clean because I got an
excellent flow of fuel through it while running the fuel out of the
tank. I am thinking it's the fuel pump/filter because I disconnected it
from the fuel system, filled the filter with fuel then tried to start
the bike. While cranking the bike I held the pump and could not feel
any vibration like it was running nor did I get any fuel flow from the
outlet. There are four wires going to the pump. one hot, 1 ground and
not really sure what the other two are for. I also used my dmm and do
have voltage to the pump however if the relay is built onto the end of
the fuel filter/pump that could be my problem. I'll tear it down to see
what it looks like. I'll also trace the wirs and see if they go to a
seperate relay.

Thanks again for all the help and suggestions.
Brian