Finally Got Me

[MikeWa]

So I had a chance to check out the original pump. It seems one of the contacts came off of the point set. So it was the points as suspected. Also this says a lot for the original poor quality.

 

In doing all of this I was bothered by some earlier posts claiming these replacement pumps didn't have a check valve like the original. Making drain through the pump and hydro locking the engine more probable. Very scary. Then I got thinking about it. In a car the check valve in an electric pump is to keep the fuel from back draining out of the carb/ injectors into the tank. The set up on our bikes is the opposite. The tank is above the carbs. Draining from our tank into the carbs is in the direction of fuel flow through the pump. If there were a check valve the pump couldn't push fuel into the engine. So I don't see how this would work. Perhaps an electric check valve? I don't think so.

 

As a test I connected a cup of fuel to the inlet of the original factory pump. (The direction fuel would have to flow to get to the engine). When I poured the fuel it flowed straight through. No check valve to save the engine. Nada. There are a few things that can prevent hydro lock. First the float and needle valve block the fuel from entering. If you have a sticky float fix it right away. Second if the pump diaphram happen to stop in the right place flow through the pump can be inhibited. Most important the petcock. When not riding the bike 'turn it off'. OK here is a hint. Turn the petcock off when not riding the bike. Should I say it again? I don't have a diagram of our carburetors so I don't know if a seeping needle valve would cause fuel to go out the vent and down the side of the engine or not. Someday I will look into that.

 

Mike

Edited April 6, 2016 by MikeWa

[Condor]

Condor There are a couple of different pumps available. One has 10mm inlet and outlet pipes the other has 8mm. The one you need is the 8mm. The spec on the link I attached is 8mm.

 

Mike

 

A couple of years ago that wasn't the case. The only pump offered on eBay was described to fit the Venture, and it had 10mm bibs. I'm glad to see they've ironed out the problem. Now if they hold up over time they'll be a winner?? One thing for sure they are a heck of a lot cheaper at $13 bucks. The one I picked up ran $34, which was still a bargain over OEM. I wonder if they have a shut off in them??