Reserve capacity

[Worty]

Just checking the fuel range of reserve on my '61 GF.  Ran out of petrol last week and had to get my dear wife to bring some out  .  I reckon 3 miles tops, and that was taking it easy.  I've got the reserve tap (no tube) on the o/s and used it today to try to use up the remainder of the fuel on a short run.  When it ran out, I took the taps off and recovered about a small plastic cup full of fuel.  It would be nice to have about 10 miles reserve at least.  All the japanese bikes I owned in the 80s seemed to be very generous.
I'm going to anticipate comments of 'don't run out' and 'top up sooner'  which is fine cos I'm not that daft.  Wondered if there was a way of increasing the range a bit or just being more careful now I now I've only go a thimbleful at my disposal.

[bsa-bill]

your getting it too far over on those bendies, sloshing it over the internal divider, slow down

[dave55]

Hi Wortluck, I did exactly same a couple of weeks ago , I see from one of your posts your not too far away from me so will know where im talking about. Just left Squires and got on the a1 when it ran out but pulled reserve on and it pulled fuel through and got me back to Asda at Castleford to fill up, didn't dare go any further .

When I got the bike the chap I got it off said reserve is on the N/S he said better that way if you run out on motorway you can take left hand off and pull reserve on while still holding throttle open  and it will pull fuel through and pick up and keep running........was I glad of those wise words when I ran out as it was very true , if yours can be changed over it may be worth you doing it ?

[muskrat]

G'day wortluck.
You need to put a longer stand pipe on the main tap. I made mine about 2" which gives me about 30 miles (a bit further between service stations down here) on reserve.
I agree with Dave, reserve on the left and easier to get the main when on the sidestand.
Cheers

[Worty]

Bloody hell, dave55, it was at Castleford Asda that I went on to reserve - wot are the chances of that happening  !! Got to the bottom of my cul-de-sac in Normanton when it ran out completely so no probs getting back. 
Like the comment bsa-bill, all too much truth I'm afraid, the GF likes to get down low enough to scrape the shoe polish off !
muskrat and dave55 have a good point about which side to locate reserve - makes sense.  I've now whipped off both taps and flushed a bit of petrol through to see how much crap has accumulated - not much actually, so may put taps back the opposite way round.  I've never really had much of a problem with reaching the o/s tap though, and I definitely don't want to end up putting reserve on thinking it's main.
dave55 - are you a member of Cas BSAOC?

As always, cheers fellas and let's see those bikes out there!

[dave55]

Wortluck, Normanton ? jeez im only down road if you get stuck for a hand not that I know owt ,... cas BSAOC , Is that the ones that meet at the Cross Keys  at Snydale ? ........or is there another either way answers no not yet but will make a trip down  in the future now the nights are too dammed dark for anything other than going down the pub or the garage.

[Worty]

Hey dave55.  Not sure about where Cas BSAOC meet but I do know the Cross Keys.  I'm not a member myself and don't have plans as such, but I may nip down sometime and check out what's going on.
I live on the 'Cornish' estate at the back of Ashgap Lane - are you in Normy or Cas?
See you on the road!

Cheers

[dave55]

Neither mate, live in Sharlston for my sins . Im hoping to go on the Ride of Rememberance from Squires on the 13th , if your going I will see you there about 9.am.

[Worty]

I know Sharlston pretty well, used to drive through every day taking my kids to school in Walton.  If you can, post a pic of your bike, it'd be nice to see it.  I may be able to get to the run but, if not, I'm sure our paths will cross at some time - being so local an' all.

Take care

[dave55]

Hi there is a pic on in my introduction post 

[KiwiGF]

Hi, I thought the tank bottom is different on left and right side so you should use the right side "normally" in order to have a half decent amount of reserve fuel when you switch to the left?

This being on a 4 gallon swing arm tank.

I've never used reserve ......so this is just a theory.......

[East_Coast_BSA]

Hi, I thought the tank bottom is different on left and right side so you should use the right side "normally" in order to have a half decent amount of reserve fuel when you switch to the left?

This being on a 4 gallon swing arm tank.

I've never used reserve ......so this is just a theory.......

You're correct.  I have a four gallon tank on my S/R and the left side of the tank is lower than the right side.  I run on the right side and save the left for reserve.  I'm guessing that the left side holds an additional half a gallon of fuel?  I know if you run the left side out and pull the right petcock, you get about two miles.  Just happened to have a picture of my tank.

[Worty]

My GF doesn't have a lower/higher side, it's exactly the same both sides.  The only 'extra' fuel I get is the difference between the levels on the taps, with one having a tube and the other without (reserve).

[Greybeard]

My GF doesn't have a lower/higher side, it's exactly the same both sides.  The only 'extra' fuel I get is the difference between the levels on the taps, with one having a tube and the other without (reserve).

Same here.