Electric Fuel Pump Suggestions

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pjlogue
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Electric Fuel Pump Suggestions

#1

Post by pjlogue »

I am thinking about adding an electric fuel pump to my '76 GL1000. I have a devil of a time starting the bike after it has been sitting for a couple of weeks and usually end up giving it a couple of snorts of Either down the air filter housing to get it to catch enough where the manual fuel pump is pushing enough gas to the bowls to keep running.

In reading the reviews of a few miniature electric pumps available, it seems many have very short lifespans. Does anyone know of a make that works well and is reliable? My thoughts are to perhaps have the electric pump wired so I can just use it as a primer and then shut it down after the bike is running and then just work off the manual pump.

Any suggestions as to pump brands and best ways to install is (i.e., in line with the manual pump and wiring) would be greatly appreciated. This bike is tuned nicely after it is warmed up but is quite cold blooded until then.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

-P.
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gltriker
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Re: Electric Fuel Pump Suggestions

#2

Post by gltriker »

If you haven't already done so......

Scroll all the way down this page to Similar Topics. tumb2
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pidjones
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Re: Electric Fuel Pump Suggestions

#3

Post by pidjones »

Maybe a small primer bulb from an outboard placed in line would help. Sure made my '80 John Deere 216 garden tractor an instant starter after winter layups.
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cfairweather
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Re: Electric Fuel Pump Suggestions

#4

Post by cfairweather »

I wrote a document on how to install a K&N 81-0400. Here is a link to the document. You should not be concerned with reliability with electric fuel pumps. Trying to mix a mechanical with an electric is probably not a good idea.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p_mO94 ... sp=sharing

I have also used a Facet Cube style as shown in the below picture. I have had excellent results with the Facet 40163, but any of the below pumps should work just fine. Notice in the picture there is a black push button. This is used to prime the carbs if the bike has been sitting for weeks without being started. With my safety design, the fuel pump will not pump until there is oil pressure. I do this with a replacement oil pressure sensor that includes a switch. The button bypasses the oil pressure switch.

Cube Type by Facet
40298 15 GPH 1-2 PSI
40352 15 GPH 1-2 PSI
40163 17 GPH 1.5-2.5 PSI
DSCN4117.JPG
DSCN4117.JPG (166.43 KiB) Viewed 288 times
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Re: Electric Fuel Pump Suggestions

#5

Post by Whiskerfish »

Mine looks like the one above. I got I think the last one from Randakk. I do not have any safeties linked to it. When I turn the key to the accessory position it runs and I can hear the change in pitch once the carbs are full. She fires in just a couple of seconds after that no matter how long she has sat.
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Re: Electric Fuel Pump Suggestions

#6

Post by desertrefugee »

I don’t know why you wouldn’t just make it all or nothing. Get rid of the mechanical pump and go electric! For sure, you won’t regret it. The only real issue is dealing with the ugly housing that drives a mechanical pump.

I wanted to keep the tach, and installed a 1200 pump which integrates right onto the 1000. I modified the housing (thanks Doug) to allow me to keep the tach drive in place. Nice and tidy, and I never think about gas anymore. Fires right up instantly after a two week lay up.
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cfairweather
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Re: Electric Fuel Pump Suggestions

#7

Post by cfairweather »

I made the bracket from a 1/4" aluminum plate. Can you post a picture of the one that came from Randakk? I recommend adding a safety shutoff feature.
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Re: Electric Fuel Pump Suggestions

#8

Post by CYBORG »

desertrefugee wrote: Wed Oct 13, 2021 7:48 pm I don’t know why you wouldn’t just make it all or nothing. Get rid of the mechanical pump and go electric! For sure, you won’t regret it. The only real issue is dealing with the ugly housing that drives a mechanical pump.

I wanted to keep the tach, and installed a 1200 pump which integrates right onto the 1000. I modified the housing (thanks Doug) to allow me to keep the tach drive in place. Nice and tidy, and I never think about gas anymore. Fires right up instantly after a two week lay up.
your welcome. All electric is the only way to go. My 78 has one off of an early Honda. Been working fine for over 20 years. and half a million miles lolol
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pjlogue
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Re: Electric Fuel Pump Suggestions

#9

Post by pjlogue »

Thanks for the great suggestions! I like the idea of using the oil switch as the safety cut off and having the primer electrical bypass button. After reading the posts I am more open to just using the electric pump and getting rid of the mechanical pump. My initial fear of just using the electric was in the reviews of quite a few pumps that failed after short periods of time.

When I lived in NY, the cold weather added to the cold blooded nature of the GL1000, Now I'm in NC and the summer heat will quickly evaporate the fuel in the bowls and starting the bike after a couple of weeks sitting is a pain. The electric fuel pump should make life easier. :) The extended riding season in NC is delightful.

Thanks all!

-P.
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Re: Electric Fuel Pump Suggestions

#10

Post by Whiskerfish »

cfairweather wrote: Wed Oct 13, 2021 7:57 pm I made the bracket from a 1/4" aluminum plate. Can you post a picture of the one that came from Randakk? I recommend adding a safety shutoff feature.
Sorry no, I am out of town for an extended period.
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"The book is wrong, this whole Conclusion is Fallacious" River Tam
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1975/6/7/8/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike
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and a whole garage full of possibilities!!

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Re: Electric Fuel Pump Suggestions

#11

Post by desertrefugee »

323AE613-C8DD-4C7D-8E31-60B8851AECF4.jpeg
323AE613-C8DD-4C7D-8E31-60B8851AECF4.jpeg (101.48 KiB) Viewed 239 times
GL1200 pump. Slimmed down mechanical bracket:
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CYBORG
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Re: Electric Fuel Pump Suggestions

#12

Post by CYBORG »

:2thumbs :2thumbs looks good
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Re: Electric Fuel Pump Suggestions

#13

Post by BlueThunder »

I prefer to use the ignition handlebar switch for the power to the fuel pump. A relay controls the power to the coils and the pump (DPDT). To prime the carbs, turn the key on, the handlebar switch on, wait 1/2 minute and viola! Instant startup - assuming the bike is in fine tune.
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Lucien Harpress
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Re: Electric Fuel Pump Suggestions

#14

Post by Lucien Harpress »

I can concur with the others about how nice an electric fuel pump is. Had one of Randakks on mine, hooked to the ignition switch with just a fuse. Turn key, wait for the pitch of the pump running to change (bowls are full), hit ignition, instant startup.

The actual pump location was tucked into where the puke tank/crankcase breather usually is, and while the lower half of the old mechanical pump was left in place to run the tach, all it took to blank it off was a simple flat plate.

I eventually swapped back to a mechanical pump for period-correctness, and just crank the bike over a couple times before starting to fill the bowls, but I will admit that an electric pump is SUPER nice.
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Re: Electric Fuel Pump Suggestions

#15

Post by robin1731 »

Lucien Harpress wrote: Thu Oct 14, 2021 9:54 pm I can concur with the others about how nice an electric fuel pump is. Had one of Randakks on mine, hooked to the ignition switch with just a fuse. Turn key, wait for the pitch of the pump running to change (bowls are full), hit ignition, instant startup.

The actual pump location was tucked into where the puke tank/crankcase breather usually is, and while the lower half of the old mechanical pump was left in place to run the tach, all it took to blank it off was a simple flat plate.

I eventually swapped back to a mechanical pump for period-correctness, and just crank the bike over a couple times before starting to fill the bowls, but I will admit that an electric pump is SUPER nice.
I put it there because they don't look that good hanging out where Randakk suggested putting them. ;)
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