What does the Fuel Pump Make?

[RevDeal]

What sound should my fuel pump make when I turn the key to on?

Thanks,
Jacob

[Flynt]

What sound should my fuel pump make when I turn the key to on?

Click.. click...  click...... click...... click......  slowing down clicking for about 5 seconds, then nothing.  The clicking speed is related to how empty your carb bowls are.

If you hear nothing for a few seconds after switching on key, then a kind of buzzing sound for a second (like me right now), check the pump input voltage when you turn the key on.  My fuel pump relay was only sending about 5v through to the pump!  New relay on the way (Thanks RPM).

Frank

[RevDeal]

I hear the clicks,  but I also get if it has been sitting awhile a kinda glupth...glupth...glupth.. 

[Bill_Rockoff]

Hey Rev,

If it's been sitting for a while and the fuel has evaporated out of the carb float bowls, it should make a rapid-fire clicking / whirring sound for 3 or 5 seconds (I forget) while the fuel pump pumps its little heart out until the timer runs out. If you turn the key off and on again, or if it's been run recently and the carb float bowls are full of fuel enough so that the floats have floated up and closed the float valves, it should click a few times, or maybe click rapidly for a bit and then slow to "not clicking any more," as the fuel pump reaches its pressure capacity or ~3 psi or so and can no longer move to push more fuel into the full float bowls.

If you want to see if it's working on not, you can take the fuel line off the fuel pump outlet nozzle and replace it with a separate line that feeds into a container (water bottle, bucket, whatever.) Then when you turn the key, you should hear the pump operate and you should see fuel get pumped into the container.

If the pump isn't working, it may be because the handlebar kill switch is off, or the switch is making bad contact. (Mine started doing that a few years ago, I had to clean it.) Or, it may be because the On/Reserve switch is in "on" and the fuel level is low; I think that set-up operates by shutting off the fuel pump when the fuel light comes on. Switching it to "Reserve" runs it regardless of fuel level.

If the pump is making noise but no fuel is coming out, it may be that you have forgotten to open the petcock on the fuel tank (been there / done that) or because the fuel line is kinked under the tank and preventing fuel flow (also been there.) Also on the "make sure you check this" list, the fuel cap may be failing to let in air, creating a vacuum and preventing fuel from leaving the tank. You may have to open the gas cap to let air in.

Good luck!

[Pat Conlon]

....My fuel pump relay was only sending about 5v through to the pump!  New relay on the way (Thanks RPM).

I think Frank's Wizard is the only FJ (that I know of) that needs a 30 amp fuel pump relay.

[Flynt]

I hear the clicks,  but I also get if it has been sitting awhile a kinda glupth...glupth...glupth..  

I got nothing solid...  The idea of opening the cap to see if there's a difference might be a good one, but I can't imagine you're pumping enough fuel to draw much of a vacuum in the tank (might be possible with a REALLY full tank).  

Might be air escaping from the carb vents?  The click is a pump stroke, so it would be followed by a venting of the air displaced from the carb bowls...  lots if the bike has sat for a while and the bowls are dry.  Maybe check the vent lines to be sure they're attached and venting properly?

It this "glupth" causing any running issues? Sounds like the fuel pump and the mystery Gulpth are really only a problem until the engine starts...  then the real scary FJ noises start...

Frank

[RevDeal]

I hear the clicks,  but I also get if it has been sitting awhile a kinda glupth...glupth...glupth..  

I got nothing solid...  The idea of opening the cap to see if there's a difference might be a good one, but I can't imagine you're pumping enough fuel to draw much of a vacuum in the tank (might be possible with a REALLY full tank).  

Might be air escaping from the carb vents?  The click is a pump stroke, so it would be followed by a venting of the air displaced from the carb bowls...  lots if the bike has sat for a while and the bowls are dry.  Maybe check the vent lines to be sure they're attached and venting properly?

It this "glupth" causing any running issues? Sounds like the fuel pump and the mystery Gulpth are really only a problem until the engine starts...  then the real scary FJ noises start...

Frank

I took it out for a trip today of 15 miles to see throttle response and such. It went really well. Can do zero to 70 in first no issues and can slip into higher numbers without problem. So I think it must be a venting of air from filling the carb bowls back up again.

It just takes time to get use to the new noise of a bike, especially one that you have a very new relationship with. I will record my start in a couple of days and post it to see what you all say. I will post it on this thread. I dont think I am having a fuel issue. I just dont want a fuel issue, if you catch my drift.
Jacob

[RevDeal]

https://m.facebook.com/groups/2331723123?view=permalink&id=10157816290823124

Here is the sound

[FJmonkey]

Sounds good. The click is a little softer than my 89, but it sounds correct.