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80 and 83 GL1100 fuel tank question

3204 Views 5 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  tprender, 
Folsoml
Does the fuel tank need the vacuum pressure from the fuel pump to draw the fuel out of the tank? I ask this because I removed the tank from my 1980 GL1100 for cleaning. The petcock would not turn, so I removed it intending to drain the gunk that was once fuel. Nothing came out of the petcock holes. I assumed they were clogged. I rinsed it out several times, and have had it soaking while I was waiting for a fuel tank sealer kit to get delivered.

The 1983 GL1100's tank looked much cleaner. The fuel inside actually even smells like real gasoline. Yesterday, I started to take the tank out of this one. I disconnected the fuel hose and put it into a container to drain the tank. There was a small amount of fuel in the hose that looked and smelled fine (like gasoline). I turned the petcock and...nothing. Tried the reserve setting...also nothing. I then removed the petcock. The holes look clear, but nothing comes out.

Secondary question: I've sealed several traditional bike tanks before, but never this Goldwing type. Is there anything I should know about sealing a tank like this? I'm using an Eastwood sealer kit.
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mrtwowheel
Fuel should flow out of the tank without using the pump. Your petcock must still be clogged or your tank is empty. Soak it, pick at it, blow air through it, what ever it takes. Use carb cleaner on disassembled parts that aren't plastic or rubber or paint.

Scott
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ding dong
If you have an air compressor try blowing into the fuel tubes at the petcock opening. Both run and reserve. Any gunk should blow out into the tank.
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mrtwowheel
When you put the hoses and filter back on, think about using fuel injection hose clamps, they are much nicer than other hose clamps and easier to get to later. I cut the screws shorter. I hate Honda hose clamps and especially conventional hose clamps with a passion. I see these custom bikes at shows with conventional hose clamps, that really bothers me.

Scott
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Ken Bergen
Unlike a traditional fuel tank your petcock is part way up the side of the tank so unless the fuel level is higher than the petcock it won't drain unless you run a hose down from the petcock and start a siphon on the reserve position.

On sealing the tank, I don't know if the line going from reserve to the bottom of the tank has a screen on the end like the GL1200 which would be sealed by the sealer. Even if not the sealer could clog the line.
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T
The goldwing tanks have 2 pick ups in the bottom of the tank with kind of a screen over them. Most of the time when you use sealer you will clog up these screens. This is what happened when I sealed one on a '75 way back. I ended up taking a screwdriver and opening up the pick area after sealing the tank. I would 1st blow air in the tubes to make sure that the lines are not clogged shut before sealing the tank. Not sure if blowing a small amount of air in the tank when the sealer is applied is a good idea to keep the screens open. Just thinking out loud. Best of luck with the tanks.
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