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SOHC.co.uk Forums => CB500/550 => Topic started by: Morala on December 27, 2024, 11:42:24 AM

Title: fuel tap
Post by: Morala on December 27, 2024, 11:42:24 AM
Hi, on my 74 550 i have i believe an original fuel tap with two outlets, it may be a silly question but should the fuel be coming through the both outlets as mine is only running through one even if i put it on reserve position.any advice very welcome.
Title: Re: fuel tap
Post by: Johnwebley on December 27, 2024, 11:54:30 AM
Hi, on my 74 550 i have i believe an original fuel tap with two outlets, it may be a silly question but should the fuel be coming through the both outlets as mine is only running through one even if i put it on reserve position.any advice very welcome.
The fuel will always find the easiest path,

To test it

Block the outlet that is flowing,

It should then flow from the other

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Title: Re: fuel tap
Post by: Bryanj on December 27, 2024, 01:17:58 PM
Both should flow on normal and reserve, as said block the one that flows and see if fuel flows from the other
Title: Re: fuel tap
Post by: Morala on December 27, 2024, 03:21:34 PM
thanks guys for your replys, i removed the fuel tap to check if everything was ok, inlet was clear and so were the outlets filter was good so tried what you suggested and closed the outlet that was running and the fuel ran through the other outlet, i thought you needed both outlets running to feed the carbs but i have never had a 4 carb bike before so still learning thanks again for your help.
Title: Re: fuel tap
Post by: Bryanj on December 27, 2024, 04:20:58 PM
Fuel is like water and electrickery it will take the path of least resistance, when the 2 carbs fed by one pipe fill up the others start, when all full flow evens
Title: Re: fuel tap
Post by: Morala on December 27, 2024, 04:24:00 PM
thanks Bryanj makes sense now
Title: Re: fuel tap
Post by: Sesman on December 27, 2024, 06:45:26 PM
thanks Bryanj makes sense now

I’m not sure it does!!! If the electrical analogy is correct, fuel should run from both tubes simultaneously at a flow rate inversely proportional to the line resistance. I suspect a hydraulic analogy would be more appropriate. Just saying😀😀😀
Title: Re: fuel tap
Post by: Morala on December 27, 2024, 08:23:23 PM
hi Sesman thanks for your input, will get the dictionary out to understand the lingo lol.I was wondering would it be possible to use a Y connector from the input lines going to the carbs and connect to the one outlet on the fuel tap thats working just a thought as not sure if the fuel feed would be enough to feed the carbs with only one fuel line working cheers.
Title: Re: fuel tap
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on December 27, 2024, 08:28:48 PM
You need to keep both outlets, they will balance themselves out, I have fitted inline Aero filters to mine as well.

If you have worries about the other outlet blow up it, you might have something causing the pressure differential, I assume you have checked the filter, the tap internals etc.
If you connect the good flow side to one of the pair of carbs then turn on the tap the other side will undoubtedly flow with petrol.
Title: Re: fuel tap
Post by: Bryanj on December 27, 2024, 08:53:56 PM
Try it see what happens, 99.9% certain petrol will piss out of the unconnected spigot, as to the electrickery take two leads from a battery pos and connect one to the neg via a bulb then connect the other direct to the negvand see if the bulb stays lit! Always takes path of least resistance
Title: Re: fuel tap
Post by: Sesman on December 28, 2024, 04:06:38 PM
The petrol will flow in each pipe proportional to the resistance to flow path, not just in one path because the other has a higher flow resistance! There are other technical aspects to fluid flow that differentiate it from electricity: vacuum for example. I suspect that if each outlet flows independently you don’t have a problem. I’d connect both spigots and run the bike. If you suffer fuel starvation you will soon know!
Title: Re: fuel tap
Post by: Sesman on December 28, 2024, 04:09:37 PM
Try it see what happens, 99.9% certain petrol will piss out of the unconnected spigot, as to the electrickery take two leads from a battery pos and connect one to the neg via a bulb then connect the other direct to the negvand see if the bulb stays lit! Always takes path of least resistance

Nope. The resistance in each leg determines the proportional flow rate. Your ‘experiment’ simply confirms connectivity. Look up Norton, Thevenin and superposition theory.
Title: Re: fuel tap
Post by: Sesman on December 28, 2024, 04:35:48 PM
An example:

A 10V supply and two parallel conductors of 1 ohm and 2 ohms respectively.

The total current flowing will be approximately 15A with 10A flowing down the 1ohm leg and 5A down the 2ohm leg. Of course things get significantly more complicated when dealing with alternating currents and reactive components (capacitors and inductors). I am of course completely disregarding source impedance, which is the source current limiting factor.

Remove the 1ohm leg and 5 amps will flow in the 2ohm leg. Alternatively, remove the 2ohm leg and 10amps total will flow down the 1ohm leg.

What’s happened to the missing amps I hear you shout…😀😀
Title: Re: fuel tap
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on December 28, 2024, 06:59:50 PM
When I studied fluid dynamics at Uni back in 1967-1971 the lecturer used the analogy of Pressure v Voltage, Flow rate v Current. It held up pretty well until we got to non laminar flow
Title: Re: fuel tap
Post by: Sesman on December 28, 2024, 10:41:54 PM
Absolutely,Ted. Our lecturers explained third order equations and reaction to input forces using the electrical properties of resistance, capacitance and inductance interchangeably with springs, dampers and fluid. It worked for a short while then things began to get more complicated 🫣.
Title: Re: fuel tap
Post by: ka-ja on December 29, 2024, 10:18:27 AM
After reading the above, no wonder my brain would not accept Calculus 65 yrs ago.
Title: Re: fuel tap
Post by: Johnwebley on December 29, 2024, 01:21:41 PM
I don't know anything about fluid dynamics or even lectrickery

But I figure in normal setting the tap to on,the fuel flows down the long brass tube, which is about the size of one of the outlets,

So effectively straight in,straight out,
But once it's connected up,it will fill a pair of carbs, once they are full the fuel will flow through the other outlet and fill the remaining carbs,

When you go for a ride after a long time, it's always worth turning the tap on first, maybe even setting it to reserve, to ensure the carbs fill,



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