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HELP: Fuel pump not working?

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Radiati0n

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 4, 2012
Messages
131
So here's the deal, I rode my bike around no problem yesterday afternoon. I parked it in my garage that night and go out to ride again this afternoon. I turn on the bike - no fuel pump sound when ignition is turned. Engine light comes on and goes out like normal and the engine turns, but doesn't run. I can't seem to figure out what the problem is and have no way of taking it to a dealer as I dont have a truck or trailer.
 
Hi Radiati0n, what year and model of bike? Any history of problems or anything else relevant to share?
 
its a 2003. No history of any sort of problem like this before. One day its fine, the next its acting up. The low fuel light didn't seem to be acting odd at all before.
 
When I had problems with my fuel pump, it turned out to be a chafed wire along the pump. I just pulled the pump, fixed the wire and have had 10,000 trouble free miles. not sure if that was a problem on your year of bike,
 
I'll have to take a look. I am unsure how to separate the piece in the middle of the air filter area from the rest of the bike. How do I detach it so I can get the air box completely off?
 
I am unsure how to separate the piece in the middle of the air filter area from the rest of the bike. How do I detach it so I can get the air box completely off?

uhmmm....uhhhh...what? the fuel pump is at bottom of lower left frame spur....down by swingarm. what does air filter/air box removal have to do with your pump problem question? check your fuses by the way.
 
When I had problems with my fuel pump, it turned out to be a chafed wire along the pump. I just pulled the pump, fixed the wire and have had 10,000 trouble free miles. not sure if that was a problem on your year of bike,

I had this same problem on my 06. I dont think they added the sleeve on the harness till 08 so all XB's before then are definitely prone to this problem. That's why I asked about the low fuel light cause that was my first symptom then my pump would continuously prime when going to start it. You might as well pull the pump and check the wiring before ordering anything. You can get the pump seperately as it is an auto part. Not sure the part number but it is floating around. Besides that everything else but the regulator has part numbers and can be bought seperately. If it is the harness it is about 75 bucks.
 
Where, and how do I get to the harness? is it underneath the airbox itself? Because I'm not sure how to detach that from the rest of the bike. I checked fuses, and relays and it wasnt that so I'll look into what you're talking about.
 
As far as the airbox.... four bolts hold the cover to the frame, two? bolts hold the inner cover over your filter, and four more bolts hold the baseplate to the frame. Then you just have to pull up the base plate a little, unplug the air temp sensor and pull the base plate off. None of this really has anything to do with your fuel pump or harness......

To find your problem you'll most likely need to pull the fuel pump. You could trace the wires from the pump along the frame and see if it is broken/pinched anywhere, doubt it though.

To get to your fuel pump, put the bike on a jack, pull the rear wheel, disconect the rear shock and then lift the bike enough so that the swing arm drops away from the pump behind your left footpeg bracket. Undo four bolts and gently pull out the pump. There are two clamps the wires run under along the pump itself, one of the clamps could have rubbed through the coating on the wire.(really should replace the o-ring and filter while you have it out)

Google 'Buell fuel pump problems' and you'll come up with all sorts of info and pictures.....

There is a service manual available at the top of the page........
 
Yea I had actually taken out the fuel pump slightly before gas started coming out and quickly put it back in (didn't know what that part was until now). Should gas be coming out of it and how much is there? Since I did that is it going to need to be pressurized again? This is probably something I wont be able to do either. It all sounds like I'm going to have to take it to the shop.
 
However much fuel is in your frame will be coming out. Put it on a stand and throw a bucket under there. Do not reuse the fuel!!! The fuel pump will build pressure on its own once you fill it back up! Your making this seem to be a lot harder then what it is. Take in consideration a shop is gonna charge you a bit!
 
Ok well I dont exactly have a stand and am not mechanically inclined enough to take the swingarm off. But I am able to get the fuel pump out apparently. What should I be looking for when I take it out?
 
Replacement fuel pump is a walbro 521 aka an E2061 I believe don't quite me for sure. Change the fuel filter as well while you are in there. We matched mine at a local autozone. You will also need new sealing rings for the fuel pump. Got one at Harley but they only had one so when I went to autozone they had one that fit from the special little HELP packages. Worked great just remember to use some silicone spray in the two rings to help the pump slide back in with ease. The fuel pump was from a 97 v6 mustang and was actually stamped walbro 521 on the side of the new one hope this helps. Oh yeah check the fuel pump fuse as well if it's blown it's probably the pump locked up.
 
Sounds good, I'll take out the fuel pump tomorrow and see if its the fuse which sounds like it could be the case.
 
you can't get the fuel pump out without disconecting your rear shock and dropping the swing arm out of the way. don't need a jack(just easier), I've just hooked a couple of rachet straps from the rafters to the pass. peg brakets to lift the rear of the bike. Thought you already checked the fuses ?? There are none inside the frame...

Google is your friend:D Found a great write up on fuel pump repair.
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142838/442427.html?1236781570
 
Yea I guess I just checked the main fuses. Looks like I'll have to do a little more work than I originally though. Tomorrow I'll take a look at the pump and see whats up. Thanks for the help, will report back with any issues.
 


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