1987 VFR electrics/starting/fuses

Hey, dizzy. Any idea what years and models the fuel cut relay was used on? I haven't ever come across one, but my experience is limited. I like to file this kind of stuff in my somewhat disheveled mental Rolodex...

 

Dizzy -- thanks for that info! Was that system used on the first-gens?

Obviously the bike will run without the pump active once it's going, so I figure I can just toggle the switch when I start it and turn it off when the bike gets running fine. I have NO idea what the previous owner was thinking to wire the pump into the taillights.

 

To my knowledge, that little cut relay is used on ALL carburated Hon's that use an electric pump to help supply fuel...VF, VT, GL...you name it. It's a very reliable component, I have seen a very few fail. More often, I've seen fuel pumps replaced when the real problem was a spark issue (you can see how that would happen?). With all due respect Normalcyispasse...I think you got that exactly backwards. There should be enough fuel stored in the carbs to start your bike without any help from the pump, and there may be enough to bleed through your lines to allow it to idle, especially if your tank is full. But when you get to highway speeds, or times when fuel consumption is higher...your bike WILL die without an operative fuel pump. Your viffer runs on what's stored in the carbs, the only job of the fuel pump is to keep them filled up.

 

Thanks! One can never have too much info. Remembering it is a different matter entirely... :biggrin:

 

Good to know! I've only ever run the bike stationary. To do this I needed to activate the fuel pump to fill the carb bowls; once the bike was running I was able to cut off the pump and the suction pulled enough fuel to keep the bike going. It ran this way for about 10-15 minutes until I shut it off myself.

That said, with the toggle switch this way I can just as easily flip on the fuel pump with the bike and leave it on as necessary.