Easy Question...

When the fuel pump is working should it be loud and making popping noises? I have a fuel issue getting the fuel from the tank to the carbs. I have it narrowed down to the pump and it is very hit or miss. One day it works great, then next I can get any fuel to the carbs. Also, should the pump be very hot after 10 minutes of operating?

Lastly, does anyone have a working pump they are willing to sell, or point me in the right direction of buying a new one under $100?

 

check your fuel filter for blockage.

pump will not heat up or click constantly unless fuel is barely flowing INTO pump.

 

Ditto ...

Hello:

I "ditto" checking for blockage at the fuel filter, and, no, the pump should not be making THAT much noise.

Recently, after working on my carbs, I forgetfully tried to start up the bike, without opening the valve at the side of the tank. Well, the first clue I had that something was wrong, was the loud clacking from the fuel pump. This is all to say, if the pump is making a loud noise, it means there is no fuel getting to the pump itself.


Gray Market

 

If you do decide to replace the pump I can pull one out of the 85 VF500F I have out back.

 

But if it was the fuel filter then why would it only do it now and again. Some days it flows freely and others it doesn't flow at all or it starts out fine and when the bike warms it up it stops working, then if I let it cool down it works again. I'm thinking it something electrical, but I'm not sure.

I've rebuilt the petcock, cleaned-adjusted-synced the carbs and blew through all the fuel lines. I don't have a problem replacing the fuel filter since they are cheap, just curious if that is really the problem.

Thanks in advance!

 

Fuel strain (screen) in petcock?

Hello:

You say that you rebuilt the petcock.

I just looked at a parts fiche for your bike. Here it is:
honda fuel tank partsmanual fiche vf500f 500 interceptor 1984

Locate #3, the "Fuel Strain Screen."

It sounds like that screen could be plugged. Or, maybe #7, the tube?

Gray Market

 

I checked both filters on my bike. Tank and inline, and both flow freely, especially the tanks petcock filter.

What's weird, is when my bikes running, every 6-10 seconds my fuel pump clicks just once.
Like its shutting off because of too much pressure.

And when I put my hand on the pump, I can feel that click every time those seconds pass.

It's weird...and the pump won't over heat either.
My bike too didn't want to start so I shut her down for 1 min, applied choke, and she fired right up.

I hope you find the problem

LL

 

Every "click" of the fuel pump is a single cycle of the diaphragm pump working; i.e., that's normal. A single pulse of the pump will push however much fuel the pump chamber displaces from full to empty. When the pump is dry (and the engine is cranking/running), it'll click continuously as it tries to build up some pressure in the output (I guess it senses the resistance on the down stroke or something, not exactly willing to destroy the pump to find out.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaphragm_pump

 

It was the fuel pump the whole time... I have bypassed the pump and eliminated the filter and she has been running strong for over 300 miles now.

Thank for all the tips.