Why would a fuel pump fuse blow

[dern]

Completely fked off with this blade now. bd thing died on me on the m6 on the way to a lads weekend. Rac man checked all the fuses (apparently) and then recovered me. Got home at 11 and stripped it down. Fuel pump fuse has blown - stting hell!!!

Anyway, anyone got any idea why a fuel pump fuse would blow after 36k miles and 7 years with no warning and how do I trust the bd thing now?

Cheers,

Mark

[Brite spark]

fuel pump broke, fuse did it's job. Parts on anything will wear out, replace the fuel pump and fuse- job done.

It's the nature of it, some parts will just go without warning, although a pain the fuel pump is a fairly minor thing to change. Once you've fitted a new one it'll be good as new, can't have anymore confidence in something than that can you?

Edited by Brite spark on Saturday 26th July 02:03

[freddytin]

Also, possible short on the wiring ?

[Steve_T]

Crap in the fuel stopping the pump turning - motor stalls, current up, fuses pops?

[Brite spark]

freddytin said:

Also, possible short on the wiring ?

that is possible.

[Busamav]

vibration ?

Clean pump and filters out inc case there is any crud in there causing the pump to work harder than designed for .

[black-k1]

It could also be that as the bike gets older, and the electrical connectors become corroded, and the current has to increase to be able to get to the pump. Add that to the physical vibration etc. that the fuse gets every time the engine is running and it may just have tipped the fuse over the edge. I would suggest buying two fuses! Simply replace the blown item and use the bike again. If there is a generic problem then the new fuse will blow pretty soon (hence the second fuse to get you home.) If it’s just age, then the new fuse will last a good while and all you will have lost is the price of a second fuse.

[711]

Fuel pump died on my k6 gixxer recently.

Like others have said, start with cleaning any connectors that have got covered in road crap and test your fuel pump to see if that's what's caused it.

I know how you feel, 'cause I was well pissed off when my bike broke down, but I guess it's near impossible for a factory to make something perfect, especially when it's seven years old!

[neenaw]

Personally I'd just carry round a couple of spare fuses and see if it happens again.

Sometimes fuses seem to just blow for no apparent reason!

[catso]

Blocked filter is a common cause of regulator failure on Ducatis due to the pump drawing so much current and overloading the (marginal) electrical system. It could easily blow a fuse on your bike, of course it could just be a bad pump.

[dern]

Cheers all.

No sign of chaffing on the wiring, swapped the pump out for my spare, fuse box was a bit loose and able to vibrate so secured it.

Have a pocket of fuses and am heading up north - don't want to miss the poker game.

If you see me looking pissed off on the side of the M6 (again) give us a wave and thanks to the two bikers who stopped to see if I was ok, the other who thumbs up/down me and bks to the miserable bds who didn't even acknowledge my nod.

Smoke me a kipper.

[dern]

Got there and back without further incident. Holding your breath for 3 hours waiting for it to die on you is no fun whatsoever. Think it may be time to retire the blade from active service... buy something more suitable for the job in hand (all year round daily commuting) and spend sometime pampering the old love before using it solely for track days and sunny days.

[shouldbworking]

dern said:

Got there and back without further incident. Holding your breath for 3 hours waiting for it to die on you is no fun whatsoever. Think it may be time to retire the blade from active service... buy something more suitable for the job in hand (all year round daily commuting) and spend sometime pampering the old love before using it solely for track days and sunny days.

Reality check - Its only 1 fuse.

That said, if you are merely looking for excuses to purchase a new toy, by all means i agree

[dern]

shouldbworking said:

dern said:

Got there and back without further incident. Holding your breath for 3 hours waiting for it to die on you is no fun whatsoever. Think it may be time to retire the blade from active service... buy something more suitable for the job in hand (all year round daily commuting) and spend sometime pampering the old love before using it solely for track days and sunny days.

Reality check - Its only 1 fuse.

It is just one fuse but it's left me stranded by the side of the road twice in the last month, 4 times in the last two years and the fork leg cracked during a track day. I love the bike and won't sell it but need something that's going to serve as reliable transport.

Cheers.

[smack]

Dern,

How is the old girl? Did you find the cause of the fuse blowing, or was it likely that is was play in the fuse box?

[dern]

smack said:

Dern,

How is the old girl? Did you find the cause of the fuse blowing, or was it likely that is was play in the fuse box?

Dunno mate, thanks for asking though.

Basically (touches wood) it's still running. It felt like it was missing very slightly all the way home but in all honesty I was probably imagining it as I'm slightly paranoid about the bike now and I chose yesterday to leave my mobile phone at home - d'oh. I took the exhaust htev valve apart and adjusted that and it's running a lot better today so maybe I wasn't imagining it after all - anyway, all that is unconnected. So, basically I'll be sticking a new fuel filter in at the weekend and will continue carrying spare fuses with me for the time being.

I'm pretty sold on the idea of retiring it from commuting duty and buying an uber-commuter though. The blade will be pampered for a change and used for fun... better than the immolation it was scheduled to receive