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Fuel pump doesn't always prime?

MoldTheClay

New member
Joined
Dec 25, 2015
Location
The Bay
Moto(s)
Vroomvroomgofast
So this is a new issue I've been having over the last month. Seemingly for no rhyme or reason my fuel pump will refuse to prime even with the killswitch in the on position, key in, in neutral, etc.

About 75% of the time when I put the key in, put the bike in neutral, and hit the kill switch I hear the whirring of the fuel pump priming.

The rest of the time I just kind-of hear a click or two and nothing. No buzz, no whirr, nothing. The only thing that seems to fix the issue is to keep turning the bike off and on, flipping the kill switch off then back on, turning it off again, back on again, etc. until I eventually hear the fuel pump prime.

It seems to also fix itself quicker if I physically move the bike by pushing it, throwing into gear, back into neutral, and then repeating the turning it on and off thing. Moving it might not be doing anything to help for all I know, but it feels like it works more often than not.

My bike is a 2012 ninja 1000 with 75k miles on it. Any tips on what to check? Once it fires up everything runs perfectly, so it hasn't been the most urgent issue, just a bit nerve wracking when I am stuck somewhere late at night, cold, with a pump that will not prime.
 
Side stand switch
neutral switch
clutch switch
Sticky fuel pump relay
Sticky fuel pump
 
Side stand switch
neutral switch
clutch switch
Sticky fuel pump relay
Sticky fuel pump

So from the sound of it I need to go down the line cleaning everything and if that doesn't work, start breaking out the voltmeter?
 
What happens if you don't use the kill switch to stop the engine?
 
What happens if you don't use the kill switch to stop the engine?

Huh ... there's a thought, I always turn it off with the kill switch. Maybe if I never break that connection it will be fine and that will narrow down what I have to clean.

edit: got the pump to prime then left the kill switch in the on position and turned it off using the key instead this time. Pump is priming just fine now it seems, though that is usually the case anyway after it starts working again. Going to let it sit for a few hours and see how that fairs. If I can keep riding it and turning it off with the key without running into the priming problem again, kind-of narrows it down to the kill switch.
 
Last edited:
Buy some CRC Lectra Motive cleaner. Or at least something designed for electronic parts. Open up your your kill switch assembly. Clean thoroughly and...well you get the idea.
 
And stop using the bar mounted kill switch.
Use the key.
The kill switch is just one more thing, normally expensive to wear out.
Wurth makes a switch contact cleaner and lube that is magical but it's typical Wurth, stupid expensive.
One tiny can will last a long time, get on Amazon or Ebay but the CRC will work too.
Do both handlebar switches to prevent turn signal problems in the future.
Squirt in, work the switch a bunch of times, wipe off excess and let air dry. (optional)
 
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