I personally never have. But I've worked with a few folks on this forum who have done it and every one of them got stranded a long ways from home. The problem is that the fuel pump isn't required when the tank is full, but rather, when the tank is nearing empty. The "Reserve" portion of the fuel tank is too close to the carbs for gravity to adequately feed fuel into that hungry engine.

This means that your ride goes just great until you get toward the bottom of the tank, switch to reserve, and nothing happens.

Honda knew what they were doing when they put that pump in, and unless you ride with your tank always 1/2 full or more, bring your walking shoes.

On the 1980s Shadows, the reserve was a separate tank under the seat below the level of the carbs! You had no reserve at all without the fuel pump!

--Justin

 

I have with the bike pictured below. However I also relocated the petcock, fuel filter and all the lines to be above or at the same plane as the carbs. So far no issues.

Selling the fuel pump and the spare I had on the parts bike paid for the purchase of the two bikes. :shock: Thank you ebay.

 

Do these carbs actually need positive pressure?

My lawnmower has the gas tank just below the carb. That's a typical setup. Most carbs have enough vacuum to overcome slight differences.
Are the carbs on the Shadow different?
Maybe with no fuel pump I need a manual prime bulb like on my boat gas tank :lol:

I once drove my pickup truck home with a rigged boat tank and squeezing the prime bulb all the way. Mechanical fuel pump failed. I had the tank in the back. It worked fine, but my hand was mighty tired when I got home!

 

Re: Do these carbs actually need positive pressure?

My lawnmower has the gas tank just below the carb. That's a typical setup. Most carbs have enough vacuum to overcome slight differences.
Are the carbs on the Shadow different?
Maybe with no fuel pump I need a manual prime bulb like on my boat gas tank :lol:

I once drove my pickup truck home with a rigged boat tank and squeezing the prime bulb all the way. Mechanical fuel pump failed. I had the tank in the back. It worked fine, but my hand was mighty tired when I got home!

Your lawnmower doesn't have a float-bowl type carb then. The standard float bowl carb requires fuel to be fed into it. It cannot be drawn into it.

Also, your lawnmower does have a vacuum-operated fuel pump. With each intake stroke, the vacuum pushes a small diaphragm that pumps fuel into a second chamber in the fuel tank that acts as the bowl. This is why you'll see that it has two fuel pickups if you remove the carb.

--Justin

 

Also, your lawnmower does have a vacuum-operated fuel pump

Ah so.

I'm sure I will break down and order the pump. Meanwhile, I'll ride the bike without it.
I may use a generic electric fuel pump. Or I may install that squeeze bulb primer...

 

Any electric pump that will fit and has about 3psi of pressure will work. More pressure than that and you'll be forcing fuel in harder than the float needles can stop it!

--Justin

 

Havent run one on Vicious for over two years now and can pretty much drain the tank of all but 1/10th to 2/10ths of a gallon.

I have a single carb though and it hangs lower then the stock carbs....

Gonz

 

I ran mine like that for a couple of weeks
only problem I had was a vapor lock - after a hard acceleration
but under normal riding no problems
I did put the fuel pump back in after a couple of weeks not problems since with hard acceleration

 

We had a member that by-passed the pump and had no troubles until he encountered hot weather - then his bike would vapor lock without the pump.

 

Going to the dealer today

Local mechanic says he can change it in on hour shop time, $70. Looks like a 3-4 hour job if I DIY. I'll put in the overtime to pay the shop guy so it is done right the first time!
I'm kinda torn on this. I like working on the bike myself, but I don't have the specialty tools or time to mess with it. I can play mechanic or ride, not both.

For $70 I get:
pro install
warrentee on pump and install
a pro's eyes on my bike in general, something that has not been done for a while
to ride an additional 4 hours instead of work on the bike

Worth it.