Inline fuel filter not filling ???

I installed an inline fuel filter last week, and it seemed to perform flawlessly (thanks to Gamaru's How-to). Bike rain fine and had good power, especially above 3000 rpm. I took the tank off over the weekend to clean the top of the carb hats and tidy up some of the wiring underneath it. After I reinstalled the tank and reconnected the fuel & vacuum lines, the bike runs lean, with a slight popping backfire when I roll off the throttle. I checked the fuel line and it is exactly where it was before.. no kinks or tight bend radius. But the fuel filter is not filling up... it is sitting half-full (see thru shell on it). It filled completely and quickly when I first installed it. What gives ? Anyone know ?

I have tried disconnecting the fuel line from the petcock and then reconnecting: no luck. I tried on Prime, then Reserve... still no joy. But it runs. In fact, it will get up to 100 km/h (62 mph), and not starve, but it doesn't have the OOMPH it use to. And it is lean... way too lean.

 

Turn the petcock on Prime (engine off) and then tap and shake the filter. Try to bend and turn it so that the air bubble can escape up to the gas tank. It may help to open up one of the carb drain screws to get a nice flood of fuel going into the filter.

 

Is it on the right way? Seems to me someone else on the forums here "not mentioning names" had the same problem once!

 

Yes, it's installed with the flow in the corrrect direction...

I'll give the drain screw a shot though... good thinking, thanks ! I'll fill it with gas first so there is a bit of additional pressure in system (potential energy for you technical types).

 

I haven't tried this (haven't had the problem) but if you put it on PRI and connect the filter to a four foot clear hose, (same hose used for running the bike with the tank safely on a table) then into a can, you lower the can to the ground, then raise it 4' above the tank. The air has to come out one way or another.