LCGB Forums

As I understand it, the SIP fuel tap reserve is by way of a warning light. I know people have different tanks so the numbers won’t all be the same, but is there much fuel in reserve when the warning light start showing?

Hi Bilko.

I've never had one & nor am I likely to get one. Ha! So where is this going?

The warning light is going to be activated by a switch that becomes operative when fuel is below a certain level. The same principle as a float switch from RS Components, say, which utilises a magnet to send a signal via closure of contacts. Such float switches in their simplest form are not adjustable, other than by varying their position, or height from the bottom of the tank.

Dependent upon the construction of the SIP tap will determine if that, too, can be varied, or fine tuned to make the reserve quantity selectable. But.....has anybody on this Forum done so? Or are you going to be the pioneer?

TBH I was surprised that it's not automatic that ANY fuel tap is dismantled & checked prior to fitting! Remember all of the kerfuffle about Scootopia's tap on this Forum? I may have only fitted two, but it's an item (much like most of the remade components) that should be checked. The couple I had in my grubby hands were spot on but other people had issues. Nonetheless, for ten quid, the product is superb VFM & flows well. Plus, of course, the amount of reserve is selectable, something I always like to have a choice in. Not brow beating you, but can there be a better indicator that fuel is low than the traditional three way tap? The bikes I've ridden with SIP taps start to flicker, but I'd prefer traditional reserve & an analogue dial.

Back to the plot. Somebody should know if & how the SIP tap reserve level 'trigger' can be adjusted, most likely SIP themselves......Shame on them if they don't

Hi mate, I have the SIP speedo in one of my scoots which used the same tank float unit bur 'flashes the mileage reading rather than a red light. Totally useless imho as its almost impossibvle to spot on the move. I think it alerts when down to about a litre or so in a standard tank (aabout 2 litres in my longrange tank) but thats very approximate

You could drain the tank and measure the fuel as you pour it back in and when the light comes on you will have your answer.

I've go one on a 12lt tank (combined with a sip speedo) and one on a 17lt tank with red warning light on the headset. On the 12lt tank it starts flashing fuel on the speedo at about 3lt left but as said it's easy to miss, on the 17lt the red light comes on with about 6lts left

Tractorman wrote:You could drain the tank and measure the fuel as you pour it back in and when the light comes on you will have your answer.

Good idea, but I don't have one yet, but as I have the SIP speedo, I was wondering if the SIP fuel tap was worth the purchase.

coaster wrote:Hi mate, I have the SIP speedo in one of my scoots which used the same tank float unit bur 'flashes the mileage reading rather than a red light. Totally useless imho as its almost impossibvle to spot on the move. I think it alerts when down to about a litre or so in a standard tank (aabout 2 litres in my longrange tank) but thats very approximate

Thanks Colin.

Warkton Tornado No.1 wrote:Hi Bilko.

I've never had one & nor am I likely to get one. Ha! So where is this going?

The warning light is going to be activated by a switch that becomes operative when fuel is below a certain level. The same principle as a float switch from RS Components, say, which utilises a magnet to send a signal via closure of contacts. Such float switches in their simplest form are not adjustable, other than by varying their position, or height from the bottom of the tank.

Dependent upon the construction of the SIP tap will determine if that, too, can be varied, or fine tuned to make the reserve quantity selectable. But.....has anybody on this Forum done so? Or are you going to be the pioneer?

TBH I was surprised that it's not automatic that ANY fuel tap is dismantled & checked prior to fitting! Remember all of the kerfuffle about Scootopia's tap on this Forum? I may have only fitted two, but it's an item (much like most of the remade components) that should be checked. The couple I had in my grubby hands were spot on but other people had issues. Nonetheless, for ten quid, the product is superb VFM & flows well. Plus, of course, the amount of reserve is selectable, something I always like to have a choice in. Not brow beating you, but can there be a better indicator that fuel is low than the traditional three way tap? The bikes I've ridden with SIP taps start to flicker, but I'd prefer traditional reserve & an analogue dial.

Back to the plot. Somebody should know if & how the SIP tap reserve level 'trigger' can be adjusted, most likely SIP themselves......Shame on them if they don't

Thanks for the detailed response.

There's enough here from the three replies to tell me it's not worth it. As a said to Tractorman, I've got a SIP speedo and thought I'd check before purchasing the SIP fuel tap.

I remember the Scootopia malarkey. I never had one of their taps, so never got caught. I usually always try to keep ahead of reserve with my petrol, but sometimes, it's not always possible. especially when abroad and the marked garages on the sat navs are no longer in use!

That's an interesting point on adjustment. I think Cambridge Lambretta did a fuel warning tap before, but I don't know if the principle is the same as SIP, I expect it is. I think I'll stick with my normal fast flow tap.

Thanks for the replies chaps.

Cambridge still sell those taps. I've fitted one to my latest project.

They don't, or at least didn't have speedo, so I fitted a nice subtle LED to my speedo.

I don't know exactly when it's activated but I've just put 4litres in the 11litre tank and the LED turned off. Yes, I should have checked....

Just to add a comment about fast flow taps....

The Scootopia tap is very neat & resembles closely the OEM 'square' type of the Innocenti era, although the rounded OMG (Oh-My-God!) also were about then. The big difference is that the Scootopia are already fast flow, whereas the OEM Innocenti era type always needed 'porting'

To vary the amount of reserve just needs a thin walled tube that fits the counterbores reserve hole. Ever wondered what to do with those broken radio telescopic aerials? Now you know....