Motorcycle Repair: 1986 Honda Shadow 750 fuel pump, honda shadow 750, oil pressure switch

Question
I have a 1986 Honda shadow Vtwin VT750C.  I cleaned the carb, drained the fuel from fuel pump area and filled with fresh fuel.  Afterwards, the fuel pump does not seem to pump much.  The bike had been put away for three years full of fuel.  How long does it take cranking the engine to get fuel to reach the carb?  This one does not see to move the fuel up more than a couple of inches no matter how long we crank.  The pump clicks and a few seconds later clicks again.  But sometimes it clicks only onces.  I understand that the clicking is actually pumping, since there is no more movement than that.  We are not getting fuel into the carb.  

Thanks


Lou

Answer
Actually the fuel pump may be ok. It only runs a few seconds because its run by a relay. Its also tied into the oil pressure switch. The relay times the pump untill the bike starts and oil pressure builds keeping the power cicuit on. If the bike would crash the pump shuts off so it does'nt keep pumping gas making a fire bomb. The filter could be restricted or plugged with varnish not allowing the gas  to the carb. Try some starting fluid in the intake while you are cranking it over with the throttle fully open, it should start and run fast enough to get the fuel to the carbs.