Fuel reserve solenoid valve

[mikebro]

I've got the fuel reserve unit out of the tank, cleaned, stripped down, reasembled and tested. It works, but I would like a second opinion on exactly how. As found, and as rebuilt mine seems to work as follows (simply connected to a battery, not via the car's wiring):-

No power on - both long and short inlet tubes open to outlet.
12volts on - only the short tube open to the outlet.

What this suggests is that power goes on when the ignition is on and so only the short tube is open to the outlet. Pulling the reserve switch with the ignition on drops the power thus opening ther long tube to the outlet as well as the short tube. This would work, but is not what I was expecting which was that power on or off would change over from short to long tube. I was also expecting to have to put power on to bring on the long tube.

Anyone know how it is supposed to work?

[Anne]

It would seem that if both were "open" then the short one would suck air and not work.

Anne

[BRIGHAM G]

When in 'nomal' both tubes are sucking.When the fuel level falls far enough the short pipe sucks air.When the 'reserve'switch is operated the indicater light comes on, the solenoid is operated and the short pipe is shut off.There after the long pipe is the only one which is sucking.

[Anne]

I was working with the original statement:

No power on - both long and short inlet tubes open to outlet.
12volts on - only the short tube open to the outlet.

Anne

[mikebro]

Many thanks to both Brigham and Anne. Anne you helped me realise that the way it was it wouldn't work. I've today rebuilt it again
and it now works exactly as Brigham described. I think the first time the ball wasn't seating properly.

Many thanks again

Mike