The manual says one exists, but there isn't one installed on my bike. Do f4s have them?

 

yes they do, people have removed them, but I feel like they are there for a reason.

 

Once I had a pro "Stunt" rider and bike mechanic saying that he allways removed the pumps in his F4s. He just have to have the tank more than half full.

Even though, I prefer to have the pump as it messes with the ram air system and that +20Km/h thing.

Anyway you can get a FACET pump for much cheaper than OEM, and people have been replacing them sucessfully on the Africa Twins, which share the OEM Pump with the F4.

Regards,

 

Good info piresito, I've read the OEM pump can be quite pricey!

 

Really pricey and prone to failure.
Just be sure that you don't go big on the pressure rating...I think that there is one form facet with a pressure from 1.5 to 4 psi which I think it is fine.

Good luck!

 

Super awesome info, thanks a ton. Can you elaborate on the ram air system and the +20km/h thing?

 

If you look in the wiring diagram (repair manual) of the CBR F4, you will find a +20Km/h wire in the cluster. It's a signal that changes state as you reach that speed. It messes at least with the solenoid at the front, form the air vent, and with the fuel pump. I'm not sure if the "ECU" (is it the name of the electronic brain that controls the engine?!) changes any other component or timing. If you follow the wiring diagram you will see that the fuel relay and the air vent solenoid are related to this line. Also, in that manual there are some tests that suggest to put the bike in a stand, engage gear, and spin the rear wheel at + than 20Kmh in order to check the change in the state of that line.
I wish I can tell you more about this line, and how it would change the working state of the fuel supply, but I could only get this info by looking at the schematic and I don't have a rear stand.

Regards,

 

Quite the contrary. The F4 fuel pump has proven to be quite a reliable & robust unit when the bike has had regular maintenance & proper fuel system care.

 

Even knowing how dengerous it is to go against a moderator opinion , I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with you on that (partially at least), and I will justify why.
The mechanical part of the pump is reliable, if proper maintenance and fuel system care, as you said.

Atlhough, the electrical part of it is really prone to fail, it's just a design limitation. There is a switch that enganges and disengages several times a second, and as it disengages there is a flyback spark which burns the switch contacts, making them go as soon as 10.000 miles, or as late as 40.000 miles (the best report I've heard of). I just left my F4 pump at the mechanic for repair, which in turn as repaired lots of them. In the beginning, he made it's own contacts but there was so much demand that he started ordering the contacts from overseas. He have been repairing on CBRs (the F3 also, not sure if it's the same pump), Africa Twins and others with the same pump, made by Mitsubishi (one can see the triangle symbol in the pump).
You can check in the XRV forum about FACET pump replacement, or just google for Africa Twin Pump failure, tonnes of them. Even in the Portuguese CBR forum, this failure has gaining "popularity".

Here is a video of one of these pumps, where you can see the sparks, and after a while the pump quits working on its own, as in one of those "Hot stall" issues.

Fuel Pump Contacts - 1997 CBR 600 F3 - YouTube

Mechanically reliable, electrical compromised, that's my opinion.

 

For me it was just easier to replace the OEM 11 year old stock pump with a brand new Honda stock pump. If it goes again in the future I will put in mother stocker.. JMO..
I have read about those contact issues.. But what can you do.. I'd rather not roll the dice with something else.