Fuel Pump Sounds? Yes or No?

[Chris Cochran]

I also asked this question in one of the Voyager groups on FaceBook, but thought I'd do it here, too.

I've never owned a bike that had a fuel pump so I've no experience with them. My question is if, when turning the key to start but before pushing the button to turn over the starter, is there supposed to be some sort of sound coming from the fuel pump to indicate that it is working? Mine is silent.

[Nails]

This is kinda like convincing yourself that the cam chain sounds bad when it doesn't really.

If your bike runs fine, there really can't be much of a problem with the fuel pump, whether you can hear it or not.
Just ride.

(I don't think the fuel pump kicks on until you hit the starter. Which is exactly why many of us have installed a switch to bypass the starter motor: to pump up the carb float bowls before grinding on the starter. Then, I can hear the pump. And after the float bowls are full, flip the switch, hit the starter, and the bike will fire up as if you last parked it 10 minutes ago -- vs 10 days ago.)

[SgtSlag]

When the fuel pump fails... You will know, as it will leave you stranded. The voice of experience. Cheers!

[Van Voyager]

I have three fuel injected Kawasakis, including a ZN1300, and the fuel pump spooling up when the ignition switch is turned on is definitely audible on all three.

[GrandpaDenny]

The Voyager XII is carbureted, not fuel injected. As for me, I don't find a separate priming switch to be necessary. Even after sitting for a month in the cold, the bike starts right up quickly. When draining the fuel bowls (theoretically monthly-ish), I drain two at a time, then fire the bike up to refill them, shut down and repeat with the other two.