Stumped?
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,471
Likes: 9
From: Toledo, Ohio
How do I know if the gas cap is venting? But it's funny you mention that. One of my caps screws on nice and easy like it should, the other has always gone on tight...like the threads are messed. But you would think that would cause a consistent problem. I think I'm leaning toward what Dr. Hess and the others are saying. I know I only get about 7 miles on reserve, so I'll first backtrack through the fuel system for sediment.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,195
Likes: 3,085
From: NW AR
Gas cap venting is a good suggestion too. You can tell the next time it does it by loosening the cap while it's acting up. The ones I've seen do it tend to do it more hot.
7 miles on reserve is not right. That's like a quart of fuel. All my bikes have gone much further than that, more like 20 miles or better. I think that petcock is not right. Time for a Pingle while you're at it there.
7 miles on reserve is not right. That's like a quart of fuel. All my bikes have gone much further than that, more like 20 miles or better. I think that petcock is not right. Time for a Pingle while you're at it there.
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,471
Likes: 9
From: Toledo, Ohio
Ok…I'll loosen the cap next time, see what happens. Can you elaborate on the pingle please? Why that would solve that issue? Is it an easy install and where to get one? It sucks when the wife and I travel that I don't have confidence in my buffer. I have to really pay attention to mileage and how I'm riding and can't even factor a reserve really. 20 more miles is what I would expect and would be awesome! I always thought reserve is about 1/2 gallon. But I notice when I fill up (before I need reserve), putting in sometimes like 5.1….. gallons in the 5.2 capacity tank. So the reserve is funneling into the main somehow because of the stock petcock?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,183
Likes: 2,131
From: W. Texas
Ok, so I've ragged on here before about my bike sometimes not wanting to go. This is an issue that isn't consistent, and happens only every once in a great while. But when it does, my bike spits and sputters so bad you'd think it'll never smooth out and run at all. I've paid attention to weather conditions and follow choke procedures to the tee. And there is no rhyme or reason for the cause that I can think of other than bad gas, or maybe tiny debris that breaks loose in the carb? But like I said, it happens maybe once every 50 times I ride. Which leads me more toward the carb? Any thoughts from anyone? I was thinking about adding some carb/fuel cleaner to my next fill-up. Any suggestions on me trying that or what product/brand to use? Or did I just buy the female version of these evos and need to live with it?
Just a thought Hope ya get er fixed WP
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,183
Likes: 2,131
From: W. Texas
Look I want Ahhh I still want paint it ___ Someday
WP
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,195
Likes: 3,085
From: NW AR
The Pingle petcock won't (probably) solve your main problem, but you are also having a problem in that your stock petcock is not behaving as it should. I don't know exactly what is wrong with yours, but it is not picking up gas only from the normal position when in the normal position. There is no "reserve" gas tank. the "reserve" position on the petcock only changes the pick up point from a tube higher up to the bottom of the tank. Your petcock is not behaving normally, so time for a new one. A Pingle petcock is generally considered the best one available, better than OEM, so thus I suggest a Pingle. Jireh has them pretty reasonable.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,583
Likes: 115
From: Boston, MA
The Pingle petcock won't (probably) solve your main problem, but you are also having a problem in that your stock petcock is not behaving as it should. I don't know exactly what is wrong with yours, but it is not picking up gas only from the normal position when in the normal position. There is no "reserve" gas tank. the "reserve" position on the petcock only changes the pick up point from a tube higher up to the bottom of the tank. Your petcock is not behaving normally, so time for a new one. A Pingle petcock is generally considered the best one available, better than OEM, so thus I suggest a Pingle. Jireh has them pretty reasonable.
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Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,062
Likes: 4,547
From: Haslet Texas
Pingel has a stop for off and on but no detent for reserve.
That said I have never had a problem finding reserve on mine.