Hey Folks....with carb bikes do you always turn off fuel petcock after riding? And how about over winter if bike not ridden for a long time. Do you turn off fuel and let run out of gas or leave fuel in bowl and carb? I always keep seafoam or marine strength stabil ethanol treatment in my bike tanks.
thanks, Charlie

 

No, I don't turn my petcock to off position after riding. Also, I put Stabil in during the winter and run it so it is distributed in the carb float bowl. There are days in Colorado in winter that are perfect for riding and I get out and ride when the nice days occur.

 

I always turn the petcock off after I stop the engine and before dismounting.

Somewhere in the mid 90's, they began using vacuum operated petcocks.

 

Absolutely this^^^!!! I will even run most of that gas out of the carb. Have done that with every carbed bike since the 70's.

I hope this isn't the last carb bike I ever own. So much simpler if you happen to have certain mechanical issues.

 

I didn't, now I do as my pitcock has a leak....

 

I've never turned mine off. No reason to.

 

How many on this forum don't know what we are talking about?

I have never owned a fuel injected bike. The first time I ever rode one was two years ago.

 

Ever since the MOCO switched to the vaccuum petcocks, its not a big deal to leave the gas on. That being said, one of the first mods I always did (back in the day), was to ditch that factory setup for a proper Pingel petcock. And I always shut that off when I stop. It's just the Shovelheader in me.

 

....unless a piece of debris gets between the needle & seat & dumps gas everywhere. If that happens in a garage where there is a source of ignition is present (think heating system or water heater) you are going to have a fire. I always turn off the gas.

 

Yeah, that. Or, like happened to a friend of mine. He had a beautiful BSA Gold Star is near perfect shape. Left the petcock open one night, and there was a tiny leak in the float valve. The engine had stopped with the piston at the bottom of the compression stroke. Gas filled most of the cylinder overnight. Guy comes out, sets the magneto live and gives a mighty kick. And bent his connecting rod onto a 'Z' shape, cause gasoline liquid odesn't compress for squat. Granted, that's a vintage Limey with an Amal carb, but it could happen to any carbed bike.