Fuel Petcock
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,437
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From: TEXAS!!!!
Fuel Petcock
Okay, in the MSF safety course they tell you to turn off the fuel everytime you turn off the bike. Everyone I ride with never does this. So, here are the questions: do you turn off your fuel everytime? and does it hurt the bike any if you don't do this? I don't turn it off, but that's mainly cause I never remember to turn it back on until I'm a little ways down the road and the bike shuts down.
RE: Fuel Petcock
I never do but I do have friends that do this all the time. I have the same problem I don't remember to turn it back on and the bike stalls unexpectedly and I am then reminded. Although I have an S&S carb and when I don't turn off the gas I do smell gas at times. I don't think it is bad unless it is for an extended period.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2005
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From:
RE: Fuel Petcock
I always have and probably mostly from habit. Back more than thee decades ago (when I was a teenager) I used to race (ride?) motocross and we all had our special mix (which contained some benzene alcohol etc.) which was notorious for absorbing water and would find it's way down to the carb so we would always shut the petcock off and run some of the gas out of the carb bowl. Of course we had tricklers so that you could dump some of the bottom stuff (water, dirt, sediment, etc.) from the tank before you turned on the petcock.
Now that Harley has the vacuum operated petcocks I am not sure if it is that necessary or not, however a lot of us are running the hi flow fuel petcocks without the vacuum crap so if your carb decided to have a stuck bowl float in the middle of the night you wake up to a nice big puddle of gasâŚ.
Now that Harley has the vacuum operated petcocks I am not sure if it is that necessary or not, however a lot of us are running the hi flow fuel petcocks without the vacuum crap so if your carb decided to have a stuck bowl float in the middle of the night you wake up to a nice big puddle of gasâŚ.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,513
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From: Midland, TX
RE: Fuel Petcock
Unless I am only going to be stopped for a short period of time, I turn off the fuel valve. My previous bike didn't have the vacuum line and if the float stuck on the carb, it would leak gas on the ground. So, I just got in the habit because the float did stick sometimes.
With the vacuum arrangement, it should not be a problem, but if it malfunctions, you'll allow fuel to drain through the carb and into the cylinders diluting the oil. I think most newer bikes don't have an overflow line from the carb so if the float sticks, the only place for the fuel to go is in the engine.
Just as I've gotten in the habit of turning off the fuel valve, I've gotten in the habit of making sure it is back on before taking off. And, as I've said before, make sure you run your valve in the reserve position every two or three tanks so you keep the gas demons out of the bottom of your tank.
With the vacuum arrangement, it should not be a problem, but if it malfunctions, you'll allow fuel to drain through the carb and into the cylinders diluting the oil. I think most newer bikes don't have an overflow line from the carb so if the float sticks, the only place for the fuel to go is in the engine.
Just as I've gotten in the habit of turning off the fuel valve, I've gotten in the habit of making sure it is back on before taking off. And, as I've said before, make sure you run your valve in the reserve position every two or three tanks so you keep the gas demons out of the bottom of your tank.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Ottawa, CANADA
RE: Fuel Petcock
I asked about that, and was told that I didn't need to turn it off, so I never have.
About running the reserve every now and then: how long do you keep it on reserve for?
Cheers!
[sm=icon_rock.gif][sm=icon_rock.gif][sm=icon_rock.gif]
About running the reserve every now and then: how long do you keep it on reserve for?
Cheers!
[sm=icon_rock.gif][sm=icon_rock.gif][sm=icon_rock.gif]
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: TEXAS!!!!
RE: Fuel Petcock
About 30 miles. And thanks for the tip oldgeezer; I did it today when I filled up.
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Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2005
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From:
RE: Fuel Petcock
Yea - From what I understand the older bikes would leak fuel out the carb and flood and stuff. I used to do it when I first got the HD but Ive had no problems now. I keep it on.
As for reserve, durring the week I usually ride to work and back untill I hit 100 miles or reserve and then make the gas station my next trip home or to work. I tend to do 80 and get on her hard after riding on the base at 35 and 45 MPH uhg...Ive never gotten bone dry on it though.
As for reserve, durring the week I usually ride to work and back untill I hit 100 miles or reserve and then make the gas station my next trip home or to work. I tend to do 80 and get on her hard after riding on the base at 35 and 45 MPH uhg...Ive never gotten bone dry on it though.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,513
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From: Midland, TX
RE: Fuel Petcock
Clammy, I run it about 30 miles or so then switch back to the normal position. I very seldom run the tank to where I have to use the reserve so I've gotten in the habit of running on reserve periodically. My fear is that if I never run on reserve then have to someday, I'll suck water and crap into the carb and get stranded. It would probably never happen but I'm just **** that way.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,679
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From:
RE: Fuel Petcock
Do any of you guys run an after tank fuel filter? I see them in catalogs, but have only seen a couple of V-twins using them... I am not, but did notice during my last South Padre run when I switched over to reserve for a little bit there was gunk that got passed to my carb and my bike was not happy for quite a few miles...