I left mine on for 3 weeks with out riding the bike, my bike started fine but started dieing, ran like crap for about 3 miles and started running fine and has seemed fine since, stange huh ,or could leaving the petcock on have caused this

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Only if you wanna forget to turn it on! I havent touched mine for over a year.

 

The reason you should turn the petcock off is if the diaphragm failed it could essentially fill your crankcase with gasoline. I turn mine off when it sits overnight but not between stops.

 

I've heard some folks say you don't need to shut 'em off... but the manual clearly says "Turn off fuel whenever engine is off". I've always shut my fuel off whenever I shut down the engine.

 

I've never turn it off since I bought my bike in 1999 and I've never had any trouble with it. In fact, since Harley introduces vacuum operated petckock in 95 models it's not necessary to turn them off.

But I've read that the first years Harley introduced this petcocks and because of the reformulated gasoline in this years, the first years since 95 (don't know how many years) this could be a trouble if you don't turn them off.

Regards,

Javi

99 FXST in Spain

 

With a older carbed bike, If there is a speck of dirt in your float neddle valve seat................The whole tank of fuel will end up on the floor overnight.............I shut mine off........Don't ask me how i kmow this

 

That happened to me several years ago. What a mess. Learned my lesson about not turning off the petcock.

MikeyB

 

always turn mine off, easier than cleaning up 5 gallons of gas

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Somebody told me that if your bike is kept in the garage and theres a fire and the petcock wasn't shut off they may not pay off saying it was your fault the gas leaked out and caught on fire. True or untrue I dont know. I always turn mine to off. Better safe than sorry.

 

Really dumb (no flames here), but my '07 fuel injected fat boy has no need for a petcock.....right?