Petcock on or off?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,675
Likes: 95
From: Billings,Mt.
RE: Petcock on or off?
ORIGINAL: smokeygold
I always shut mine off. In the old days they would leak! Am I wasting my time with the new vaccum petcocks or is it still good practice to turn them to the off position?
I always shut mine off. In the old days they would leak! Am I wasting my time with the new vaccum petcocks or is it still good practice to turn them to the off position?
I'm from the old school.Always shut them off.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 513
Likes: 6
From: Reston, Virginia
RE: Petcock on or off?
In the "old days" your "buddies" would turn it off for you, without telling you, whenever you stopped during a ride. That way when you started back on the road, you'd only go a few miles before your bike ran out of gas. Big laughs. So because of that I always turned it off myself and back on before firing her up. Now I have fuel injection so I don't have to worry about it.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 357
Likes: 5
From: Valencia, Spain
RE: Petcock on or off?
Since the introduction of vacuum operated petcock, it's not necessary to turn it off, because when you shut off your bike, no fuel arrives and it can't leak. I've never turned it off mine in 7 years and I've never lost a drop of fuel.
Regards,
Javieret
Regards,
Javieret
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,253
Likes: 1
From: Southeastern Michigan
RE: Petcock on or off?
I'm from the new school, fuel injection! no need to worry about turning it on.
[IMG]local://upfiles/19385/4F23567ABAE94DDD84090284D51B13CF.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/19385/4F23567ABAE94DDD84090284D51B13CF.jpg[/IMG]
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,141
Likes: 4
From:
RE: Petcock on or off?
I only turn mine off for winter storage. Then run all the gas out of the Carb.
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 246
Likes: 0
From: Carlisle, Ontario
RE: Petcock on or off?
I have not turned off the petcock in years on my bikes. Never had a problem.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,015
Likes: 5
From: Alaska
RE: Petcock on or off?
Ever shutdown and walked away only to return to a nice big puddle of fuel under your bike?
I know of three instances locally where there was some debris in the diaphragm that kept the valve open and the float needle in the carb could not hold it back.
4 gallons of premium out the air cleaner and onto the ground.[:@]
I always check to be sure and shut it off for the winter.
I know of three instances locally where there was some debris in the diaphragm that kept the valve open and the float needle in the carb could not hold it back.
4 gallons of premium out the air cleaner and onto the ground.[:@]
I always check to be sure and shut it off for the winter.
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