How often do you test your petcock?

[Fritz The Cat]

With all this talk about hydrolock lately, I've become paranoid and thinking it's not such a bad idea to turn it off and let the idle till it shuts down after every ride. Just tested mine today and it's working fine. But all it takes is one failure to bring on Valkyrie Armageddon.

[Thrud]

Just install the Dan-Marc 12V fuel shutoff valve and forget about it.  No need for the Pingel petcock.  Had this valve installed for a couple of years now with no problems.  I no longer have to think about switching the petcock to the off position after I shutdown.

steve

[Brian]

Hey Fritz the Cat,
 
I was in the process of replacing my OEM petcock anyway because of all this hydrolock talk. With the gas tank off the bike and sitting across two sawhorses the OEM petcock never stopped dripping gas in the normal "on" position. I used a large syringe and a hose to create a vacuum to open and close the valve a few time to see if the issue would clear up. It did not. Needless to say I was very close to this happening to me if one of the needle valves decided to leak by. I went back with the manual Pingle with no regrets. You just have to remember to manually operate it or you could go with the electric cut off valve. I chose not to go that route as it is something else to go wrong.

[gordonv]

I tested my petcock every Monday on the way to work. While driving down the highway, turn it off and wait for the familar sputtering.

I always wait for reserve in the city, before filling up.

[Daniel Meyer]

Every 10k when I change the air filter. Complete vacuum test of functionality.

They give you plenty of warning if you do that.

[tank_post142]

mine has free flowed for the last 170,000 or so. the shutoff seems to work via vacuum but manual shutoff and reserve crapped out long ago.

[Bigwolf]

I test the petcock each time I pull the tank.  That would usually be for air filter maintenance but lately has been for other service.
I pulled the tank off my Valk today.  In that process, I always hook a hose to the petcock to drain the tank.  Today when I turned the valve on, the gas flowed freely into the catch can without having to draw a vacuum on the petcock.  I did not see any leak by with the valve in the off position though.  But I like the vacuum safety feature so I will tear the petcock apart while the tank is off.

Wolf

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

Converted my stock to manual years ago. I turn it off every time I get off the bike and test it every time I forget to turn it on after starting.

[Bone]

I did the same as Mr. Bubbles. Mine is the OEM converted to manual. I have the rebuild kit in the garage if I decide to go back to stock.

[rmrc51]

I was so paranoid hearing about the Hydrolock issue that I installed the Dan-Marc 12V fuel shutoff valve along with a Pingel, lol. 

[Bone]

I have rode manual fuel valves since 1970.  I always turn the fuel off when I stop the engine.

[Ricky-D]

I tested my petcock every Monday on the way to work. While driving down the highway, turn it off and wait for the familar sputtering........

That really doesn't indicate too much except that the valve is choking down enough gasoline for the motor to start sputtering.

A few drops (via the petcock) every minute, while inadequate to keep the motor running, is enough to allow a hydrolock from a malfunctioning float/needle assembly.

Disconnecting the gas line on the other hand would reveal the true ability of the petcock.

Bestowing your faith on a faulty test procedure is inherently risky.

***

[R J]

Every winter when I put MGM into Hibernation.

[Fritz The Cat]

I tested my petcock every Monday on the way to work. While driving down the highway, turn it off and wait for the familar sputtering........

That really doesn't indicate too much except that the valve is choking down enough gasoline for the motor to start sputtering.

A few drops (via the petcock) every minute, while inadequate to keep the motor running, is enough to allow a hydrolock from a malfunctioning float/needle assembly.

Disconnecting the gas line on the other hand would reveal the true ability of the petcock.

Bestowing your faith on a faulty test procedure is inherently risky.

***

Thanks, now I'm even more paranoid. 

[Patrick]

I guess one can become paranoid about fuel-locks, but why ?? I think proper starting procedure 'should' not cause any damage.. I've had quite a few locks with no damage,yet.. The Pingle works properly and is used every time.. It takes a few minutes to clear the cylinders and can certainly be a PITA,but....

[Chattanooga Mark]

I always turn my oem petcock off and on with the key. Doesn't turning it off prevent gas from flowing regardless if the diamphram were to get a hole in it?

I rebuilt the oem petcock last year.

Thanks,

Mark

[fudgie]

Never. I gotta pingel. Only 1 pingel fail to a member caused me not to worry to check mine yet.

[Bone]

Mark my 98 Tourer started running like the choke was partially on but wasn't. Was close to home so when I arrived did a quick check. Choke was open/off. Started pulling spark plugs they were pretty old. #6 was black and sooty. Posted my findings here and right away the answers were telling me the diaphragm had failed.  They said it can tear and the gas will run down the vacuum line into the cylinder.
I always turn my petcock off when turning off the key. If the petcock was left in the on position the fuel could flow into the cylinder. Mine would foul the #6 plug in approx. 50 miles, I could switch plug with another cylinder and run another 50 miles waiting for my rebuild kit.