Is hydrolock unique to the Valkyrie

[Fritz The Cat]

I never heard of it before I got my Valk and started coming here. I rode a Goldwing for years and know it's not a problem for it. And I've never heard of it affecting V Twins either.

[98valk]

it was a problem for GL1500 GWs at one time. I have posted many times about this and even provided the service bullentin from Honda on the cause and fix.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,22852.0.html

[Ricky-D]

Gravity dependent gas flow and carburetors above the cylinders.

A dual combination fraught with danger.

It used to be gas tanks in cars were gravity flow - didn't take long to modify that!

***

[CajunRider]

Anything with gravity fed carbs can get hydro-locked.  My 4 wheeler did the same thing when a piece of trash got in the float seal. 

Only the Valkyrie (and a few other models) have a starter engine strong enough to destroy the starter engagement gears... so in THAT respect... it's a MAJOR issue only to Valks (and a few other models). 

[amazngrace]

Kawasaki Concours 1000's have hydrolock issues, although the normal
result with these is a bent rod!

..ED

[Daniel Meyer]

It's been going on in bikes since time immortal.

In air-cooled bikes though...typically the tolerances are less on the cylinders and the gas drains through into the oil. That has its own symptoms and damages but in mild cases, often goes unnoticed.

[RP#62]

Not about bikes, but it does give me an opportunity to try to impress you with my vast knowledge of things that nobody cares about.  On old airplanes with radial engines, hydrolock was something you had to constantly be aware of and take precautions to avoid.  Not from fuel, but from oil leaking from the crankcase, past the rings and into the lower cylinders.  It was especially a problem with the early inertial starters.  These had an internal flywheel that you spun up either electrically, with a hand crank or in some cases with a shotgun shell.  Once it was up to speed, you engaged it and when you did, the engine turned whether it was hydrolocked or not.  If it was hydrolocked, you could count on a bent rod.  For that reason, it was standard practice to turn the engine through by hand several turns before trying to start it (that's how I screwed my back up - Convair had a 13 foot prop). 

On the later generation of starters, they got smart and incorporated clutches that would slip if the starter encountered more than a predetermined amount of resistance.  Once they did that, you no longer had to turn it through by hand, you could use the starter, but you still were required to count so many blades before you turned on the ignition.

-RP

[Brewer]

Hydrolock occurs in PWC/jetskis but that is actually water if the ski is under water long enough while running, the air intakes can pull water.

[macdoesit]

Courious, would a secondairy shut off valve stop hydro lock? Would an electric fuel pump stop hydrolock?

[Patrick]

Like the others said, nope, its not unique.. As long as the supply is above the throat/venturi and the throat is above the intake then its possible.. I'm still a firm believer that there is enough fuel between the petcock and carburetors to cause a lock.. I'm a believer because I know it can happen thru experience.. Those lines hold more than you think..
To go along with what RP62 said, I've watched guys bend-up a round aircraft engine because the resident 'expert' insisted on pulling the engine thru backwards which just pushed the oil into the intake only be drawn back into the cylinder once the starter was engaged.. I pretty much insisted he should pay for the damage, funny thing, he hasn't spoken to me since..

[Tropic traveler]

Six carbs equals 6 chances for a needle & seat to fail, and only takes 1!
Even though a 1500 'Wing has the same basic engine, only having 2 carbs shrinks the odds considerably.
What makes our Valks unique is also a burden we must bear. 

[Sigrún]

On the later generation of starters, they got smart and incorporated clutches that would slip if the starter encountered more than a predetermined amount of resistance.  Once they did that, you no longer had to turn it through by hand, you could use the starter, but you still were required to count so many blades before you turned on the ignition.

-RP

9 blades, mags hot and when the engine catches on, mixture to auto rich 

And you don't want to be late switching on the mags, fumbling with your camcorder while your buddy is priming pretty heavily..... don't ask me how I know. 

C-131 Samaritan	powered by Aeva

[Skinhead]

So. What happens with the fuel in those planes if they sit for prolonged periods?  Can they drain the tanks if they aren't going to be flown for an extended period?