Question about fuel cut off valve...

[Printer Mike]

I started riding MC's in the early 60's and developed a habit of shutting off the fuel valve at the end of a ride and turning it on before a ride. It's just a habit I do without thinking. Does this habit eliminate the possibility of hydro lock on my Valk?

Thanks...

[Patrick]

No, but it does help possibly prevent it.. There is enough fuel left in the lines to lock a cylinder, but, some may argue that statement..

[Ricky-D]

Well Honda didn't put that vacuum operated petcock on the Valkyrie for no reason.

If it would not stop a hydrolock situation why then, would they do that?

There are no figures on how much fuel is necessary for a hydrolock situation nor is there any compilation on volume of fuel available and remaining inside the hoses.

If you add additional volume with such as an extra filter, you are increasing the possibility of hydrolock according to that particular scripture.

If you have a good performing stopcock, one that doesn't leak, then turning it off will prevent a hydrolock. This you can be sure of!

Everything else is conjecture.

***

[Gear Jammer]

And then a DanMarc fuel solenoid placed just before the T going to the carbs, would reduce even more the potential amount of fuel remaining to run into the carb(s)

[Chiefy]

Shutting off the valve goes a long way.  But...... The valves are junk, and have been known to leak.  Plus if the diaphragm is compromised, fuel could leak down the vacuum line into carb 6.

Now of course, the float on carb 6 would have to be stuck open, and the intake valve for that cylinder would have to be open for all this to happen.  The odds are in the owners favor.  But, a search on this board will reveal that it does happen.

[Patrick]

One really has be skeptical of what they read.. Heres the story.. My first fuel-lock on my bike happened with an original properly operating system.. #1 cylinder locked and the fuel valve would not 'dribble'..  Not long after the diaphram failed and while I was waiting for a pingle, #5 cylinder locked, fuel-valve still didn't leak.. The valve position as everyone knows is pretty fussy and you have to squint your eyes and hold your tongue in just the right position while shutting the valve, but, it didn't leak when ever I checked it.. The Pingle and an in-line filter went it about 12 or more years ago with no starvation issues.. So the moral of the story is,, there is enough fuel in the lines to lock a cylinder.. Just look at the size of these combustion chambers and the length and size of the fuel lines,, there is enough fuel to lock a cylinder.. I'm living proof..

[Chiefy]

One really has be skeptical of what they read.. Heres the story.. My first fuel-lock on my bike happened with an original properly operating system.. #1 cylinder locked and the fuel valve would not 'dribble'..  Not long after the diaphram failed and while I was waiting for a pingle, #5 cylinder locked, fuel-valve still didn't leak.. The valve position as everyone knows is pretty fussy and you have to squint your eyes and hold your tongue in just the right position while shutting the valve, but, it didn't leak when ever I checked it.. The Pingle and an in-line filter went it about 12 or more years ago with no starvation issues.. So the moral of the story is,, there is enough fuel in the lines to lock a cylinder.. Just look at the size of these combustion chambers and the length and size of the fuel lines,, there is enough fuel to lock a cylinder.. I'm living proof..

That makes sense, but brings up another question.  Why don't we ever hear of someone with a Pingle locking up?  I'm not being a wise-guy with that question, BTW.

[Patrick]

We have, its happened..