Hydrolock Poll

[Fatboyman05]

I have read many threads relating to hydrolock and was really wondering if there were any real (or approximate) numbers regarding the valving circumstances on hydrolocked bikes. I did a search since it is my friend    and saw a refrence to a poll but could not find the actual poll.

 
up to six votes since some of you have multiple bikes and unfortunately may have had more than one experience with the dreaded H...

I also found that some have had it who switched to a Pingel but did not "see" any that had it with a pingel and a fuel cut off switch...

PS: I also created this poll / post so I did not hijack anyone elses thread..

[Fudd]

My bike didn't hydrolock, but the stock petcock did malfunction causing the fuel to flow without a vacuum applied.  Only by luck and some good seating float valves, I avoided the hydrolock.

That was enough for me.  I went with a Pingle and a Dan Marc electric shutoff.

[Valkpilot]

Here's the link to one survey: http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,35281.0.html

Based on the poll responses, hydrolock as an actual occurence is relatively rare.

[SimTek]

Hydrolock with a Pingle. There is enough fuel in the bowl and lines to hydrolock. Removed carbs and cleaned them and installed an inline fuel filter.

[Hoser]

I usually shut off the fuel a mile or two from getting home to get rid of some of the fuel in the lines and bowls.  Hoser

[R J]

Question: for those who have "had" or "fixed" a hydrolock bike - what valve set up did you have?  

Okay clarify your question please.

Are you asking what I had when it failed or are you after how I fixed it.

If it is the 1st part, then it would be my stock one.

If it was the 2nd 1/2, it would be Pingle w/ Dan Marc electric cutoff.

[Fatboyman05]

Hey R J, the first part of your question is what I was asking. I am wondering what people were running when they experienced a hydrolock...   

[X Ring]

I've had what Daniel Meyer called the most unique petcock failure in Valkyrie history.  The lip on the petcock body that holds the clip securing the mounting nut sheared and the petcock fell out.  Thank God I found it while doing it maintenance and not while I was riding.     After that there was no way in Hell I was going to trust that pot metal pos design ever again.  I replaced it with a Pingel and haven't looked back.  When I bought my I/S a year and a half ago, the first thing I did was replace the petcock. 



Marty

[junior]

if your as old as RJ you should be in the habbit of shutting off your petcockevery time you dismount from your ride. you can dink with a oem petcock and the dan marc valve but you will still have a direct sorce of gas that can get into # 3  or is it #6 from the vacum line that controls the auto valve on the oem petcock, and still cause hydrolock

[Ricky-D]

Hydrolock with a Pingle. There is enough fuel in the bowl and lines to hydrolock. Removed carbs and cleaned them and installed an inline fuel filter.

Opinion masquerading as fact.

***

[N0tac0p]

I don't understand it.  i had a 76 goldwing for 27 years, same style, ie vacuum fuel valve and NEVER had this issue.  what changed

[Patrick]

Sim Tec,, don't worry,, you're correct !!

[Robert]

I agree with Rick D on this. If somehow all the fuel from all the carbs could manage to go into one cylinder and there was no leaking by the rings then maybe. But in reality some are getting less mileage all of a sudden that could be the petcock letting fuel slip by when the bike is off. There are alot of things that have to happen to hydro lock. Petcock fails, needles fail, enough to allow a sufficient flow of fuel into the cylinder with good sealing rings or bike on a sufficient angle so the fuel doesn't drain out that cylinder when you hit the starter.
  I had the stock valve replaced 3 times under warranty for not stopping the gas went to a Pingle then went to a belly tank. Almost hydro locked but not solid I heard it hesitate for just a split second.

[Patrick]

How could fuel from other carburetors possibly go into one cylinder ??  It can't.. I have not measured the volume of one of these combustion chambers but I imagine its not any or much greater than 20cc.. The fuel lines contain more than that and it is possible for that fuel to lock one of these cylinders, unfortunately I've proved it.. If more folks would just 'tap' the start button I think the damage would drop dramatically..

[Robert]

20cc is .67 ounce it takes alot more than that to hydrolock a cylinder. My point was that if the petcock was able to block off the flow of fuel that all the fuel in the bowls and lines would have to flow magically into one cylinder to make it hydro lock. Which as we all know is impossible. By the way if you go to DPR website you will find that they cc the heads after welding up places and it comes out to 26cc. This doesn't take into account ring leakage and the cc of the piston to deck cc also.

[shooter64]

I usually shut off the fuel a mile or two from getting home to get rid of some of the fuel in the lines and bowls.  Hoser

Thats what I do also.

[SimTek]

OK.. here is my story... I have a PINGEL.. I get home, shut off the bike and shut off the pingle. The next day I go out and smell fuel. I look around, see nothing turn on the pingle, hit the starter.. clunk..Hydrolock. I shut off the pingle and  pull the spark plugs and see fuel in # 4. I take the bike outside and turn it over and blow it out.  I turn on the pingle and  fire the bike up and let it run. Shut it down and turn off the pingle. I go to the store to get some Sea Foam..other errands.. was gone all day. I get back in the garage and smell fuel again around the bike. I take out the spark plugs and see fuel in #4 again.  [This fuel came from the bowl and lines....]
I then take off the tank and the pingle is working (not seeping any fuel into the lines). I then take off the carbs and clean them and add an inline fuel filter.

[Patrick]

Yep, I've had the same thing happen.. I just kept flushing fuel thru the offending carburetor until the junk worked its way out or the Seafoam dissolved the junk that was hanging the float.. It took awhile..

[Oss]

didnt have a hydro but while bigbf was preparing to synch the carbs he noticed fuel leaking by the petcock

 think it was Matt from Carolina vendor who sold me a new petcock and so far all is well  bought a rebuild kit but havent gotten to do it yet  its only 3 yrs or so

also got a dan marc but have not installed it yet so I have had no problems with that either

sorry to actually answer your question

I do know Gman had a hydro on stock pc

I do run seafoam several times a year thru the tank and run the bike all year