I didnt have hydrolock today

[junior]

cause after my OEM pecock failed for the 2nd time, i bit the bullet and installed a ch1311 pingle and ended the petcock syndrom. you just have to remember to shut it off when you dismount your bike

[Disco]

you just have to remember to shut it off when you dismount your bike

And therein lies the problem.  If your OEM petcock is functioning properly (BTW, it's inexpensive and easy to maintain  ), you don't have to remember to shut it off when you dismount your bike.  If, in addition to the vacuum-operated diaphragm Honda provided every Valkyrie, you want another fail safe, add a Dan-Marc. 

Want a Pingel fuel valve?  Get a Pingel fuel valve.  Just don't do it because it's better.  It's just different.

Here's the only Pingle I'd use with my Valkyrie.

[shooter64]

cause after my OEM pecock failed for the 2nd time, i bit the bullet and installed a ch1311 pingle and ended the petcock syndrom. you just have to remember to shut it off when you dismount your bike

Would your failed petcock still flow when turned to the off position?

[salty1]

Disco's statement is reasonable and to the point. It would appear from what I've read here and elsewhere that if all else fails use a Pingel valve.   

[Farther]

I didn't have hydrolock today either and I have a stock petcock.

[Patrick]

I didn't have a fuel-lock today either, but, I haven't tried to start it yet this year.. We won't be home for another week or so..

[Hook#3287]

I go with the "bump the starter button" style of avoiding hydo-lock.  Seems like even if you change the petcock, add an electric shut off and use a car in-line gas filter, hydro-lock can still happen due to the amount of gas in the lines and the bowls.  I'm sure I could shut the gas off two or three miles from home every time I ride, but don't think I'd remember every time.  Plus, I'm not sure running it out of gas every time is all that good for the lines.  Don't know.

And if you don't ride for a week or so and everything is empty, wouldn't that be a problem with everything drying out?

About the only way to completely avoid it is to shut down the gas supply and completly drain the gas lines & bowls every day, which I'm not doing.

[Hook#3287]

Somebody invent a retro-fit fuel injection system. Please.

[Hook#3287]

oh yeah, cheap.

[Patrick]

Some guys have played with EFI as well as a single carburetor,, but,, aren't those 6 chrome plated exposed fuel mixers part of the reason we bought these monsters.. This fuel-lock thing doesn't happen very often and as long you just ' tap ' the start button then it becomes less of an issue.. Its kind of a PITA too remove all the sparklers and clear the cylinders, but, its part of owning this monster and I'm getting pretty fast at doing it..  I wish thing had a lever I could jump on,, it would help and remind me of the good ole days..

[FLAVALK]

After a near Hydrolock with the OEM petcock, I switched to a Pingle and inline filter...that was ten years ago. I still shut the petcock off a mile from the house and bump start it. Lesson learned

[junior]

cause after my OEM pecock failed for the 2nd time, i bit the bullet and installed a ch1311 pingle and ended the petcock syndrom. you just have to remember to shut it off when you dismount your bike

Would your failed petcock still flow when turned to the off position?

if your asking if you can still have hydrolock after you shut off your OEM petcock? the answer is yes.

the vacum side of the petcock witch operates the auto shut off goes right into the intake tube of one of the cycinders and if that diaphram fails and it could be happening as you sleep in your nice an cozy bed. and when you go to start the fat girl she blows a sprocket. but thats your choice.

and the key word with the OEM petcock is YET.

[junior]

you just have to remember to shut it off when you dismount your bike

And therein lies the problem.  If your OEM petcock is functioning properly (BTW, it's inexpensive and easy to maintain  ), you don't have to remember to shut it off when you dismount your bike.  If, in addition to the vacuum-operated diaphragm Honda provided every Valkyrie, you want another fail safe, add a Dan-Marc. 

Want a Pingel fuel valve?  Get a Pingel fuel valve.  Just don't do it because it's better.  It's just different.

Here's the only Pingle I'd use with my Valkyrie.

the dan marc isnt a compleat failsafe its that 5/32 vacum tube that is the bad guy not the 5/16 fuel line

[Robert]

Salty and disco Im quite amazed that in the relative security of having a motorcycle that doesn't fail that you have decided to overlook one of the only real problems these bikes have. When I see a potential problem I like to take care of it now so that Im not doing damage control later. The stock valve is just such a issue. I dont know how you can ignore the fact that ever since this boards inception that this problem has been consistent. Myself having the stock petcock fail 3 times under warranty wasn't about to give it a 4th. I replaced mine with a Pingle and then with a belly tank. Pingle does make a vacuum valve also. Just for further enlightenment the stock petcocks do fail to stop fuel in the off position and not through the vacuum side but it just fails to stop the fuel. If you do the research you will find that even people who have rebuilt it have had problems. So while I do like additions to the bike in the way of chrome There is no bragging right to putting on a Pingle or any other valve for that matter. The Pingle has showed itself as a suitable replacement lacking competition in this area from other manufacturers. There have been allot of very intelligent and thoughtful people that have dealt with this real, not perceived problem and have come up with different solutions. If you feel confident in your decision then good for you I hope it works out. There are many that go into the casinos to hit it big and come out worse for wear. But there are some that actually do play the odds and come out on top, I dont like these kind of games and will continue to try to do preventative maintenance in a effort to get the best riding experience. To me anything less is foolhardy just like burying my head in the sand at possible trouble.
   Just another note Jeff K does have efi on his bikes.

[Disco]

The following are taken from this lively and informative thread on the Texas Board: http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,32983.0.html

From me:

I'm not at all knocking Pingel's quality products.  If you want a Pingel, get a Pingel.  Just be sure it's because you want one, not need one.  My observations of the entire oem petcock versus pingel discussion are:

1. If you have always turned your fuel off at a stop, the transition from oem to Pingel is seamless.  But is it necessary, or only a personal preference?  I believe it's only a preference but is often described as an upgrade.

2. If you have never learned to turn your fuel off at a stop (or don't do it 100% of the time, or just never bothered) and you install a Pingel manual valve, you are eliminating one fail safe between you and the dreaded hydrolock.  Unless turned off, the Pingel will drain fuel to the carburetors - the last remaining fail safe.

3. If you maintain your oem petcock and leave your fuel on at a stop, it is highly unlikely that you are asking for trouble.

4. If you don't maintain your oem petcock and leave your fuel on at a stop, you need two bad things to happen simultaneously to set up the dreaded hydrolock.  I believe this has been well-documented to be rare.  Obviously, if hydrolock happens, it can be very bad.  However, a significant portion of those unfortunate enough to have encountered hydrolock have caught it in time to avoid damage.  (The methods for clearing the hydrolock can be found by searching the Tech Board.)  

5. If you don't mind rebuilding your oem petcock regularly, or simply enjoy knowing that its vacuum operation is functioning properly, you can rebuild it and replace the Screen Set several times for the cost of a Pingel.

6. If you are dead-set on having a manual fuel valve, you can easily convert the oem petcock to manual with a piece of gasket material.  

YMMV

Now that that's settled, let's talk about oil.    

From Valkpilot:

Except for the oil discussion part, I'm with Disco on this one.

The OEM petcock has two fail-safes.  One is the vacuum diaphragm operation: Engine not on, fuel no flow.  The other is that it is a positive ball-detent shut off system. You can feel it click into place in each position.  Not true of the Pingel, I believe.  So, clicked into 'off', fuel no flow.

Regular maintenance of the diaphragm insures that you won't have fuel-flow issues, one of the symptoms of which is low MPG.

What about hydrolock?  This is a term often misused, I believe.  It is supposed to describe a condition where a cylinder has been filled with liquid whose inability to be compressed effectively seizes the engine, resulting in damage to starter gears and worse.

For fuel to get in a cylinder when the engine is not running, the OEM petcock must be 'on' AND the diaphragm faulty AND either a carb float must be stuck or weak so that fuel can get past it.   But, fuel in a cylinder is not the same as hydrolock.  For true hydrolock to occur, the cylinder in question must be on the compression stroke as you engage the starter.

So, considering these things, if you turn the OEM petcock valve to 'off' consistently, and you maintain the diaphragm by rebuilding it at intervals, your chances of hydrolock are practically nil, zilch, zero.

My OEM petcock went 12 years and 66,000 miles before it failed. Not bad for a maintenance part, IMHO, and worth the little bit of trouble to keep all its advantages.


And then there is this Hydrolock Survey thread: http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,35281.0.html

[Robert]

Well the stock petcock will flow fuel when in the off position when defective.
   Who really checks their petcock on a regular basis, so for 66k miles that you didn't check there were no glaring problems    I checked mine on  a fluke because I had to remove the tank and the fuel never shut off in any position.
  Thats what I mean by taking chances there is no warning indications that the petcock is bad. So you go along all the time thinking all is ok till its not by then you bought yourself a repair. If you want vacuum you can get a vacuum Pingle also. I have to know that if I put my trust in a part that I dont have to check that part all the time to make sure it is performing properly. I cant say that of the oem petcock rebuilt or not.

[junior]

The following are taken from this lively and informative thread on the Texas Board: http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,32983.0.html

From me:

I'm not at all knocking Pingel's quality products.  If you want a Pingel, get a Pingel.  Just be sure it's because you want one, not need one.  My observations of the entire oem petcock versus pingel discussion are:

1. If you have always turned your fuel off at a stop, the transition from oem to Pingel is seamless.  But is it necessary, or only a personal preference?  I believe it's only a preference but is often described as an upgrade.

2. If you have never learned to turn your fuel off at a stop (or don't do it 100% of the time, or just never bothered) and you install a Pingel manual valve, you are eliminating one fail safe between you and the dreaded hydrolock.  Unless turned off, the Pingel will drain fuel to the carburetors - the last remaining fail safe.

3. If you maintain your oem petcock and leave your fuel on at a stop, it is highly unlikely that you are asking for trouble.

4. If you don't maintain your oem petcock and leave your fuel on at a stop, you need two bad things to happen simultaneously to set up the dreaded hydrolock.  I believe this has been well-documented to be rare.  Obviously, if hydrolock happens, it can be very bad.  However, a significant portion of those unfortunate enough to have encountered hydrolock have caught it in time to avoid damage.  (The methods for clearing the hydrolock can be found by searching the Tech Board.)  

5. If you don't mind rebuilding your oem petcock regularly, or simply enjoy knowing that its vacuum operation is functioning properly, you can rebuild it and replace the Screen Set several times for the cost of a Pingel.

6. If you are dead-set on having a manual fuel valve, you can easily convert the oem petcock to manual with a piece of gasket material.  

YMMV

Now that that's settled, let's talk about oil.    

From Valkpilot:

Except for the oil discussion part, I'm with Disco on this one.

The OEM petcock has two fail-safes.  One is the vacuum diaphragm operation: Engine not on, fuel no flow.  The other is that it is a positive ball-detent shut off system. You can feel it click into place in each position.  Not true of the Pingel, I believe.  So, clicked into 'off', fuel no flow.

Regular maintenance of the diaphragm insures that you won't have fuel-flow issues, one of the symptoms of which is low MPG.

What about hydrolock?  This is a term often misused, I believe.  It is supposed to describe a condition where a cylinder has been filled with liquid whose inability to be compressed effectively seizes the engine, resulting in damage to starter gears and worse.

For fuel to get in a cylinder when the engine is not running, the OEM petcock must be 'on' AND the diaphragm faulty AND either a carb float must be stuck or weak so that fuel can get past it.   But, fuel in a cylinder is not the same as hydrolock.  For true hydrolock to occur, the cylinder in question must be on the compression stroke as you engage the starter.

So, considering these things, if you turn the OEM petcock valve to 'off' consistently, and you maintain the diaphragm by rebuilding it at intervals, your chances of hydrolock are practically nil, zilch, zero.

My OEM petcock went 12 years and 66,000 miles before it failed. Not bad for a maintenance part, IMHO, and worth the little bit of trouble to keep all its advantages.


And then there is this Hydrolock Survey thread: http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,35281.0.html

ok just because your from texas, your right, but you still need i bigger stickand more friends to beat me into submission not to see the facts of the OEM petcock and the mechanics of it faults...........

now lets talk about religon.............

how often do you have to change the cover of that book you thump

[Valkpilot]

Well the stock petcock will flow fuel when in the off position when defective.

As will the Pingel, when defective.  There have been a couple of posts on this in recent memory.

   Who really checks their petcock on a regular basis, so for 66k miles that you didn't check there were no glaring problems    I checked mine on  a fluke because I had to remove the tank and the fuel never shut off in any position.
  Thats what I mean by taking chances there is no warning indications that the petcock is bad. So you go along all the time thinking all is ok till its not by then you bought yourself a repair. If you want vacuum you can get a vacuum Pingle also. I have to know that if I put my trust in a part that I dont have to check that part all the time to make sure it is performing properly. I cant say that of the oem petcock rebuilt or not.

The failure I experienced was lack of fuel flow, not hydrolock, and yes, it stranded me.  But that was my fault because I didn't routinely check the part.  It's a maintenance item just like brakes, air filter, oil changes, tires, and so on.  I now treat it as such.

When replacing the OEM petcock, I think a non-vacuum Pingel should be installed in conjunction with a Dan Marc solenoid valve which would provide no-flow assurance in case of either a defective Pingel (rare) or the the petcock not being turned off when parked.

[fudgie]

I've left my pingel on for over a week with no probs. If Im off bike for a hour I dont shut mine off.

[junior]

like i said its a habbit to shut mine off when i dismount. and i didnt say i disliked the dan marc valve i stated that when installed with an unmodified OEM petcock that it wouldnt prevent hydrolock

[salty1]

Salty and disco Im quite amazed that in the relative security of having a motorcycle that doesn't fail that you have decided to overlook one of the only real problems these bikes have. When I see a potential problem I like to take care of it now so that Im not doing damage control later. The stock valve is just such a issue. I dont know how you can ignore the fact that ever since this boards inception that this problem has been consistent. Myself having the stock petcock fail 3 times under warranty wasn't about to give it a 4th. I replaced mine with a Pingle and then with a belly tank. Pingle does make a vacuum valve also. Just for further enlightenment the stock petcocks do fail to stop fuel in the off position and not through the vacuum side but it just fails to stop the fuel. If you do the research you will find that even people who have rebuilt it have had problems. So while I do like additions to the bike in the way of chrome There is no bragging right to putting on a Pingle or any other valve for that matter. The Pingle has showed itself as a suitable replacement lacking competition in this area from other manufacturers.
There have been allot of very intelligent and thoughtful people that have dealt with this real, not perceived problem and have come up with different solutions. If you feel confident in your decision then
good for you I hope it works out. There are many that go into the casinos to hit it big and come out worse for wear. But there are some that actually do play the odds and come out on top, I dont like these
kind of games and will continue to try to do preventative maintenance in a effort to get the best riding
experience. To me anything less is foolhardy just like burying my head in the sand at possible trouble.

Robert, I don't see the OEM petcock as a perceived problem as you suggest. I see it as a functional piece of equipment that can possibly fail, just like any other part. I've not experienced a failure or the possible side affects. Honda put a great of effort in their petcock and I'll use it and if all else fails I will probably replace it with a Pingel.

[Robert]

Messages Posted Between
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Messages Containing Any of the Keywords:
petcock

Nahhhh its not a problem, Enough said  

[valkyriemc]

Messages Posted Between
26 December 2002 and 6 January 2009          4321 of 230878 Messages Displayed
(Reversed Chronological Listing)
Messages Containing Any of the Keywords:
petcock

Nahhhh its not a problem, Enough said  

Thank you, I did that search too. Re my 2000 I/S -the original failed, leaked, & my second, another Honda petcock failed. My current vacuum pingle is running great.