Cylinders,,, full of fuel??

[98pacecar]

This sounds way,,,,,,,,,,,,,, to common.  

N' I've only been round here, a month n' a half..  

Is this,, really,, da case ?

Have a LOT of owners actually,,, lunched,,,, their motors, errr,, does it just seem dat way???

This crap,,, is startin to make me wish,,,,,,, I 'd bought something else...    ???

[Donut]

GLOBAL WARMING IS CAUSING IT....

[Valkorado]

Spooked the heck out of me just after purchasing mine as well.  Look into a Dan-Marc electric fuel shutoff, it's probably the best insurance.  Many also replace the petcock with a manual one such as a Pingel.

[Patrick]

Why worry ? Relax and ride that monster. The more they are used, the less chance of a fuel lock.
I think I've had more fuel locks than anyone and I have not had any damage from one, which I believe is the starting procedure.
I don't think the first one was my fault, it just happened. The others I can kinda lay on myself.
As I mentioned before. Just keep the wrench kit with the bike, just tap the start button, if it ever locks, remove all the sparklers[ doesn't take long], clear the cylinders, put it back together and go ride it.
No matter what bike anyone buys, they all have their quirks. Because of this board we know what our quirks are and how to deal with them.
We still ride the best damn cruiser ever made. And I'm sticking with that story.

[Hook#3287]

No matter what bike anyone buys, they all have their quirks. Because of this board we know what our quirks are and how to deal with them.
We still ride the best damn cruiser ever made. And I'm sticking with that story.

Good answer

[Moonshot_1]

I don't know if I'd define this as being common.

You got to take into account that this is a tech board where folks go to discuss things that go wrong. Hydrolock is one of the things that can go wrong so it is often discussed here. Doesn't mean it is a common occurrence. It's just commonly discussed.

This apparently requires at least a couple things to happen in concert, that being a problem petcock and a stuck carb float. This also seems to be remedied by riding a lot and keeping fresh gas running through the system and/or using an additive like Techron or Seafoam regularly to keep the carbs clean.


I believe it is far more common for things NOT to go wrong with this bike. 

[Patrick]

I believe it is far more common for things NOT to go wrong with this bike.
end quote



 

[tank_post142]

yah, i was pissed when my clutch went at 410,000 miles ! what an unreliable piece of junk. 

[Skinhead]

yah, i was pissed when my clutch went at 410,000 miles ! what an unreliable piece of junk. 

You should sell that POS, but you'd just be passing your problems on to someone else.

[BF]

This sounds way,,,,,,,,,,,,,, to common.  

N' I've only been round here, a month n' a half..  

Is this,, really,, da case ?

Have a LOT of owners actually,,, lunched,,,, their motors, errr,, does it just seem dat way???

This crap,,, is startin to make me wish,,,,,,, I 'd bought something else...    ???

When I first bought my Valk, I was a little worried about too.  However, there's a way to test your petcock. 

Go for a ride.  Yep, go for a ride......while riding, reach down and turn the oem petcock to off.  The bike should start to sputter in short order.  Mine will start to run out of gas within approx. 1/2 mile. 

If your bike keeps going, or goes a lot longer than that before starting to sputter, you have a bad petcock.  Replace petcock either with an OEM, or rebuilt it with a cover set, or get a Pingle. 

IMHO, it's NOT that big a thing to worry about.  Just check it from time to time. 

[BradValk48237]

Don't worry about it!!!!!!!

There are tons of guys here on the board who have 100,000+ miles.... (many way more than that) that have NEVER had this problem. I too got the "OOOOO its gonna break" willies after I read the board for the first few weeks after I got mine a few years ago.

Yes, petcocks do go bad.

Yes, they do like to use up rear tires.

Yes, it is easy to pinch the Tank Vent line.

Yes, it is hard to get the air box back on.

Yes, they do like to slurp the gas.

Yes, the kickstand springs break once in a while.

Yes, the do have driveline issues with higher milage, misuse, and poor maint.

Yes, the carbs can get gummed up from sitting and non use.

Yes, there is a CHANCE you might get a hydro lock.

And finally, Yes, crap breaks.... its a machine!

 But out of the hundreds (thousands?) of members on this site, the Hydro lock issue happens to be posted on the site only every other month or so.... So thats maybe 12 bikes a year out of the Thousands that are on the road.

I have not had one major issue in 3 plus years (wheres that wood to knock on!?!?!?).... and mine sits out in the cold garage for 5 months-ish every year. But I do have a U joint and a kickstand spring in the saddlebag just in case, as these seem to be the problems that could stop you on a long trip. I learned this from this board.

So if it ain't broke.. don't fix it! Just ride it. What I have noticed is that the more these machines are used, the less seems to go wrong.

These bikes have some common issues, but for the most part are fairly bullet proof and when they do break, its usually easy for someone with basic wrench skills and help from this board to fix it.

YOU own one of the most dependable line of bikes ever built- no matter what you may have read on this board..

Don't worry.. be happy!  Just ride it til' It does break........... and I bet you will be riding ALOT more than fix in'

Whew!... enough ranting.

Brad

[salty1]

    ???  Tell us what you really think Brad. 

         By the way, I agree with all of it.

[BradValk48237]

LOL....

Its frigertty cold here and I guess I'm just Cranky.....

Brad

[Ricky-D]

I don't believe testing the petcock in the most commonly accepted method of turning it off and observing the results is reliable.

For the simple reason that the motor cannot run on drips of gasoline and there have been many times where shutting off the

gasoline has not completely stopped the gas flow.

The only true way to check the petcock would be to disconnect the gas line and observe if gas then drips from the petcock.

The stock OEM petcock is notorious for not completely shutting off the gas.

And it only takes a few drips per minute overnight to cause havoc.

***

[HayHauler]

Thanks for the rant Brad.  I'm sure you know most of these and can add some too...

Yes, she will spin the rear tire if you give her too much throttle in first gear.

Yes, she will pull the front wheel if you give her too much throttle in first gear, especially with a pillion.

Yes, she will put a smile on your face that steel wool can't rub off.

Yes, she will ride cross-country and do all of these things at the end of a hard day.

Yes, she will out run most other cruiser bikes on the road.

Yes, she will provide many miles of comfort through the years.

Yes, she will make you giggle like a little school girl after riding through Spear Fish Canyon with 5_19 and Disco.

Yes, she will attract attention most everywhere you go.

Yes, she will provide years of enjoyment........ and never talk back.  

Hay  
Jimmyt

[BradValk48237]

Thats not fair....

You got the POSITIVE rant.....

Those things are Why we bought the rotten SOB's in the first place.....

B

[fordmano]

I might have a Dan-Mark valve up for sale soon if your interested in it?
I have a Belly Tank and a manual Pingel so no real need for the Dan-Mark, I was just to lazy to pull it out when the belly tank was installed.

These Phat Gurls are just purrty and often perfect, any machine can have an issue or occasional failure.
I have had mine for over 8 years and have had my share of issues and still won't sell or trade her for any other bike as of yet. Seems like about the best thing you can do for her is regular maintenance and RIDE her almost daily or more often if possible...