hydrolock,.......anyone?

[rhubarbray]

Ok, I`m fairly new to this board but have had many motorcycles with carbs and vacuum petcocks. Also I`m a motorcycle training course mechanic with about 64 little bikes to maintain and have been with them for about 15 years. I`ve never had hydrolock occur in any of my bikes. Now I am not dissing any of the members who have had the Dan Marc mod done, I`m thinking about doing it myself. What I`m wondering is how many of you have actually had gasoline hydrolock happen to them? And what percentage would that be of all owners? I`m all for minimizing failures but would you carry a spare set of wheel bearings, an ignition box, and a rear end on every trip? If all instances total .001%, that`s pretty small but if it were nearer 2% that`s significant and would get added to my "do over winter" list.

Anybody?

[larue]

You'll probably better off modifying your post to a survey type post

[98valk]

do a search, survey was done before, very few have had problems. I've posted what I feel it is per Honda's service bulletin for Goldwing 1500s. However,recently much written that it is the float valve springs getting weak and possibly some carbs the floats hit the carb body preventing complete fuel shutoff, I dont' believe that one due to yrs of Keihin and honda building carbs and missing that design issue.
Randakk recommends only OEM float valve be used. states OEM are good for 100k miles.
http://www.randakksblog.com/more-problems-with-aftermarket-float-valves/

http://www.randakksblog.com/top-honda-gl1000-carb-rebuilding-mistakes/

[gordonv]

Old, but there may be others.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,35281.0.html

You only hear of the problems here, that is what it is for.

I always recommend a few things for new owners. Do the rear wheel maintenance, and learn about hydro lock.

[Hook#3287]

Hydro Lock happens.

No matter what the percentage is, it only takes one to ruin your day, or month, or year.

The Dan Marc is a great tool to fight it, but I'm not convinced it will prevent it.

There is a school of thought, that the amount of gas in the fuel lines, is enough to cause a lock.

I believe there is no real way to prevent a lock w/o a complete reengineering of the fuel system or completely emptying the gas lines after every ride and you can only take steps to minimise the threat.

I think it was Attic Rat that stated, one of the maintenance items we should do is replace the floats valves EVERY time we open the carbs.  I am now, and plan on, following that advice.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Hydro Lock happens.

No matter what the percentage is, it only takes one to ruin your day, or month, or year.

The Dan Marc is a great tool to fight it, but I'm not convinced it will prevent it.

There is a school of thought, that the amount of gas in the fuel lines, is enough to cause a lock.

I believe there is no real way to prevent a lock w/o a complete reengineering of the fuel system or completely emptying the gas lines after every ride and you can only take steps to minimise the threat.

I think it was Attic Rat that stated, one of the maintenance items we should do is replace the floats valves EVERY time we open the carbs.  I am now, and plan on, following that advice.

I think it was the guy that did the turbo build (can't remember his handle). Then it was corroborated by BonS and Attic Rat. The next time I take the carb bank out I will do it also. I've always felt the brass floats with the adjustable shut off tang are superior over the non adjustable plastic ones. But I'm sure they cost more. I put on a Dan Marc a while back for peace of mind. I THINK that any fuel in the line wouldn't be able to flow because of the vacuum created with the valve closed. I THINK there is still a chance of the petcock failing and fuel flowing down the vacuum line to #6. Knock on wood, I hope to never have to deal with it.

[rhubarbray]

Old, but there may be others.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,35281.0.html

You only hear of the problems here, that is what it is for.

I always recommend a few things for new owners. Do the rear wheel maintenance, and learn about hydro lock.

Missed that one, thanks.  And I`ve already done the rear end maintenance

[pedroski]

G'day to Everyone 

Just my 10 Cent's worth ......... My 98 Valky is the only bike I have or have ever owned that does not have a fuel filter in line.

Yes! there is a gauze mesh in the fuel tank, but it only takes one small grain of crap to get stuck in a float valve.

in any case I am going to put on a fuel filter next time I give her a once over or the tank comes off for any other reason.

Happy & Safe Riding to All.

Peter.

[Firefighter]

Pedroski, You had best do a search on the fuel filter idea, and listen to the responses in route. Many of us have had problems with fuel filters as the fuel line and filter need to be angled down hill of the tank and there is not much room for that.

I think most hydrolock problems are caused from the bike sitting to long and the gas goes bad causing gummed carbs along with ethanol problems.

[Bighead]

G'day to Everyone  

Just my 10 Cent's worth ......... My 98 Valky is the only bike I have or have ever owned that does not have a fuel filter in line.

Yes! there is a gauze mesh in the fuel tank, but it only takes one small grain of crap to get stuck in a float valve.

in any case I am going to put on a fuel filter next time I give her a once over or the tank comes off for any other reason.

Happy & Safe Riding to All.

Peter.

Listen to the next post

Pedroski, You had best do a search on the fuel filter idea, and listen to the responses in route. Many of us have had problems with fuel filters as the fuel line and filter need to be angled down hill of the tank and there is not much room for that.

I think most hydrolock problems are caused from the bike sitting to long and the gas goes bad causing gummed carbs along with ethanol problems.

It takes more than one factor to cause a Hydrolock. You have to have a bad
Petcock ( many replace with a manual plus a Dan Marc shut off) but all of that is not a cure because you also have to have a bad float valve to allow the fuel to pass into the cylinder. My bee is ny on twenty years old and it still has the Original ( not a rebuild or aftermarket) petcock in place. A lot here will tell me I am stupid but if it ain't broke don't fix it. These bikes need to be ridden not kept in a garage and polished.
You here of all the Carb problems and people replacing jets and all that other crap. Mine have never been touched in 20 years some feel a NEED to tinker for no good reason. Ride that phat Gurl often and don't sweat what MIGHT happen.

[98valk]

G'day to Everyone 

Just my 10 Cent's worth ......... My 98 Valky is the only bike I have or have ever owned that does not have a fuel filter in line.

Yes! there is a gauze mesh in the fuel tank, but it only takes one small grain of crap to get stuck in a float valve.

in any case I am going to put on a fuel filter next time I give her a once over or the tank comes off for any other reason.

Happy & Safe Riding to All.

Peter.

the fine filtration filter inside the tank will stop any fine dirt, then each inlet hole into the bowl has another fine mesh filter. no other filter/s are needed. and any more has caused fuel flow restriction causing leanness at high rpms and high engine load.

[jim@98valkyrie.com]

It takes more than one factor to cause a Hydrolock. You have to have a bad
Petcock ( many replace with a manual plus a Dan Marc shut off) but all of that is not a cure because you also have to have a bad float valve to allow the fuel to pass into the cylinder. My bee is ny on twenty years old and it still has the Original ( not a rebuild or aftermarket) petcock in place. A lot here will tell me I am stupid but if it ain't broke don't fix it. These bikes need to be ridden not kept in a garage and polished.
You here of all the Carb problems and people replacing jets and all that other crap. Mine have never been touched in 20 years some feel a NEED to tinker for no good reason. Ride that phat Gurl often and don't sweat what MIGHT happen.

I agree with Bighead. I still have the original petcock (had cover set replaced) and it is tested at regular intervals. If it ain't broke, don't change things around.

[Pete]

It actually takes 3 malfunctions to cause hydro-lock
The two already mentioned petcock failure and float valve leak and

the carb vent circuit malfunction/restriction/hose crimp.

The vent must have less restriction than the jets to work properly, so that gas will flow through the vent instead of the jets.

Of the 4 failures I have seen only 1 actually tried to hydro-locked (but was caught), 1 overflowed out of the vent and 1 fouled the number six spark plug and 1 went on reserve early.

[gordonv]

Well guys, I too am going to "try" to add a fuel filter to My Valkyrie. 

OK, not really. But I have already picked up a VT1100 Shadow electric fuel pump which has a filter combined to it. Will install it some day when I do a desmog on the bike, as it will be the one and only time I expect to take the air box off, carbs and intake tubs off for replacement O-rings. 

Most have had problems after adding in a fuel filter, and have removed it and replaced the line back to original OEM. If there is any kind of upwards slop to the fuel line, expect feed problems. 

I would suggest document it. Someone sometime will get this right one day, it would be nice to make it repeatable. But I expect it will be my way, an inline fuel pump. 

[98valk]

Well guys, I too am going to "try" to add a fuel filter to My Valkyrie. 

OK, not really. But I have already picked up a VT1100 Shadow electric fuel pump which has a filter combined to it. Will install it some day when I do a desmog on the bike, as it will be the one and only time I expect to take the air box off, carbs and intake tubs off for replacement O-rings. 

Most have had problems after adding in a fuel filter, and have removed it and replaced the line back to original OEM. If there is any kind of upwards slop to the fuel line, expect feed problems. 

I would suggest document it. Someone sometime will get this right one day, it would be nice to make it repeatable. But I expect it will be my way, an inline fuel pump. 

unless it is a very low pressure fuel pump, it will be too much pressure for the floats thereby shutting off all fuel flow to the jets. might not be a simple install.
research it to save yourself headaches.
good luck.

[DeShazo]

Hydro Lock happens.

No matter what the percentage is, it only takes one to ruin your day, or month, or year.

The Dan Marc is a great tool to fight it, but I'm not convinced it will prevent it.

There is a school of thought, that the amount of gas in the fuel lines, is enough to cause a lock.

I believe there is no real way to prevent a lock w/o a complete reengineering of the fuel system or completely emptying the gas lines after every ride and you can only take steps to minimise the threat.

I think it was Attic Rat that stated, one of the maintenance items we should do is replace the floats valves EVERY time we open the carbs.  I am now, and plan on, following that advice.

Hook, you are spot on. It doesn't matter if you have a Dan Mark or OEM, if the float valves are trashed it can hydralock on the left side, which is the way it leans. There is for sure enough fuel in the lines to fill the cylinder enough to cause it, I have witnessed this first hand this month.

[DeathWishBikerDude]

It happened to me, went to start bike,sounded like starter was locked up, fuel poured out the pipes.
Replaced fuel petcock, with aftermarket.

[Daviddurtschi]

just an interesting (to me) story on hydrolock.  I have a Suzuki Madura with the same type petcock and it malfunctioned and filled up a cylinder.  I wasn't sure why it wouldn't turn over, so I removed the spark plugs but in a moment of idiocy (is that a word?) I let the spark plug hang by the opening.   You guessed it, when I hit the starter I had a blow torch on my hands.  Luckily, I was not in the line of fire and also luckily, it was winter and there was snow around to put out the fire.  I learned a few lessons from this.
David

[Bighead]

just an interesting (to me) story on hydrolock.  I have a Suzuki Madura with the same type petcock and it malfunctioned and filled up a cylinder.  I wasn't sure why it wouldn't turn over, so I removed the spark plugs but in a moment of idiocy (is that a word?) I let the spark plug hang by the opening.   You guessed it, when I hit the starter I had a blow torch on my hands.  Luckily, I was not in the line of fire and also luckily, it was winter and there was snow around to put out the fire.  I learned a few lessons from this.
David

Yeah it would probably be best to remove the plug from the wire BEFORE you hit the start button

[Harryc]

@Daviddurtschi, Wouldn't spark if it wasn't grounded, so you made (2) mistakes.