Big thank you to this form

[0leman]

Yesterday I was about 50 mile is into what I hoped would be a good 4 hour ride.   While enjoying curves going down hill, Valk suddenly acted like she was out of gas.  slowed down and stopped.  Thankfully there was a wide shoulder.   Checked phone to make sure I had bars.  Check to see if the vacuum hose had come off the petcock.  All was good.  Then noticed some noise coming from the gas cap.  Opened it to a rather loud sucking noise.  New immediately what was wrong.  Kinked vent hose.    Something that has been discussed a lot here on the board.

Yeah, I had had the tank off doing a filter clean up while I waited for a new front tire.   

Did a U-turn and headed for home, stopping a couple of times to open the gas cap.   

This morning, after raising the tank was able to find the kink.   took only a few minutes get it straighten out and back where it belongs. 

A big thanks for giving me the knowledge to recognize the problem and get home. 

[George B]

Found out about that vent line under the same circumstances...Most of what I know about Valks came from here...

[old2soon]

        Lot of the "stuff" that is posted here comes from a lot of-been there done that got the T shirt. Or if you will experience. But I Agree completely specially when We as Riders take the time to inform others of our findings. There IS a Wealth of Valkyrie knowledge here that is Very Easy to tap into. Said it before and I repeat-This Board ROCKS!  RIDE SAFE.

[gordonv]

A big thanks for giving me the knowledge to recognize the problem and get home. 

And knowing is half the battle.


I've been reading this forum since I bought my 1st Valk in Dec 09', pending pick up before summer of 10'.

By the time I bought it, I was comfortable enough to ride that bike home 20 hrs/2K Km, and felt I could handle or know what the issue might be that might come up on a working Valkyrie.

The kinked line (out of fuel), petcock/hydro lock, and rear splines/yoke. A lot more, but that just makes it more fun. It is different from the cars I drove, so it was nice having the knowledge base from the 1000's of man years of knowledge on this forum, AND all the freely given/offered help, including in person for some.

Safe riding, and enjoy.

ps: if it happens again, open the cap and place something into it, like a plastic stir stick, close. This should allow air in. Then continue your ride. You KNEW you had the right thing when you heard the air.

[Jess from VA]

In my on-board bag of stuff, I always carry a collection of zip ties.

If you end up needing to let the tank breathe better, you can open the tank cap, then close it over a skinny zip tie.     

[Gideon]

In my on-board bag of stuff, I always carry a collection of zip ties.

If you end up needing to let the tank breathe better, you can open the tank cap, then close it over a skinny zip tie.     

That's a good one. I will remember that, thanks for posting.

[vanagon40]

Information and knowledge are not the only benefits of this forum. Last weekend, I tried to PM my turn signal switch and lost a small bushing due to my incompetence.



I posted my problem on Sunday evening. On Thursday, this obscure bushing was in my mailbox. Sent by a member I have never met--no charge.

Best forum anywhere, ever.

PS: da prez is da man

[rug_burn]

As for the vent line-  if it ever happens when you're far from home, you can just pull the vent line off the tank nipple, which is possible to do anywhere with no tools.   I've left that line disconnected before, and all that happens is that you'll smell gas at times when it's parked in the sun or something.  Just don't overfill the tank.
   Then,  at a more convenient time fix it right.

[gordonv]

In my on-board bag of stuff, I always carry a collection of zip ties.

If you end up needing to let the tank breathe better, you can open the tank cap, then close it over a skinny zip tie.     

I need to remember that, I have zip ties. I carry them because of one of my first bikes, was knock over in a parking lot. The turn signal was broken off, and I didn't know or find the connection so I drove home 2 miles. It was lost.

I could buy replacement housing cheap, but lenses where as much, and I could have used the old one.

Lesson learned. Zip ties, wire and electrical tap, to hold broken parts together so they don't get lost.

[0leman]

As for the vent line-  if it ever happens when you're far from home, you can just pull the vent line off the tank nipple, which is possible to do anywhere with no tools.   I've left that line disconnected before, and all that happens is that you'll smell gas at times when it's parked in the sun or something.  Just don't overfill the tank.
   Then,  at a more convenient time fix it right.

You are right.  Didn't think about it.  It has been about 20k miles (and several years) since I pulled the tank off.  I forgot where the vent tube was. (hey I am  working on my 7 decade and do forget things every so often).   I did reacquaint myself with its location when fixing the kink.   AND will try to remember its location for the next time I take the tank off.