My fuel valve won't turn off.

[Jabba]

Well it'll SAY off.  But the bike will run forever with it in off... until it runs out. Then it'll run on reserve like normal.

I am assuming that I need to replace the petcock.

Everyone agree?

Jabba

[Michvalk]

Yup, and quick too!!

[Thunderbolt]

In your case run the tank completely out of fuel so you don't make a big mess since it is not turning off.  Take the tank off.  Put it on a level table outside, not in the garage for safety reasons, with the petcock hanging off the edge with a temporary line running to a container to catch what runs out while testing.  Now put fuel in the tank and see if the container fills up while the selector is in the off position.  You should get no fuel unless there is vacuum on the small line.  You should get fuel when there is vacuum and the selector is up or down.
You might check that the selector is installed properly as in the center position is really off, before you take the tank off.

[Jabba]

The vacuum part of it works.  It does not pass fuel without vacuum.  But it'll run forever in the "off" position.  I had the petcock off the tank tonight.  Fiddled with it and put it all back together.  Still doesn't work.  It DID work last week, as I forgot to turn it on once... and ran the carbs out of gas.  Turned it to On, and was good to go.

Last weekend, I went for a ride with the wife... and after 100 miles... I realized I forgot to turn the fuel on. 

I have been testing it all week.  It definitely doesn't turn OFF.  But like I said... the vacuum part works.

I am gonn atry ONE MORE thing.  Taking the actuator off... and tryin git again.  I found in the archives that sometimes the pretty switch can cause some side load and lake it leak.


I might go with the electronic fuel shut off too.

Jabba

[Jabba]

Well that's a kick in the jimmy. 

I took the pretty fuel knob entension thingy off... and it works fine.  Ran outta gas just like it should have with the petcock in off.

hrm.

Now what?

Jabba

[John U.]

There is no key or notch to align the petcock in the right place. The only way I know to get it right is trial and error; meaning loosen the big nut and move it a bit. The knob mount should line up with the mounting bolt hole in the engine hanger with no force applied.

[3W-lonerider]

when you put everything back togather make sure the petcock and handle have no binding at all..what i would normally do is tighten the petcock enough that it was tight but not enough that i could'nt reach in and twist it alittle with my hand if things did'nt line up..if the handle and petcock don't line up perfectly it will leak because the ball inside can't seat properly with pressure on it..iv'e seen some bikes that the handle turns freely and clicks into every position with a snap..then iv'e run across others that when you turn the handle it's tight..and in a bind.

[Jabba]

It was engaged in the right spot.  It would go from on to off to reserve just like it should. 

It also SEEMS like everything went together real smooth, without binding. 

I might just put a lever on the petcock way up under the bike, and NOT use the pretty extension piece.

 

Jabba

[fudgie]

Pingel. 

[Jabba]

Pingel. 

Why spend the $100 though? 

And don't forget... I'm gonna have to do it twice now... 

I am thinking about the electronic fuel solenoid route.  and maybe putting in a hidden switch for security. 

Jabba

[fudgie]

Pingel. 

Why spend the $100 though? 

And don't forget... I'm gonna have to do it twice now... 

I am thinking about the electronic fuel solenoid route.  and maybe putting in a hidden switch for security. 

Jabba

Piece of mind. I dont have to worry about it failing on the road. Most on here have rebuilt theirs twice already. So they are already getting close to a pingel price.
 

[Jabba]

Piece of mind. I dont have to worry about it failing on the road. Most on here have rebuilt theirs twice already. So they are already getting close to a pingel price.
 

I am TERRIBLE about remembering to turn it off... and on for that matter.  If I had a pingel, I would essentially be rolling the dice on a stuck carb float about 1/2 the time.

I could do the electronic one, with a manual bypass.  That'd make it unfailable on the road.

Jabba

[fudgie]

Piece of mind. I dont have to worry about it failing on the road. Most on here have rebuilt theirs twice already. So they are already getting close to a pingel price.
 

I am TERRIBLE about remembering to turn it off... and on for that matter.  If I had a pingel, I would essentially be rolling the dice on a stuck carb float about 1/2 the time.

I could do the electronic one, with a manual bypass.  That'd make it unfailable on the road.

Jabba

I was use to shutting mine off before I got it. Some times I forget and leave it on, usually no more then a week at a time. All is still good. If I am going to be off the bike for 15 mins or less I dont shut it off. I run stuff through the carbs very regulary.

[franco6]

the brand new pet rooster would not turn off , it was an alignement problem with the on off switch . keep trying

[Jabba]

It's not a new petcock.  It's the old one.

This is a new to me bike.

The PO NEVER used to turn it off.  For the 1st couple weeks I had the bike... it worked fine.  Then it quit working, with no aparent cause.  I did not disassemble anything.  But I have been smelling fuel, both when it was sitting and running.  I pulled the tank yesterday... and blah blah as you can read above.  If it's an alignment problem... why did it start out of nowhere?

I think that I've cured the fuel smell as well.  The 22mm nut on the petcock was sort of loose.  I guess that COULD have moved for some reason, but. 

It's a rainy day today.  When I leave the office, I guess I can go to the garage an piddle with it.

Jabba

[3W-lonerider]

jabba..i would'nt worry about an electric shutoff failing..iv'e been running one for 5 years now..with no problems..i work in a pretty good sized rental yard..we have electric shutoff solenoids on practically every peice of equipment we rent. some of this equipment is nearing 20 years of age with well over 10,000 hours of time used on it..we have never had to replace an electric shutoff on a peice of equipment yet..now that being said i was refering to inline shutoffs..now we have equipment that has electric shutoffs built into the carburators and we have replaced many of those. but the ones that are built into the carbs are only about half the coil size of the inline ones..so that probably makes a difference there..

[John U.]

As to why the petcock would suddenly fail to shut off, the problem could be rust or grit that got past the screen. My I/S had a rusty tank problem due to sitting with a half empty tank.
Of course, to replace the screen you'll need to remove the tank. Sounds like you're heading for some fuel system work anyway.
Rust and small particles aren't friendly to carb float valves, probably not good for electric fuel valves, though I haven't heard of failures either.
If you can find room for a fuel filter it might save some problems.

[Mildew]

My fuel on and off switch hasn't worked on my bike for a long time. I never thought it was a big deal.

[Jabba]

My fuel on and off switch hasn't worked on my bike for a long time. I never thought it was a big deal.

It's not as long as you don't get a carb float stuck too.  If you do... then you get hydro-Lock, and then you gotta get your wallet out and hear a giant sucking sound.

 

Jabba

[SgtBunny]

The possibilities of a costly hydrolock were too great in my mind so I went ahead and converted mine to a manual petcock with an electric solenoid inline.

My stress went away.

[upjeeper]

Pingel. 

Why spend the $100 though? 

Jabba

valid point, but i picked mine up off ebay a few weeks back for about $50. don't think I'll ever have to mess with it again.

[JetDriver]

As far as "Why now?"  You said the PO never turned it off.  After 10 years of not being touched, suddenly being turned on and off routinely could have broken some crud loose.  Just an idea.

[Pete]

I have seen one standard Honda Valkyrie petcock that had a linear crack in the "on" pipe that would pass enough gas for the bike to run. That is the longer pipe attached to the inside of the petcock. The crack was about an inch long and difficult to see so remove the petcock and dry it fill the "on" pipe with gas and see if it wets the outside of the pipe.

[Hoser]

I'm with fudgie, spring for the pingle, the peace of mind is worth it, they also make a vacumn model, but it is high dollar.  In they old days, nothing had vacumn petcocks, so it is natural and automatic for me to turn off the gas, and I never forget.  I am very old, ya know.   I do forget once in a while to turn it on, but you'll know that in a couple miles!      hoser

[Mildew]

Is hydrolock a common thing. I've never heard of it in my 40 plus years

[Jabba]

Common?  No.

Has it happened a few times with the 30,000 members of this forum... yes.

[Mildew]

Now ya'all got me scared. I went to work one day and my on/off  switch was just hanging by the hose. I slid it back on and noticed some time later I left the switch off and rode all day. I guess I'd better get it fixed. I've been riding since my 11th  birthday and always new I was supposed to turn off the fuel but never knew why. There has been numerous of times i've forgot to shut it off and left it on for weeks, even with the valk. I guess i've been lucky.

[Jabba]

With most bikes... hydro-lock is not as serious an issue, because their starters are not powerful enough to cause severe damage.  With the Valk... the starter is so strong it tears stuff up when the jug is flooded.

Jabba

[Mildew]

Sorry to hijack the thread but now that ya'all got me scared, what could be the malfucntion. My switch is loose but seems to turn on and off like it did before. I work daylight to dark but I'll check it out when I get home late tonight. Just would like some tips. I've never messed with these things before.

[roboto65]

Heck my switch flops around in the housing and I have the phillips screw tight what problem!!!