Petcock fuel leak??

[Cappy]

Ok, you guys got me to the point where the 97' Valkyrie started and seems to idle fine even in this artic weather here in Minnesota, BUT........
Any ideas what I got wrong with the petcock rebuild, as the fuel switch in the "on" position works fine. No fuel leak. Yet, on the "reserve position", fuel started leaking from what appeared to be the petcock valve. It was a fairly strong leak, but I shut down fast to avoid spilling too much gas on the ashphalt driveway. The regular tank supply ran out while idleing. I switched to reserve and did a restart and gas leaked almost immediately. One member made a comment on the o-ring, but that would be at the screen end, which to my thinking would have leaked while in the "on" position too.
Any more ideas??

[bikerboy1951]

Sounds like time for a new petcock.  If it works fine on run and the engine dies when running with it shut off, there is a problem on the non-rebuildable side of the petcock. Some have drilled out the rivets on that side, but I don't know what their success rate is in replacing the o-rings and steel ball.

Brad

[custom1]

Why start a new thread for this? You have to type the whole story over again.

I don't think you read the last sentence in my last post in the old thread. http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,61702.80.html

If the fuel is too low in the tank to run then it is too low to leak. The fuel has to be above the tube in the screen for the "On" position.

I think you will have to put some more fuel in the tank and try that test again, because....It is possible for the bike to run 5 or 10 minutes at idle on just the fuel in the carbs. When you had it on "On" and it didn't leak but was running, it is possible that that is what was happening. (I think if you put more fuel in the tank it will leak on either position.)

Then you switch it to reserve and it starts leaking because now there is actually fuel getting to the diaphragm. This would cause you to think it is something different between the "On" and "Reserve" causing the leak, but I don't think so. If it is leaking at the seam on the manual side where the rivets are, then maybe. 

You are right about the o-ring. If it was leaking there it would leak all the time,  On,  Reserve, Bike running, Or not.

So lets say it is the small diaphragm inside the petcock. If it got torn when installed it would leak and be coming out of the weep hole.(That is why I said you have to tell us Exactly where it is leaking from.)   

[Cappy]

Sorry! Somehow I missed your posts. I guess I thought that now I know there isn't an ignition problem, and it's more a fuel supply problem, pehaps I should start a new thread. I am new to forum stuff and thought maybe the thread was getting to long, and I should focus the topic.

Regarding my issue, what you are saying makes total sense. It seems clear & logical. Tomorrow I will brave the arctic weather and add more fuel, and probably suffer through dealing with spilled gasoline, and another tank removal. But, at least I get to hear the beast roar one more time, before a long winter nap. I'll do an update ASAP. I am trying to avoid the cost of a new Pingle, because I am trying to purchase a vehicle in order to trailer the Valkyrie to Florida, eventually.Thanks for the help. Have a great Thanksgiving, everyone. Gobble, gobble

[John Schmidt]

One thing about the rebuild kit, when installing the new diaphragm it has to be seated correctly on both sides. If not, it works only partially.

[Cappy]

Although small and delicate, it seemed pretty straight forward as to setting things correctly to insure proper seating. I checked and rechecked the photos provided and considered installing things differently, but I am pretty sure I got it right. I must have cuz it works as good as congress.

[John Schmidt]

as good as congress
+++++++++++++++++++++++
OK, then you're in trouble!  

[Cappy]

Ya think?

[Cappy]

I have been following some other threads on the fuel petcock issue recently posted. A couple of questions come to mind:
If a new Pingle is installed, how does that affect the "Reserve"?
Comments about "Hydrolock" make me concerned that if we forget to shut off the fuel, this might happen. Although, I'm not sure what that is all about. Seems like a risky issue for something so easy to do. I was just about ready to order a Pingle after my cover set rebuild did not seem to work, but now I'm not so sure. could someone address these concerns, please?

[Cappy]

Howdy again. Warmed up to 36 degrees and am taking a look at the fuel leak problem again. It looks like the fuel is actually coming directly from a hose that drops down from a plastic connector between carbs 3 & 5 (I think) on the right. It dead-ends open through a hole in a metal bracket centered just above the engine and in front of and way below the petcock. When the bike starts, fuel pours from there. What's that all about? I think the petcock may be good. Bet I did something really dumb.

Also, what size tap do I need to fix the hex head bolt that holds the fuel tank on at the front end? (again)

[98pacecar]

I'm a VERY,,, new valk owner.   

 But it sounds like an overflow tube dumping gas, from a stuck float valve, in one of those 2 carbs..       

[Cappy]

Oh, bummer! Wonder what kind of fix that is? 

[98pacecar]

A lil off,,, subject..   

I see,,,,, you are in minn/fla..   

Isn't it time, ta pick up, n' head,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, fer da latter???     

[fudgie]

Pingel only effect the distants you have on resv. You get more out of a main tank tho.

[Cappy]

So with a Pingle, you have a 3 position choice: On, Off, Reserve then. Right?

Well, after a closer look at the fuel loss, I definitely have  gas flowing out of that rubber tube leading from the right side carb, And gas also coming from the riveted side of the petcock once I put extra fuel in the tank to switch back to the "ON" position. Weird, because I am pretty sure that it ran well on idle for about 10 minutes without any fuel loss, until it ran out of gas and I then switched to reserve. I guess i have to buy into the idea that I may have a stuck carb float. any other ideas??

[Bone]

Can't answer your question about the Pingle positions they do have a reserve that's 3 positions. When you switched to reserve damage may have happened. If you change petcocks open up the OEM and see what happened.

[Cappy]

So what do you do to fix a stuck carb float. How do you determine which carb is the problem?

[98pacecar]

I would start bu separating the drain hoses, or pulling them partially off, till each carb is separated...

 Ihave never screwed with valk carbs, just got my first one home, but you can hit it with a rubber mallet n' see if you break it free. But it may just stick again on down da road.   

It could also be a problem with the float valve itself,,, gunked up errrr something.

Sometimes sea foam, or techron, added to da fuel can have an effect.. 

That is,,, if you can get it to stop leaking without,,,, taking it apart..   
 

[Cappy]

Does each carb have a drain hose under there somewhere, or does one hose drain the carb bank for each side?

[Bone]

Yes, 6 carb drain lines plug into 1 drain line that dumps below the engine.

This is the diagram from HDL parts.  http://www.hdlparts.com/fiche_section_detail.asp

[Cappy]

So any one or more carbs could be the problem, then? Sounds like it would be difficult to sort out which one/ones could be giving me a problem. Uggh