Petcock operation.

[98pacecar]

Is it better to manually turn the stock petcock to the off position, whenever you walk away from the bike?

The 97 I have in my garage has an owners manual, n' it says,,,,,,,,,,,,,, to do so... 

While I'll prolly order a Pingle in the near future, it may be a little while before it's actually on,,, da bike...

Jim

[Bone]

I do mine. I've been running manual petcocks for 4 decades.
Converted the petcock to manual on my 98 Tourer while waiting for a rebuild kit to arrive in the mail.
If I turn off the engine I turn off the petcock. It's an easy habit to develop.

[Patrick]

I grew up with manual valves and always turn them off. Its easy to get used to. Whenever the right hand goes to the key, the left goes for the valve. The Pingle is a good idea. Of course some will disagree.

[dubsider]

I have not been riding for all that long (approaching 100K miles in saddle).. I took the MSF course before I first saddled up and they have this thing called FINE-C .. letters are a way to remember the order to start the bike..
F - fuel
I - Ignition
N - Neutral
E - Engine cut off to on
C - Clutch
It just kinda stuck with me.. I turn off and on the fuel each time

When I stop, I go in the opposite order

call me crazy..

[Freep]

I have not been riding for all that long (approaching 100K miles in saddle).. I took the MSF course before I first saddled up and they have this thing called FINE-C .. letters are a way to remember the order to start the bike..
F - fuel
I - Ignition
N - Neutral
E - Engine cut off to on
C - Clutch
It just kinda stuck with me.. I turn off and on the fuel each time

When I stop, I go in the opposite order

call me crazy..

So you start with CENIF?

 

[valkyriemc]

I turned mine on and off almost always-2000 I/S. Went through two of the Honda originals, then switched to a pingel vacuum model. Haven't had any issues with it. Most people select just the manual model. You have to reach under the seat area to operate it. The operating handle goes to the rear for on, forward to off, and center for the reserve. I retained the original operating knob to make it look original. The pickup tube on the pingel needs to be modified-(made longer) if you want to retain the original reserve level or capacity. There's plenty of reading in the archives and current tech board posts re the petcock in general. Use search. There's hundreds of posts. G/L

[dubsider]

I have not been riding for all that long (approaching 100K miles in saddle).. I took the MSF course before I first saddled up and they have this thing called FINE-C .. letters are a way to remember the order to start the bike..
F - fuel
I - Ignition
N - Neutral
E - Engine cut off to on
C - Clutch
It just kinda stuck with me.. I turn off and on the fuel each time

When I stop, I go in the opposite order

call me crazy..

So you start with CENIF?

 

of course, but you can only ride in reverse.. 

[98pacecar]

I guess I should be more specific.   

 I want to know if the stock petcock, can be 100% trusted to completely shut down fuel every time when used as a manual shut off. 

Also,,, will it stand up to repeated manual shut offs n' ons,,, and not, fail.

Or do I need to buy a pingle?  I really,,, do NOT, want to hydro this motor.   

Years ago I bought a ''junk'' CBX, That had, had,,,, this problem,,,, n' it wasn't pretty...   

Thanks,,, Jim

[custom1]

Jim, The stock petcock is designed as two shutoffs in a row, the manual side then the vacuum side.

You are suppose to shut it off and you will not hurt it by doing so.

I think they designed it so you get two chances at making sure the fuel is off, because the bike has 6 carbs and 6 times the chance that one of the floats will stick open as a bike with 1 carb.

If you don't shut it off manually then you are relying on the vacuum side to shut the fuel off, and you are giving up one shot at making sure its off.

If you put in a manual Pingle valve(which is fine if that is what you want) you are giving up the vacuum second shot at making sure it is off. Just remember to always shut it off.

Does that answer your question?

There is a lot of discussion about it if you search. You can also put in an electric shutoff if you want.

[Patrick]

I guess I should be more specific.   

 I want to know if the stock petcock, can be 100% trusted to completely shut down fuel every time when used as a manual shut off. 

Also,,, will it stand up to repeated manual shut offs n' ons,,, and not, fail.

Or do I need to buy a pingle?  I really,,, do NOT, want to hydro this motor.   

Years ago I bought a ''junk'' CBX, That had, had,,,, this problem,,,, n' it wasn't pretty...   

Thanks,,, Jim

My opinion is NO. I think most of us installed the Pingle before they discovered vacuum. If I ever had to replace the manual valve, I'd consider the vacuum model.

[Ricky-D]

Haha, that's really funny - reading all the answers to your question.

Sounds more like a salesman's obfuscation, never really giving you the answer you desire to hear.

The answer to your question is NO.

You cannot rely on the stock petcock to securely shut off the gas.

The vacuum side fails and that is why there are kits to rebuild it.

The mechanical side uses a ball that has it's own faults.

The design of the mechanical shut off is illogical, being between the "on" and the "res" function of the petcock. So there is no positive feedback that the petcock is truly shut off.  A misalignment of the connecting knob assembly exacerbates the process.

And finally, turning the petcock to "off" is not a positive assurance, when and because the motor starts to run out of gas.  The reason being that the motor needs plenty of gas to "run" but hydrolock can happen with only a few drops of gasoline per minute.

That's what you are betting. That the petcock completely stops all the gas.

***

[wdvalk]

I would listen to ricky d ,he knows everything, just ask him. I have owned 3 valks and ran all stock petcocks with 0 problems.

[98pacecar]

 Lookin,,, fer ''opinions''   

Looks like,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I'm gettin em... 

Not all the same,,, n' expected as much...

The 3 stock petcocks,,,, were you manually shutin em off every ride,,, errrr leavin em in on position?   ???

Jim

[Patrick]

These are strictly personal opinions. You'll get many recommendations. Fuel-locks don't happen all that often, but, they have happened. I've only had 5, but, I attribute most of them to a varnish problem.

[wdvalk]

if im riding them the petcock stays on,if its going to sit awile ( days) ill tturn it off.The vacuum is designed as a backup,if you forget to turn a pingle off there is no backup.

[98pacecar]

These are strictly personal opinions. You'll get many recommendations. Fuel-locks don't happen all that often, but, they have happened. I've only had 5, but, I attribute most of them to a varnish problem.

Ahhhh,,,,,,,,,, 5 

I must be mistaken,, because I thought this, always,,,, caused serious damage to the motor....

It was pretty fatal to the Honda CBX motors..   

[Patrick]

These are strictly personal opinions. You'll get many recommendations. Fuel-locks don't happen all that often, but, they have happened. I've only had 5, but, I attribute most of them to a varnish problem.

Ahhhh,,,,,,,,,, 5 

I must be mistaken,, because I thought this, always,,,, caused serious damage to the motor....

It was pretty fatal to the Honda CBX motors..   

I think there is a right and a wrong way to start these engines.

[98pacecar]

These are strictly personal opinions. You'll get many recommendations. Fuel-locks don't happen all that often, but, they have happened. I've only had 5, but, I attribute most of them to a varnish problem.

Ahhhh,,,,,,,,,, 5 

I must be mistaken,, because I thought this, always,,,, caused serious damage to the motor....

It was pretty fatal to the Honda CBX motors..   

I think there is a right and a wrong way to start these engines.

Care,, to,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, elaborate?????????   

[Patrick]

These are strictly personal opinions. You'll get many recommendations. Fuel-locks don't happen all that often, but, they have happened. I've only had 5, but, I attribute most of them to a varnish problem.

Ahhhh,,,,,,,,,, 5 

I must be mistaken,, because I thought this, always,,,, caused serious damage to the motor....

It was pretty fatal to the Honda CBX motors..   

I think there is a right and a wrong way to start these engines.

Care,, to,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, elaborate?????????   

Huh ? Oh Ok. I've mentioned it so many times over the years that.......  Its simple, and I like simple. All I do is tap the start button. It may take more than one to get the monster running, but, I don't care, it'll start. If and when I hear the dreaded 'CLANK', I pull ALL the sparklers and give the button a push. Don't get in the way, it'll spray fuel into the next county. If away from home, just put them back in and go back to riding like nothing ever happened. If home, I just open the drain and flush that carburetor.

[98pacecar]

These are strictly personal opinions. You'll get many recommendations. Fuel-locks don't happen all that often, but, they have happened. I've only had 5, but, I attribute most of them to a varnish problem.

Ahhhh,,,,,,,,,, 5 

I must be mistaken,, because I thought this, always,,,, caused serious damage to the motor....

It was pretty fatal to the Honda CBX motors..   

I think there is a right and a wrong way to start these engines.

Care,, to,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, elaborate?????????   

Huh ? Oh Ok. I've mentioned it so many times over the years that.......  Its simple, and I like simple. All I do is tap the start button. It may take more than one to get the monster running, but, I don't care, it'll start. If and when I hear the dreaded 'CLANK', I pull ALL the sparklers and give the button a push. Don't get in the way, it'll spray fuel into the next county. If away from home, just put them back in and go back to riding like nothing ever happened. If home, I just open the drain and flush that carburetor.

N' this has happened to you, using which,,, petcock??? 

[Patrick]

These are strictly personal opinions. You'll get many recommendations. Fuel-locks don't happen all that often, but, they have happened. I've only had 5, but, I attribute most of them to a varnish problem.

Ahhhh,,,,,,,,,, 5 

I must be mistaken,, because I thought this, always,,,, caused serious damage to the motor....

It was pretty fatal to the Honda CBX motors..   

I think there is a right and a wrong way to start these engines.

Care,, to,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, elaborate?????????   

Huh ? Oh Ok. I've mentioned it so many times over the years that.......  Its simple, and I like simple. All I do is tap the start button. It may take more than one to get the monster running, but, I don't care, it'll start. If and when I hear the dreaded 'CLANK', I pull ALL the sparklers and give the button a push. Don't get in the way, it'll spray fuel into the next county. If away from home, just put them back in and go back to riding like nothing ever happened. If home, I just open the drain and flush that carburetor.

N' this has happened to you, using which,,, petcock??? 

Both

[98pacecar]

These are strictly personal opinions. You'll get many recommendations. Fuel-locks don't happen all that often, but, they have happened. I've only had 5, but, I attribute most of them to a varnish problem.

Ahhhh,,,,,,,,,, 5 

I must be mistaken,, because I thought this, always,,,, caused serious damage to the motor....

It was pretty fatal to the Honda CBX motors..   

I think there is a right and a wrong way to start these engines.

Care,, to,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, elaborate?????????   

Huh ? Oh Ok. I've mentioned it so many times over the years that.......  Its simple, and I like simple. All I do is tap the start button. It may take more than one to get the monster running, but, I don't care, it'll start. If and when I hear the dreaded 'CLANK', I pull ALL the sparklers and give the button a push. Don't get in the way, it'll spray fuel into the next county. If away from home, just put them back in and go back to riding like nothing ever happened. If home, I just open the drain and flush that carburetor.

N' this has happened to you, using which,,, petcock??? 

Both

Wow dat,,, sucks... 

Sooooo, dere is,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, no fool proof solution?   

[Patrick]

These are strictly personal opinions. You'll get many recommendations. Fuel-locks don't happen all that often, but, they have happened. I've only had 5, but, I attribute most of them to a varnish problem.

Ahhhh,,,,,,,,,, 5 

I must be mistaken,, because I thought this, always,,,, caused serious damage to the motor....

It was pretty fatal to the Honda CBX motors..   

I think there is a right and a wrong way to start these engines.

Care,, to,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, elaborate?????????   

Huh ? Oh Ok. I've mentioned it so many times over the years that.......  Its simple, and I like simple. All I do is tap the start button. It may take more than one to get the monster running, but, I don't care, it'll start. If and when I hear the dreaded 'CLANK', I pull ALL the sparklers and give the button a push. Don't get in the way, it'll spray fuel into the next county. If away from home, just put them back in and go back to riding like nothing ever happened. If home, I just open the drain and flush that carburetor.

N' this has happened to you, using which,,, petcock??? 

Both

Wow dat,,, sucks... 

Sooooo, dere is,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, no fool proof solution?   

Nope

[98pacecar]

These are strictly personal opinions. You'll get many recommendations. Fuel-locks don't happen all that often, but, they have happened. I've only had 5, but, I attribute most of them to a varnish problem.

Ahhhh,,,,,,,,,, 5 

I must be mistaken,, because I thought this, always,,,, caused serious damage to the motor....

It was pretty fatal to the Honda CBX motors..   

I think there is a right and a wrong way to start these engines.

Care,, to,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, elaborate?????????   

Huh ? Oh Ok. I've mentioned it so many times over the years that.......  Its simple, and I like simple. All I do is tap the start button. It may take more than one to get the monster running, but, I don't care, it'll start. If and when I hear the dreaded 'CLANK', I pull ALL the sparklers and give the button a push. Don't get in the way, it'll spray fuel into the next county. If away from home, just put them back in and go back to riding like nothing ever happened. If home, I just open the drain and flush that carburetor.

N' this has happened to you, using which,,, petcock??? 

Both

Wow dat,,, sucks... 

Sooooo, dere is,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, no fool proof solution?   

Nope

Hmmmmm,,, what's a valk owner,,,, ta do????   

Perhaps,, a Pingle, plus,,, electric shut off,,, is da best way ta go....   

[Red Diamond]

. I have owned 3 valks and ran all stock petcocks with 0 problems.

I have owned 5 Valkyries since '02, never turn the petcock off on any of them, never had a hydrolock, sometimes in between rides they may sit for 3 weeks or so, just hit the starter and fire it up. The OEM petcock is just fine if left alone. Still own 3 of those Valkyries.

[HayHauler]

. I have owned 3 valks and ran all stock petcocks with 0 problems.

I have owned 5 Valkyries since '02, never turn the petcock off on any of them, never had a hydrolock, sometimes in between rides they may sit for 3 weeks or so, just hit the starter and fire it up. The OEM petcock is just fine if left alone. Still own 3 of those Valkyries.

I am with Eli, I never shut mine off and have 112,000 miles on her.  I replaced the petcock at 95k miles while I had the tank off for paint.  I kept the one I took off as a spare.  I will rebuild it with a "cover set" and it will be good as new.

Hay 
Jimmyt

[Patrick]

Yep, I wouldn't worry about it. Just go ride it. If it happens, it happens. If the bike can be ridden all year I think the odds of the lock is greatly reduced.

[blotar]

OK, my 2 cents, the best advice I have heard on petcocks was to do a servicability test on it when you do spline maintenance, (10K miles)
I am too simple minded to explain easily, but it goes something like this: (might need to remove the tank)  run the petcock through all the positions, if it leaks change the cover set. put the mighty vac on the vacuum nipple with the valve 'off'. if it leaks, change the cover set. Open the petcock to reserve (with vacuum applied) fuel should flow freely and stop when the vacuum is removed or turned to the off position. With sufficient fuel in the tank the same should occur in the 'on' position.
I was a little suprised when my petcock failed this test and keep a cover set handy for the next time I need one. I never turn off the valve manually any more unless I am removing the tank.
Blotar