|
hukmut
|
 |
« on: April 16, 2015, 06:15:44 PM » |
|
I have been reading every posting on hydrolock that there is on this forum.
Now it is MY turn.
Some of you may know that I have built a 1999 Valkyrie from parts gathered from all over this country of ours.
A set of carbs came to me from "I don't know where" for "I don't know how much" and "what year are they from".
I just happen to have purchased a "new" oem fuel valve aka "petcock" and installed it on my tank. I also added
an inline fuel filter that sits lower than the carbs. FYI, there is no rust in evidence.
I installed the carbs without doing anything to them. After filling the tank with fresh "gas", the engine started for the first time since the "assembly". Granted, it took a bit for everything to get going, but after a few minutes she was blowing me away by just how smooth a motorcycle could run.
OK, although the fuel rails between 3-5 were leaking, I was confident that they would stop after sitting overnight, they did stop leaking. I love this forum.
The next day, I went out and the bike started right up and my sweetheart and I went for a ride.
After a 20 or so mile ride, the bike was parked. I made sure that the fuel valve, er, petcock was turned off prior to leaving it on the kickstand for the night.
The next morning, I prepared to make a run to the store.
Turned on the fuel, turned on the ignition switch, and hit the start button.
Yup. No turn over.
Pulled the plugs. Cranked the engine and fuel shot out, a ways.
So, I removed the carbset, removed the fuel bowls, and, while the carbs were upside down, I pushed the floats down and released them. One at a time. What I saw/see is that it seems that the springs in the float needles are inconsistent in their strength. Two were fairly strong while the other four were "flat" against the carb body.
THEREFORE (ooh) I may have to surmise that: the float springs are weak, the float needle valves are bad, or, my new petcock is defective....
New needle valves have been ordered and will be installed posthaste.
Yes, I got lucky.
So, anyway, that was my experience.
And as we all know, experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted.
However, as I didn't "expect" anything, I wasn't disappointed.
Thank you for this wonderful source of information! I would never have been able to get as far along with this project nor have this much success without YOU!
Sorry, no pictures.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
gordonv
Member
Posts: 5763
VRCC # 31419
Richmond BC
|
|
« Reply #1 on: April 16, 2015, 06:30:12 PM » |
|
OK, was this more statement than question? I didn't really read one there.
Even with bad float valves, unless the petcock leaks also, you won't get hydro lock via that method. So you also have the petcock to look at.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
1999 Black with custom paint IS   |
|
|
John Schmidt
Member
Posts: 15228
a/k/a Stuffy. '99 I/S Valk Roadsmith Trike
De Pere, WI (Green Bay)
|
|
« Reply #2 on: April 16, 2015, 06:35:57 PM » |
|
With the inline filter sitting lower than the carbs you most likely will run into a fuel starvation issue when the tank is less than half full, if not sooner. It will manifest itself mostly and sooner at highway speeds. Since this delivery system is gravity fed, everything must run downhill from the petcock. Glad you caught the hydrolock before any damage. I, for one, would not have installed an OEM petcock. It's the weakest link, and therefore the most problematic, in the fuel delivery chain on these bikes.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
pancho
|
|
« Reply #3 on: April 17, 2015, 04:30:56 AM » |
|
New needle valves are good, but you certainly need to look into the petcock before taking it out again. When the petcock is working properly, it will will not "pass gas" when the bike is off no matter what position the fuel selector is in. The OEM petcocks seem to get troublesome and hard to keep working properly when they get to this age. There are choices,, you can rebuild it, replace it with Honda part, replace it with aftermarket part, or be the guinea pig and try one of these. http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-New-Gas-Fuel-Valve-Petcock-for-HONDA-1997-2003-GL1500-C-Valkyrie-OEM-H69/2038771328.html |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
The most expensive things you will purchase, are those things you would not have needed if you had listened and obeyed.
|
|
|
|
Bighead
|
|
« Reply #4 on: April 17, 2015, 04:51:14 AM » |
|
He stated that he put a new petcock on. So I would suspect it was good. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
1997 Bumble Bee
1999 Interstate (sold)
2016 Wing
|
|
|
|
pancho
|
|
« Reply #5 on: April 17, 2015, 04:54:35 AM » |
|
OK, I see that he did,,, well, it certainly isn't working if he filled a cylinder up with gas while the bike was parked.
|
|
|
|
« Last Edit: April 17, 2015, 04:58:31 AM by pancho »
|
Logged
|
The most expensive things you will purchase, are those things you would not have needed if you had listened and obeyed.
|
|
|
salty1
Member
Posts: 2359
"Flyka"
Spokane, WA or Tucson, AZ
|
|
« Reply #6 on: April 17, 2015, 08:40:48 AM » |
|
Also, time to consider installing a Dan Marc fuel shut off valve IMO.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
My rides: 1998 GL1500C, 2000 GL 1500CF,2006 GL 1800 3A   |
|
|
|
BradValk48237
|
|
« Reply #7 on: April 17, 2015, 08:55:30 AM » |
|
When He said "new petcock" does that mean new from the Dealer?
If it was just the cover set rebuild. it is easy to damage or miss align the diaphragm and cause the problem...
I Agree with the rest in that you need a combo of things to make Hydrolock happen.. fuel flows downhill and if the petcock was good, shouldn't have happened......
Look at that damn petcock.. LOL
Brad
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Glen99ct
Member
Posts: 11
Ride defensively and live.
Katy, Texas.
|
|
« Reply #8 on: April 17, 2015, 09:51:57 AM » |
|
Hello all, I am new to the forum but have been reading it for several months. I pulled my 99 Valk tourer out of cold storage two months ago after it sat in the garage for five or six years. My bad but I had bought a fuel injected Electraglide classic with 3k miles on it and rode the hell out of it and got it out of my system. After pulling my Valkyrie carbs and redoing them I got it running but struggled with fuel leaks. I had redkoted the fuel tank and bought a new oem petcock on ebay as well. I pulled everything again and redid the fuel and drain (vacuum) lines using 5/32 hose, put it all back together again and it ran great, but #3 float bowl was leaking so I pulled it all back apart one more time and bought a gasket set for #3 carb. The Honda shop salesman was adamant that it would be a float valve issue and not a gasket, so I bought and installed a new float valve in #3 as well. I got it all back together and it ran like a top with no leaks anywhere, so I went forward and changed the oil and filter and then the coolant, removing and cleaning the reservoir as well. I went to start it and it sounded like all hell broke loose. After guessing it was hydrolock I pulled the intakes and #2 and #3 valves were swimming in fuel. I then pulled the starter looking for gear or spline issues and there were none so I have come to the conclusion that my new oem petcock has failed and continues to flood the carbs, even with the petcock in the off position. I am about to order a Pingel.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
John Schmidt
Member
Posts: 15228
a/k/a Stuffy. '99 I/S Valk Roadsmith Trike
De Pere, WI (Green Bay)
|
|
« Reply #9 on: April 17, 2015, 02:04:33 PM » |
|
Glen, you only needed to pull the spark plugs, turn the engine over and it will shoot the raw gas out. Make sure the plugs are out of the way so you don't ignite anything. The OEM petcocks are the weakest link in the fuel delivery chain on these bikes. Just about any aftermarket petcock is better than these things(it's a 22mm bung). I installed a Pingel nearly 10 yrs. ago, along with an external inline filter and a DanMarc elec. shutoff. Haven't had the first bit of trouble since.  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
moodyvalk
|
|
« Reply #10 on: April 17, 2015, 08:31:04 PM » |
|
its 6 of one and half a dozen of the other....
if the float needles hadn't failed then this wouldnt have happened/if the petcock wouldn't have falled this wouldn't happened....
basically there are several things that have to fail for this to happen.
I see you must have seen my thread on the float needles. good thread with lots a credible information...
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
ASE ID: ASE-5298-7829
Certified Master Automobile Technician
Certified Advanced Level Specialist
My list: 79 cb750, 75 xl250, 79 xs650, 88 Ninja 600r, 02 Yam FZ1, 03 GSXR1000, 08 Hayabusa, 08 Suzuki B-king, 08 Suzuki M109R, 03 Kawi ZX12R, 04 Kawi Vulcan 1600, 99 Kawi ZXR1100 Turbo, 13 VROD Muscle
|
|
|
Louis Durocher
Member
Posts: 86
'99 Interstate
Montreal,Canada
|
|
« Reply #11 on: April 17, 2015, 09:37:29 PM » |
|
The Dan Mark help for sure but the needles are the major problem. I think that the worst thing to do is to take off all the fuel for winter. Everyting dries in there. I put a good fuel stabiliser at the end of the season and start the beast 2 or 3 times during winter and let it run tll the fan goes on.(more for the pleasure than anything) Never had a problem.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
 Have a safe ride |
|
|
_Sheffjs_
Member
Posts: 5613
Jerry & Sherry Sheffer
Sarasota FL
|
|
« Reply #12 on: April 18, 2015, 12:24:53 PM » |
|
Can I be the real dumb Floridian here? To the northerners who can't ride year round like us, why not open the garage door and run your bike once a week, like I do with my wife's unused Shadow? It has to better for the old girl.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
hukmut
|
|
« Reply #13 on: April 19, 2015, 12:16:19 PM » |
|
New float needles AND a new DanMarc fuel shutoff on the way. I will be taking no more chances with my girl.  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
salty1
Member
Posts: 2359
"Flyka"
Spokane, WA or Tucson, AZ
|
|
« Reply #14 on: April 19, 2015, 01:14:30 PM » |
|
New float needles AND a new DanMarc fuel shutoff on the way. I will be taking no more chances with my girl. Good choices IMO!  What did you decided about your petcock? ??? |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
My rides: 1998 GL1500C, 2000 GL 1500CF,2006 GL 1800 3A |
|
|
|
