Do our fuel shut off valves actually shut of the flow of fuel?

[z10]

I've got a 99 standard and want to turn off fuel to the carbs so that I can run them dry for a few months so that I can store the bike for a few months.  But, after 15 minutes of idoling the engine just continues to run.  Do I have a defective valve or is this normal?
Thanks,

[Bighead]

Sounds like yours isn't working properly it should run a few minutes but not 15

[Jess from VA]

Our bikes can run quite a while with the petcock turned off, maybe even 15 minutes. 

If the petcock is malfunctioning it may flow gas while off.

Go for a ride and turn it off while traveling/using more gas than idle.  Keep going till you're sure it's not working.  If its not, get a coverset from HDL and fix it.

[Super Santa]

Make sure you have turned it OFF and not just onto RESERVE.

Off the switch would be parallel to the roadway.

On is pointed down, reserve is pointed up.  Off is sideways.

[5_19]

If you are riding you can travel about 1.5-2 miles going 45-50 mph with the valve in the off position. I know because that's how far we travel before I realize I forgot something. Don't know how long it takes at idle.

The valve should cut-off fuel flow in the off position period. When mine failed to cut-off fuel flow I just installed a new repair kit.

COVER SET,rooster
16953-MBZ-B51
http://www.hdlparts.com/fiche_section_detail.asp?section=2552710&category=Motorcycles&make=Honda&year=2001&fveh=132672

~TJ. 

[Jess from VA]

If you are riding you can travel about 1.5-2 miles going 45-50 mph

The thing is, all valks are not identical in this regard.   Pretty sure many will go further (until you get close to a stall).  How long they will idle before stall is also not exactly uniform.  There are a number of variables between bikes. (amount of gas retained below petcock after shutoff, and quality of gas, tune, temp)

[Sparky51]

I thought off was off, no matter what shape the cover set is in?  Many riders shut off petcock to avoid dreaded hydrolock in case of a stuck float / bad coverset combination. 

If bad coverset still allows fuel to flow with petcock in the  "off" position then many posts are wrong?  Got to be careful that the valve falls sits well into the off position detent or it will leak by for sure.

There may be dirt in the petcock ball valve preventing a good seal in the off position? I would flush the body out with carb cleaner too while changing cover, and then test with a tank of gas off the bike before assembly.   
My 2 cents anyway. Good luck.

[5_19]

I thought off was off, no matter what shape the cover set is in?  Many riders shut off petcock to avoid dreaded hydrolock in case of a stuck float / bad coverset combination. 

I thought the same thing. Put the petcock in the off position, pulled the hose to remove the tank and ..........fuel is pouring out!   ??? WTH  Replacing the kit fixed it.  That's when I installed a solenoid valve in the fuel line. Luckily I have never experienced a hydrolock nor do i want to.

[z10]

Thanks everyone,  I think as a quick check I'll turn it off,take it for a ride, and see if I can get it to stall. 

[john]

the big yellow will travel 'bout one mile
and then spit and sputter reminding me to     
turn fuel valve back on.              ( thank you brother disco    )
I close it on returning home six blocks from my garage
don't know why ... justa habit           ???

[Westsider]

Finally, a look at the stock petcocks, don't yall think a pingle valve, manual, non vacuum, one might be better than the stock Honda?  

Just a little sarcasm ,, z10 if you go to the tech board and type in anything to do with fuel valves or petcocks in the search box, you can read for hours I bet.  

[Daniel Meyer]

I thought off was off, no matter what shape the cover set is in?  Many riders shut off petcock to avoid dreaded hydrolock in case of a stuck float / bad coverset combination. 

I thought the same thing. Put the petcock in the off position, pulled the hose to remove the tank and ..........fuel is pouring out!   ??? WTH  Replacing the kit fixed it.  That's when I installed a solenoid valve in the fuel line. Luckily I have never experienced a hydrolock nor do i want to.

Replacing the kit fixed PART of it. You had two problems...failed vacuum shut-off (the kit fixes that) AND a failed/worn "hard" valve side...which is "not" repairable and requires a new petcock. "not" because, you can actually drill out the rivets and replace the worn o-rings etc if you are handy).

[Houdini]

don't yall think a pingle valve, manual, non vacuum, one might be better than the stock Honda?

No

[Hoser]

Finally, a look at the stock petcocks, don't yall think a pingle valve, manual, non vacuum, one might be better than the stock Honda?  

Just a little sarcasm ,, z10 if you go to the tech board and type in anything to do with fuel valves or petcocks in the search box, you can read for hours I bet.  

and here is a yes, we are all over the place on this one.   Hoser

[Rocketman]

Yeah, asking for an opinion on petcocks seems to be developing into another oil type topic.  That being said, I haven't heard of a manual Pingle leaking.  Most objections I've heard are of the "I'll forget to turn it off" type, and that's a user-specific problem.  There are automatic (vacuum operated) Pingles, but I haven't seen many people running those, so I don't think we have enough statistics on it to say one way or the other.

As for failures on the stock:  There are quite a few ways for that one to fail.  If you have the most common (I believe) failure mode, turning the valve to off will keep you from having a problem.  However, it doesn't provide fool-proof security.  I advocate it because it's easy to do (once you get into the habit) and it reduces your risk significantly.

On the other topic, with my fuel off, I can make it barely over a mile at ~30 mph before stalling.  I have about a mile of neighborhood roads (thus the 30 mph) before I get out onto larger, higher speed roads, so I test this routinely.  The good news is that with her 6 carbs, the Valkyrie shuts down VERY smoothly.  She gives me about 15 seconds of warning before shutting off entirely, instead of the almost immediate off that other bikes have done to me.

Mark

[z10]

I finally got to ride my bike this weekend!  The weather in W.Texas was just great.  So I had a chance to test the "Off" position on my fuel valve.  It took about 1.5 miles to finally shut down, but it does turn the fuel off.  Thanks

Pics of me and my little buddy.  No, I didn't really ride with him on the back. But his mother didn't know for sure at the time. 

[godfire]

Finally, a look at the stock petcocks, don't yall think a pingle valve, manual, non vacuum, one might be better than the stock Honda?  

Just a little sarcasm ,, z10 if you go to the tech board and type in anything to do with fuel valves or petcocks in the search box, you can read for hours I bet.