Petcock help needed

[sscott]

Ok, now that the cold weather is here I start up my 850L and let it run for about 20-30 minutes and then I turned the petcock to shut off the fuel and 15 minutes later its still running. 1) Is that normal 2) If not do I needs to replace the petcock only? And 3) Could it be something else?

 

[Guest]

Ok, now that the cold weather is here I start up my 850L and let it run for about 20-30 minutes and then I turned the petcock to shut off the fuel and 15 minutes later its still running. 1) Is that normal 2) If not do I needs to replace the petcock only? And 3) Could it be something else?

Your petcock has an off?

 

[sscott]

LOL, well that might be the problem huh? I (ass)u me it does. Isn't that the position across from reserve?

 

[Guest]

I would think you would set it to the Prime position to run it out of gas..

Huh?

Cant ya just disconect the vacume line, then the fuel line and let it run out?

 

[sscott]

Ok let me explain it this way. I am wanting to shut the gas off so I don't have to worry about the gas settling in the jets and the bowls of the carbs so that it doesn't gum up during the winter. Am I wrong with this assumption?

Also, I'm very new at working on a bike (old to cagers new to bikes) I know I'm sounding very stupid here but I'm trying to learn. Do I need to even worry about the carbs gumming up? I do use a stabilizer in every tank of gas.

And no I don't even see how to disconect the vacume line, then the fuel line and let it run out?

Please help me

 

[sachsaca]

Post a pic of your petcock. The front of it. It should have a prime, run and reserve. No off. Thats for small dirt bikes. The vacuum line allows the diaphram to be pulled open so gas can flow thru. No vacuum line no open diaphram gas will slowly dwindle. Mine never stopped running, it just had enough to run. I suggest disconnecting the fuel line and let the bike run out of gas that way. Now I say that because when my vacuum line was disconnected mine still ran, just acted like it was stumbling.

 

[twr1776]

sscott, use the drain screws at the bottom of the float bowls to drain the carbs. Most of the petcocks are vacuum operated so you will not be able to run the motor out of fuel unless you disconnect the fuel line but the drain screws are a much easier way to drain them if that is what you prefer to do. I would also suggest filling the tank completely with stabilized fuel so you do not get rust on the inside of the tank.

 

[Steve]

So many, many things wrong in this thread.

... I start up my 850L and let it run for about 20-30 minutes and then I turned the petcock to shut off the fuel and 15 minutes later its still running.

Why on God's green earth would you let it run for 20-30 minutes, "turn off the gas" and let it run for another 15 minutes?
Hopefully you at least had a fan blowing on the engine?
If not, it might not matter if the carbs gum up.

... Isn't that the position across from reserve?

Not sure if your petcock has markings that you can read, but those that do are labeled: RES, ON, PRI.
To turn the petcock OFF, you simply stop the engine, the lack of vacuum applied to the petcock will turn it OFF.

I would think you would set it to the Prime position to run it out of gas..

Not sure why you would do that, it will "run out of gas" quicker if you simply left it in the ON position. RES and PRI both draw off the bottom of the tank, meaning it will have to burn through another gallon or so of gas before it quits.

Cant ya just disconect the vacume line, then the fuel line and let it run out?

If you are going to disconnect the vacuum line, why bother with the fuel line?
When you turn off the vacuum, it will also turn off the fuel, assuming the petcock is working correctly.
In the mean time, #2 cylinder is going to run rather lean, unless you plug the vacuum hose.

Ok let me explain it this way. I am wanting to shut the gas off so I don't have to worry about the gas settling in the jets and the bowls of the carbs so that it doesn't gum up during the winter. Am I wrong with this assumption? ... Do I need to even worry about the carbs gumming up? I do use a stabilizer in every tank of gas.

If you are using a stabilizer, there is no need to drain anything.
If, however, you insist on draining the carbs, by all means, leave the gas tank FULL. Simply stop the engine, reach under each carb and loosen the drain plug.
Just keep in mind that in this drained condition, only the fuel in the bowls is drained, there is still going to be just a little gas in the small passages in the carb bodies.

Overall, your best bet for storing your bike is to run it a bit to warm up the oil, but NOT for 45 minutes. Change the oil and filter. Add stabilizer to a partial tank of fuel (I use double the recommended dose), ride to the gas station to fill the tank. This will also circulate the fresh oil throughout the system. Park the bike where it will sit for the winter. While it is cooling, put it on the centerstand, block the front of the bike to get the front tire off the cement. Wash and wax all the body panels, polish/wax the chrome (hopefully the exhaust has cooled by now). Connect a battery tender to monitor the battery, cover the bike with a light breathable cloth after kissing it good-night. Don't fire it up just to hear it run, no matter how sweet it sounds. Actually, don't fire it up unless you will RIDE it for about half an hour or so.

Using this method, I have had no problems with any of my machines that I ever botherd to set up for the season. In fact, I just moved my snow blower to the garage for easy access. It has not been run since late March/early April. One pull on the rope is all it took to get it started. Your bike will start as easily in the spring.

.

 

[79FiveFifty]

somebody post a picture of the prime equipped petcock, this is something i have never seen before.. i have a 79.

OEM for my bike superceded and the new one doesn't have prime either.. RE and ON.

either way - fuel will not get past the valve unless the diaphragm is torn, or the spring is just that weak.

 

[jwhelan65]

Here is the old one off my 85 700..set on RES

 

[79FiveFifty]

thank you, now i understand what people are talking about.

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

For more information, I found this page on some guy's website...

Where do these hoses go?

It has pictures and explanations about petcocks and carb hoses and such.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[don_gibb6512]

One word: Pingel

 

[Steve]

One word: Pingel

Forget to turn your Pingel ON or OFF and you can add one more word:

"Ooops!"

.

 

[don_gibb6512]

Forget to turn your Pingel ON or OFF and you can add one more word:

"Ooops!"

.

Only if your needle and seats aren't working to shut off the gas. Besides, Pingel does make vacuum petcocks if this is a concern.

 

[Guest]

Only if your needle and seats aren't working to shut off the gas. Besides, Pingel does make vacuum petcocks if this is a concern.

So your needle and or seats can be set to shut off the flow of fuel from your petcock?

I left mine in prime once. That was enough for me..

 

[don_gibb6512]

So your needle and or seats can be set to shut off the flow of fuel from your petcock?

I left mine in prime once. That was enough for me..

Assuming the petcock is working correctly and itself not leaking then it's only function is to provide a flow of gas from the tank to the carb bowls. The floats in the bowls rise, pushing against the needles to a maximum point where they seal in their respective seats, stopping any further flow of gas. Certainly other areas of the system can fail (bowl gasket, hoses, o-rings, float, etc) but assuming all is working properly then yes, the needle and seat will stop the continuous flow of gas.

HTH

 

[Guest]

Assuming the petcock is working correctly and itself not leaking then it's only function is to provide a flow of gas from the tank to the carb bowls. The floats in the bowls rise, pushing against the needles to a maximum point where they seal in their respective seats, stopping any further flow of gas. Certainly other areas of the system can fail (bowl gasket, hoses, o-rings, float, etc) but assuming all is working properly then yes, the needle and seat will stop the continuous flow of gas.

HTH

We forgot to mention, side or center stand?
My bike dont have a center stand.

I can see where you should be correct if the bike is on the center stand but not on the side stand.

 

[sscott]

I wanted to take a minute to thank ALL that responded to my thread. I feel alot more educated now and really appreciate the info.

Bass, thanks for the link I have printed it off. As usual your links are invaluable!

Steve, thanks again for your suggestions but I'm not sure why to block the front tire??

I feel stupid for asking for the help I did however I do feel better about asking it cause of what I have learned if that makes sense LOL. I also know there are probably others on here that may not know how to store for the winter as well so I'm sure this helped them out also. As I was once told, there are no stupid questions just stupid people that ask them. Just kidding

Thanks again!