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Shutting off the Petcock on my Dream
Shutting off the Petcock on my Dream
Just curious how many folks do this. If any of my machines are going to sit for a week or two I turn the petcock to "off" and let the bike run out of fuel. My hope is to prevent the ethanol fuel from further damaging my carburetors. Is there any downside to this habit?
I can think of some other good and bad reasons.
a) you get some fresh gas in the cab next time you went to start the bike - the most volatile part of the gas evaporates first.
b) bad - there is a cork part in the fuel tap which might dry out but that shouldn't be a problem
I always run the carb dry on my little two-stroke Bantam as it is much easier to start with a float bowl full of relatively fresh gas.
Only do this at relatively slow engine speeds as the air fuel ratio will change as the fuel gets used up.
G
a) you get some fresh gas in the cab next time you went to start the bike - the most volatile part of the gas evaporates first.
b) bad - there is a cork part in the fuel tap which might dry out but that shouldn't be a problem
I always run the carb dry on my little two-stroke Bantam as it is much easier to start with a float bowl full of relatively fresh gas.
Only do this at relatively slow engine speeds as the air fuel ratio will change as the fuel gets used up.
G
Last edited by G-Man on Mon Feb 24, 2014 12:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
'60 C77 '60 C72 '62 C72 Dream '63 CL72
'61 CB72 '64 CB77 '65 CB160
'66 Matchless 350 '67 CL77
'67 S90 '77 CB400F
'61 CB72 '64 CB77 '65 CB160
'66 Matchless 350 '67 CL77
'67 S90 '77 CB400F
I ALWAYS shut fuel of on every bike I own. Keeps the petcocks operating freely. Just good practice. If you've ever had an engine fill with gas from a stuck float :(.
And....I ALWAYS drain my carbs if the bike will sit more than a week. I've been doing this for over 15 years now and NEVER have carb problems. They do NOT varnish up, I've never had a problem with anything 'drying' out etc. As a matter of fact I just finished my 70 Triumph clutch rebuild Saturday. Bike has not run in 4 months but I have my special fuel mix in it along with drained carbs. Turn on the fuel, tickle, bam....second kick and it's running. I just never ever have carb problems any more since I drain the carbs after use. And this is a float bowl drain, not just running it out of fuel. That is key given how float bowl and the low and hi speed jets sit in said fuel. Unless you run hard on the main jet you will not suck all the fuel out of the float bowl.
I have several bikes so it can be 2 or more months between rides so this works very well for me.
Between that and my fuel mix, those problems are a thing of the past.
And....I ALWAYS drain my carbs if the bike will sit more than a week. I've been doing this for over 15 years now and NEVER have carb problems. They do NOT varnish up, I've never had a problem with anything 'drying' out etc. As a matter of fact I just finished my 70 Triumph clutch rebuild Saturday. Bike has not run in 4 months but I have my special fuel mix in it along with drained carbs. Turn on the fuel, tickle, bam....second kick and it's running. I just never ever have carb problems any more since I drain the carbs after use. And this is a float bowl drain, not just running it out of fuel. That is key given how float bowl and the low and hi speed jets sit in said fuel. Unless you run hard on the main jet you will not suck all the fuel out of the float bowl.
I have several bikes so it can be 2 or more months between rides so this works very well for me.
Between that and my fuel mix, those problems are a thing of the past.