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Author Topic: How often do you turn the fuel off?  (Read 3076 times)

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Offline 78_SaltLick

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How often do you turn the fuel off?
« on: September 17, 2005, 01:51:49 pm »
Most basic question ever asked.....How often do you guys turn your petcock to the "off" position? Every time you stop and get off the bike to go to a store? When it sits overnight? When it sits for a few weeks?

I was never too sure when to turn it off. 
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Offline Bob Wessner

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Re: How often do you turn the fuel off?
« Reply #1 on: September 17, 2005, 01:55:06 pm »
Personally, I make it part of the routine whenever I shut off the bike/ignition. Turning it back on is also part of the start-up routine. This way, should you have an occasional sticking float/valve, you won't come out and find a pool of gas under the bike.
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Buffo

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Re: How often do you turn the fuel off?
« Reply #2 on: September 17, 2005, 02:05:57 pm »
I do the same as Mr. Wessner...it only takes a second to turn it on or off
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Offline Jonesy

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Re: How often do you turn the fuel off?
« Reply #3 on: September 17, 2005, 02:07:51 pm »
I concur. It's now a habit for whenever I turn on/shut off the bike.
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Offline mick750F

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Re: How often do you turn the fuel off?
« Reply #4 on: September 17, 2005, 03:19:50 pm »
   Same with me...whenever I get off the bike.

Mike
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Offline GeoffT

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Re: How often do you turn the fuel off?
« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2005, 03:41:27 pm »
Perhaps so far we have all learned from experience. Going in to the garage and finding petrol on the floor as a result of not switching the fuel tap (petcock) off leads you to switch it off every time. The only pain in the neck then is when you get a mil;e down the road next morning and the bike stalls cos you forgot to switch it back on.  ::)
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Offline Jonesy

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Re: How often do you turn the fuel off?
« Reply #6 on: September 17, 2005, 03:55:16 pm »
I wonder if anyone has rigged-up a Moto Guzzi-style petcock on the '75-on tanks. As soon as you turn on the ignition, the petcock opens. When you turn the ignition off, it turns off as well.
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cd811

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Re: How often do you turn the fuel off?
« Reply #7 on: September 17, 2005, 04:32:24 pm »
i only turn mine off when it's not running ;)
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Bobby

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Re: How often do you turn the fuel off?
« Reply #8 on: September 17, 2005, 05:25:04 pm »
I got so used to turning my petcock to "off" that I installed one on my Toyota...
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Offline skamania19

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Re: How often do you turn the fuel off?
« Reply #9 on: September 17, 2005, 05:40:34 pm »
Turning it off isn't my problem, I do it whenever I turn off the bike. Remembering to turn it back on, THAT is my problem. Can't tell you how many times I've had reach down and turn it on after I started to ride away. Even a monkey would have figured it out by now.
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26.2

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Re: How often do you turn the fuel off?
« Reply #10 on: September 17, 2005, 05:47:48 pm »
...whenever I get off the bike.
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Offline luckysox

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Re: How often do you turn the fuel off?
« Reply #11 on: September 17, 2005, 06:15:08 pm »
Honda put an inline shut off on some of there bikes starting in 81 ?  It is vacuum operated from the #2 cyclender. If you have a sticky float valve you don't have to remember to turn on & off the petcock.It is between the petcock and the carbs.  My 81 750 Custom has 1 on it.
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Offline Uncle Ernie

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Re: How often do you turn the fuel off?
« Reply #12 on: September 17, 2005, 06:54:05 pm »
Couple of warnings; if you leave the gas on overnight, I HIGHLY recommend taking out the plugs before starting and smelling the oil for gas.  On some of my bikes, the gas gets into the cylinder head. When that happens, it can get past the rings and into the oil. Also, liquid doesn't compress. If you try to start the bike with a head full of gas, you can blow a gasket. If you take the plugs out first, excess gas will blow out the hole.
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Offline Robert

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Re: How often do you turn the fuel off?
« Reply #13 on: September 17, 2005, 07:45:48 pm »
Quote from: 26.2 on September 17, 2005, 05:47:48 pm
...whenever I get off the bike.


Ditto. I love it. Sets me in bike mode: petcock on -> bike mode on.
A routine, but a thoughtful one. Remembers me unconsciously that cars are potential killers and riding is great.
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Offline Quail "Owner of the comfortable k8"

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Re: How often do you turn the fuel off?
« Reply #14 on: September 17, 2005, 08:18:39 pm »
Now more than ever.  Spun the rod bearing on my daughters CL125s because the float stuck, Drain hose had mud in it,and the crankcase filled with gas.  She started it and rode up to ask me what the noise was.  I looked at the petcock on my K* and it was open as usual.  I drained the oil and made a vow to use FINE-C the rest of my life.  Yes fine-c will stop you from running out of gas EVERYDAY 1 mile from your home.  The lady down the road I mile must think I finaly got a tune-up, she does not have to hear my bike spit and sputter every morning anymore. 

F=fuel petcock
I=ignition key
N= netural
E= emergency stop switch

C= choke
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Offline DammitDan

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Re: How often do you turn the fuel off?
« Reply #15 on: September 18, 2005, 12:58:10 am »
Quote from: Robert on September 17, 2005, 07:45:48 pm
Remembers me unconsciously that cars are potential killers and riding is great.

I never turn my petcock off.  But I have an '82 CB650...  vacuum line.

And I had my first close call today; Robert is right about cars being potential killers...  SUV flipped into my lane to get out from behind a decelerating minivan.  Thank God I saw it coming and shifted to the other side of the lane (away from him).  He never even looked.  Just about scraped my knee with his front fender before I slammed the throttle and leaned the bike under me to get away from him.

I had a few choice words and a happy hand gesture for him as I left him in the dust.  He didn't even look apologetic for almost making me part of his gigantic stainless steel running board.  Ugh!  >:(
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eldar

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Re: How often do you turn the fuel off?
« Reply #16 on: September 19, 2005, 04:43:26 pm »
I turn mine off now cause I got cheap floats to fix a problem. I will get quality floats this winter and then I wont have to turn the percock off. See I have the fiber floats and they are more responsive than the brass are. With the original floats, I NEVER turned the gas off, not even for monthly storage times. Never had a leak till I got the cheap $2 floats. What can you expect for 2 bucks though. I had to buy what i could afford atthe time though.
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Offline Uncle Ernie

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Re: How often do you turn the fuel off?
« Reply #17 on: September 19, 2005, 05:56:21 pm »
Does turning off the gas get you winded?
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Offline Bob Wessner

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Re: How often do you turn the fuel off?
« Reply #18 on: September 19, 2005, 07:10:01 pm »
I hear Beano is effective at turning off gas  ;D
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Offline my78k

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Re: How often do you turn the fuel off?
« Reply #19 on: September 20, 2005, 05:32:40 am »
I try to turn mine off every time...atleast when I remember. Ofcourse it's getting easier and easier to remember after the wife yells at me for the holes that are now in the driveway! Interesting how gas eats through asphalt almost as quickly as it eats through my bank account lately!
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Offline dusterdude

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Re: How often do you turn the fuel off?
« Reply #20 on: September 20, 2005, 07:45:10 am »
bob,did you notice how buffo called you mr.wessner?pretty impressive.
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mark
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bike54

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Re: How often do you turn the fuel off?
« Reply #21 on: September 20, 2005, 08:19:46 am »
Quote from: dusterdude on September 20, 2005, 07:45:10 am
bob,did you notice how buffo called you mr.wessner?pretty impressive.

with that number of posts bob deserves respect

merv
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Offline 78 k550

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Re: How often do you turn the fuel off?
« Reply #22 on: September 20, 2005, 08:24:53 am »
every time I get on and off it the gas flows the same way.
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Offline dusterdude

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Re: How often do you turn the fuel off?
« Reply #23 on: September 20, 2005, 08:34:26 am »
i totally agree merv.
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mark
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