Leaky Fuel Taps

[Bob_Roller]

Got back to work today after my weekend, and a co-worker that rides just about every day, came up to me and told me of his latest anomaly with his V twin Vulcan. He went to start it yesterday morning, and saw a large puddle of fuel growing under the bike, so he decides to take one of his other bikes instead. When he gets home yesterday and starts looking for the leak, after he turns on the fuel, it starts gurgling out of the crankcase breather vent. He opens the filler cap on the fuel tank, and it is just about empty. He removes the oil dipstick, and gets about half a gallon of fuel/oil mix out of the dipstick opening. He found the vacuum operated fuel shut off valve had failed and allowed the fuel tank to empty into the carbs (bike was on the side stand) and then into crank case. Just another friendly reminder to shut off your fuel taps when you park your R65.

[Lowen]

This is true! I remember a couple of monday mornings after heavy drinking weekends where I had to pull a plug and dry the cylinder before riding to work. The R65 being my sole means of transport for a couple of three years.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Thank you, Bob!


[size=36]ALWAYS SHUT OFF YOUR FUEL TAP WHEN PARKING!!![/size]

Preferably when about 30 seconds away from your destination.

[Lowen]

I now have a sticker which reads "Turn off the gas stupid!" on my R65.

[Melena]

Yep!  I know this one.  But I didn't check my bike for a week after I'd parked it when I got back from a trip (too busy with work, etc.).  Luckily I didn't try to start it.  But I smelled so much gas I wasn't about to start it first.  Well, the engine got well cleaned out.    I didn't have to worry about the oil being too thick to drain out completely when I took out the oil pan plug.  There was more gas than oil that came out of there.    

A full oil change and some good oil put in and she's run great ever since.  No damage, luckily.

Rob is definitley right, and Bing even says it in their manual to not use the carbs as fuel petcocks - they are not made for that.  

[MrRiden]

Conversely, forgetting to turn it on can be an interesting exorcise in quick thinking! I need a sticker that reads 'turn on gas dummy'. Makes me realize why pilots have a pre / post flight checklist. Hmmm I sense an article for the tech files here somewhere.
rich

[Bob_Roller]

I've got a red "Remove Before Flight' flag clipped to the fuel tap, keeps me from getting a surprise about .75 miles from home, or from work !

[thrang]

I guess we've all set off with the fuel tap on off, and had our babys start stuttering a couple of minutes later.

[dewjantim]

I never shut mine off. If your carbs are set right they wont leak. The only time I shut off my petcocks is if one of them is leaking, I need to remove the tank, or I need to remove a carb or two. Never had "any" problems.......Dew.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

I guess we've all set off with the fuel tap on off, and had our babys start stuttering a couple of minutes later.

I do that at least a couple of times a month.

I still prefer them to vacuum operated valves.

[Bob_Roller]

It's gotten to be an instinct for me to turn the taps on and off, after owning the R65 for 26 years, I even go and try to turn the non-existent taps on the oilhead on !

[Ed Miller]

I doubt that guy's Yamaha gives him the option of turning off his fuel taps, if it's one of those crazy vacuum operated types.  

I generally turn off the taps on both bikes, but I've noticed at Airhead gatherings that most people do not turn them off.  The carbs don't normally flood, and if they do you want to fix it as it will make your motor run rich through out the range.

[tagordon]

I am better at remembering to turn 'em off.
Than I am at remembering to turn 'em on.
Before I rebuilt the carbs one really poured fuel out the over flow.
Once I lost half my tank once. Sure gratefull for no ignition. BBB!
(Bike go Bang no good Baby)