[PontiacJack]

So two weeks ago I finished my MSF course and broke a ton of bad habits I had acquired the past year of riding (still working on the speeding) and realized I had a question about the bike start-up procedures. Obviously I can't ask my instructors because my awesome intelligence took a quick break while the instructor was passing out his e-mail address. DOH!

I am sure you guys will have a good if not better answer...

Geez I take too long to get to the point huh?

The question, Is their any benefit to switching the fuel switch to "off" every time you shut down the bike? How about when you shut down for the night?

 

[knightslugger]

s their any benefit to switching the fuel switch to "off" every time you shut down the bike? How about when you shut down for the night?

mechanicly? No, i'd say nothing significant, not if your petcock works as it should. Security? well, if some one where to hotwire your bike and run off with it, they wouldn't get too far. They would likely abandon the bike instead of finding out what happened. most often times your bike is just loaded into a van and that's that. i guess if it's anything, it's a little peace of mind.

 

[PontiacJack]

Easiest way...

2 2x4's
four guys
truck/van low load level...

thread one 2x4 though each wheel, one guy per end of the 2x4 and lift! presto

why do I know these things??? ???

 

[knightslugger]

Then again, it's more exposed (and really obvious you have a bike in the back) than a van. plus if you have an alarm on it, yeah, dead giveaway.

 

[PontiacJack]

Then again, it's more exposed (and really obvious you have a bike in the back) than a van.

As opposed to a Truck?

plus if you have an alarm on it, yeah, dead giveaway.

As stated in an earlier thread... EX owners have the best theft deterrunt on the market Right?


Are we off topic again???

 

[knightslugger]

yeah, a little. oh well. enough.

 

[PontiacJack]

So I guess I'll just leave mine on...

 

[ex_dsmr]

i wouldnt deal with it, i dont really understand the concept of doing it. its not that big of a deal otherwise theyd have them on cars as well. its not a saftey thing..you bike can still run a ways even with the petcock turned off. and its sure not gonna prevent a theft.

to me the entire idea of the petcock is that it leaves you the ability to shut off the flow of gasoline when your servicing parts of the engine such as the carbs. since its a gravity fed system, thats all i can come up with. i see no reason to shut it off other than during maintainance and storage.

 

[knightslugger]

to me the entire idea of the petcock is that it leaves you the ability to shut off the flow of gasoline when your servicing parts of the engine such as the carbs. since its a gravity fed system, thats all i can come up with. i see no reason to shut it off other than during maintainance and storage.

It's also a vacuum actuated valve so the only time it will flow fuel is when there's a vacuum applied to the valve. two lines go to the petcock: One for fuel, one for vacuum.

 

[fog]

I would Highly recommend that you shut off the Petcock ant the end of each day's ride, even if it's going to be parked for more than an hour. This petcock system is just about the worst most unreliable system on this bike (which if full of un reliable systems). If it leaks fuel can flow (trickle) into the carbs and the less than perfect float valves will allow the carb bowls to over flow , the fuel runs into the engine ,and then if a intake valve is open into the cylinders past the rings into the crankcase. Sounds impossible right? Wrong, it happens all the time.

FOG

 

[longbeachgary]

I have a 2006 Vulcan 500 and there is no OFF position on the petcock. There is only ON, PRI (prime) and RESERVE. I thought the Ninja was the same - but I have been wrong before.