I went out to put a battery tender on my "new-to-me" '96 FLHR. When I was out in the garage, I noticed that I didn't turn the fuel petcock off when I parked last. Now, in my old metric-bike days, leaving the petcock open and parking a bike for more than a few minutes meant fuel all over the bike, floor, everything. To my (pleasant) surprise, the RK was dry as a bone!

After making sure the battery was healthy, I fired her up, seeming no worse for having the fuel left on. Granted, it took a bit as it is in the low 30's out here.

So, my question to the group is, do I really need to worry about turning the fuel off all the time?

Thx

 

Yep, to be safe, turn the gas off. Also it is a good idea to add Stabil gas additive and fill the tank completely full for the winter to prevent corrosion in the tank.

 

I do. Just an old habit, I'm told the newer bikes with vacuum controlled petcocks don't require it but it's a mechanical device and they do fail. The worst part of the failure is not the gasoline all over the floor routine, although that's a pain and slightly dangerous to boot. The worst part is the gasoline that runs through the carb into one or both cylinders, washing away the oil and making for a nasty dry start. Once you get in the habit of doing it every time it's really no big deal... If you buy a pingel or similar aftermarket petcock it's even easier.

 

Turn it off, and if your going to let it sit for a while run the fuel out of the carb.

 

I never turn the gas over even over the long winter months.

 

Older bikes had a brass needle and seat that would leak evenyually if you did not shut them off. The newer carbs have a rubber Viton needle that pretty much cured that. Can fuel get by if it isn't working properly??? Certainly, so it actually comes down to your preference if you have a modern carb.

 

well seeing as its gravity feed the only thing that could happen is to fill the engine up with gas and, or, dump gas all over the place.

 

I thought the '96 had an automatic vacuum shut off. In fact my '96 never leaked a drop of gas....ever.....till I installed a Pingle Petcock and removed the stock vacuum unit. Once I put the Pingle on I had to adjust the dang float.

 

I always turn it off. How much effort does it take? Of course my bikes are all a little (or a lot) older.

 

YEAH, turn it off . .