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Replace petcock with solenoid valve?

Get over it!

henzilla said:
Geez guys:banghead

How to make new posters/ members feel welcome. Thinking outside the box isn't a bad thing, though this mod isn't one I would do myself.

I was so used to on/off on bikes for years, that I still on occasion reach down for one on FI bikes..so what? Should I too quit riding?
We used to turn buddies off or turned on their reserve for funsies. I turn them off because it is a safe practice for me having leaky bikes for many reasons thru the years.

I have run out of gas at 16 years old, ran out at 22, a few times in my 50's and ran out at 61 as well...I'm human and do goof up on occasion.I tip my hat to those of you that seem to never make a mistake.Must be a nice view from that high horse.

I have ridden off with my sidestand down, though rarer than when I first started riding Hondas trying to impress the girls of my youth with my mad skills. I did it once when I first rode my Airhead a few years back and had gotten spoiled with the safeties built in modern bikes I suppose. Haven't repeated it, but it happened. Guess I need to get off my bike (s).

Just because the Airhead is a low tech by todays standard, how about when the electric starter became the only choice that was available...rumbles of this will leave me stranded from the masses was the talk of the day.


Anyways, hoping the OP doesn't leave due to a few snarky comments, it is his bike you know and he was just asking a question.
Click to expand...


This, coming from a "seasoned" rider from Texas. What did we do when the headlight dip switch was moved from the floorboard to a stalk on the steering column. Seems that it was a Texas Aggie who invented the dip switch in the stalk on the column. Tragically, he was killed in an auto accidentwhen his ankle got stuck in the steering wheel:)
 
When my wife first started to ride I just had her tape a small note on the inside of the windscreen that reminded her to turn fuel on/off. Over time it just became a habit. Don't know if this helps, but it is the cheapest fix.
 
Pilots use checklists. Smart ones, dumb ones, old ones, young ones.

A Dymo label by the key switch (faired bikes) or on the handlebar pad that says "Switch off - Fuel off" might work until it becomes such second nature that the label seems silly. Then, since there is no governing authority that makes you have it, you peel it off and you are trained.
 
beemerphile said:
Pilots use checklists. Smart ones, dumb ones, old ones, young ones.

A Dymo label by the key switch (faired bikes) or on the handlebar pad that says "Switch off - Fuel off" might work until it becomes such second nature that the label seems silly. Then, since there is no governing authority that makes you have it, you peel it off and you are trained.
Click to expand...

I shot this photo at the 2008 Indy 500 Race. We had pit passes and were allowed access to the garages and pit row. Anyway, the masking tape label says it all. The car was a Bobby Rahal car. Even the pros need a little reminder from time to time. I apologize, I do not remember the driver's name.

Wayne
 

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One car in the field was Rahal Letterman in conjunction with Chip Ganassi. Driver was Englishman Alex Lloyd. Here's his car from the 2008 race:

<p><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LloydIndy2008.jpg#/media/File:LloydIndy2008.jpg"><img alt="LloydIndy2008.jpg" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/LloydIndy2008.jpg/1200px-LloydIndy2008.jpg"></a><br>By <a class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/73643373@N00" rel="nofollow">Carey Akin</a> - originally posted to <a title="Flickr" class="mw-redirect" href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Flickr">Flickr</a> as <a class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/73643373@N00/2500252362" rel="nofollow">DSC_5962</a>, <a title="Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0">CC BY-SA 2.0</a>, <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4093502">Link</a></p>
 
20774 said:
One car in the field was Rahal Letterman in conjunction with Chip Ganassi. Driver was Englishman Alex Lloyd. Here's his car from the 2008 race:

<p><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LloydIndy2008.jpg#/media/File:LloydIndy2008.jpg"><img alt="LloydIndy2008.jpg" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/LloydIndy2008.jpg/1200px-LloydIndy2008.jpg"></a><br>By <a class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/73643373@N00" rel="nofollow">Carey Akin</a> - originally posted to <a title="Flickr" class="mw-redirect" href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Flickr">Flickr</a> as <a class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/73643373@N00/2500252362" rel="nofollow">DSC_5962</a>, <a title="Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0">CC BY-SA 2.0</a>, <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4093502">Link</a></p>
Click to expand...

Yes, that is the car. I have other photos of the car, all taken of only the decals on the car, but decals match perfectly. I have other photos of another of his cars, and that one is a different paint scheme.
 
bikertucker said:
When my wife first started to ride I just had her tape a small note on the inside of the windscreen that reminded her to turn fuel on/off. Over time it just became a habit. Don't know if this helps, but it is the cheapest fix.
Click to expand...

I don't like the taste or feel of tape to try that with H:laugh:laugh:laugh
 
I am not sure you want to do this. On my Suzuki, they had a factory petcock, that was actuated by a vacuum "solenoid" that opened it up when starting and running as long as it had vacuum from engine, but then shut it off when the engine shut down. Everyone told me that one of the first things I should do is to replace it with a standard on/off/res petcock.

When the original would mal-function (diaphragm leak, locking up, air leak in vacuum hose, etc.) causing all sorts of problems - making troubleshooting what was wrong almost impossible - as it would do weird things to the fuel flow which would then cause the engine to mimic all sorts of issues.

I still prefer the age-old standard petcock, but the thing to do is to learn to "program" yourself to turn it off when parking.
 
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