petcock left on PRI, now won't start

[Telo16]

I searched through a couple old posts and saw some conflicting information so I though I would describe my situation to get a firm answer.

I took my bike to the shop to get new tires earlier on Wed and for some reason they left my petcock on pri (without me knowing).  I noticed the next morning that there was gas on floor of the garage and on some of the engine housing but didn't have time to investigate.  Come Friday morning I tried to start the bike and could get it to turn over but it wouldn't stay running and bogged out.  I finally found that the petcock was on pri and have since switched it back to normal, but don't want to potentially damage the engine by trying to start it again.

So it was on pri for about 48 hours and as stated leaked out gas.  Seems like the suggested steps are pull the plugs to make sure there is no gas in the engine and then change the oil/filter.  Should that be enough?

I arguably need to change the oil anyway so I am not that upset with the dealership, but feel like that is pretty inexcusable.  Don't even know why they would need to fiddle with that if they were just changing the tires.  Serves me right for going to a Honda/Yamaha dealer (no Suzuki one near me).

[jacob_ns]

Your airfilter will more than likely be full of gasoline since the carb will drain into it afaik.

[Paulcet]

You also have a stuck float or bad float needles or bad needle seats or bad needle seat o-rings. (or any combination of those).

[Telo16]

Your airfilter will more than likely be full of gasoline since the carb will drain into it afaik.

So do I need to replace the air filter as well, or just take it out and let it dry out?

Regarding the floats, I have suspected this is the case for a while but haven't felt confident enough to take everything apart and try to fine tune them since it seems like minute adjustments are required to make a reasonable difference.

Thanks for the quick replies

[ntouran]

I accidentally leave mine on prime a lot because reserve doesn't work. Just hook up jumper cables, put it at full throttle, and crank it for 15 seconds or so until it starts. It'll clear up. Fix your carb later.

[skirecs]

take off air filter and let it dry

change the oil

take out plugs and crank the gas out of the cylinders

replace plugs and filter and it will start right up



don't try and start it with cylinders full of gas because it might hydrolock

[jacob_ns]

I accidentally leave mine on prime a lot because reserve doesn't work. Just hook up jumper cables, put it at full throttle, and crank it for 15 seconds or so until it starts. It'll clear up. Fix your carb later.

Worst advice yet. 

[Twisted]

Maybe they had a hard time getting your bike started and fiddled with the petcock. Some dealers will leave your bike in the carpark while it waits to be serviced or picked up so anyone could go past and have a fiddle. Reason why I hate using dealers. Seems they do one job and then create another.

[Fry]

I accidentally leave mine on prime a lot because reserve doesn't work. Just hook up jumper cables, put it at full throttle, and crank it for 15 seconds or so until it starts. It'll clear up. Fix your carb later.

Worst advice yet. 

Yup....Worst advice yet....

It may work, may work fine a 100 times, but the time you try it with Cylinders full of fuel, you'll be kicking yourself all the way to a engine rebuild.

[ntouran]

I accidentally leave mine on prime a lot because reserve doesn't work. Just hook up jumper cables, put it at full throttle, and crank it for 15 seconds or so until it starts. It'll clear up. Fix your carb later.

Worst advice yet.  

Yup....Worst advice yet....

It may work, may work fine a 100 times, but the time you try it with Cylinders full of fuel, you'll be kicking yourself all the way to a engine rebuild.

Good to know. Sorry for the bad advice. I thought it was just harder to start after that happens. So what exactly happens to destroy the engine? What's a hydrolock? Why doesn't this happen every time? Why has it worked for me ~20 times?

[ntouran]

Oh: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrolock


Yeah ok that sounds bad. I wonder why I never ruined my engine. Extremely good luck, I guess.