I know the gas shut off can starve an engine under hard use and many suggest replacing the sill chicken.
I recently picked up a 2006 with 1400 miles which runs great when warm and will start just fine if it has been run recently. If it sits for more than a couple of days, it is hard to start and runs like it is flooded for a while and then clears up. Can these sil cocks leak and flood the bike or is it just a problem in the other direction?
Thanks,
Mike
I think it depends. If you leave the petcock in the prime postion while it's sitting than I believe you can get some leakeage. Honestly, I'm not sure either way on and bike that new though.
On a semi-related note, my '00 sputters until its really warmed up (ie - 15 minutes after riding). Anyone care to help me figure out why?
This is not on prime. This is set on run.
Yes petcock not silcock, what an idiot I can be!!!!
Mike
Your carburetor float valve(s) is/are probably leaking. And your petcock is probably saving your butt from having your fuel tank drain into your engine. So absolutely no no no no on leaving it on prime.
To test the float valve theory, after it has been sitting for a couple days, try switching to prime before starting, let it sit for one or two minutes to allow the bowls to fill up, then return it to on. If your bike starts up normally now, then the suspicion of a float valve issue is stronger.
You could also do the clear tube float height check after it has been sitting. Of course you won't be checking your float height, you'd be checking how much fuel is in the bowl.
Another theory is if you leave it out in the hot sun for a few days, then the fuel could just be cooking right out of the carbs. This would have exactly the same symptoms as the float valve theory, so you'd have to check it by parking under cover and see if it's any different.
Thanks, the bike sits in the garage and at this elevation it doesn't get too hot. I'll chect the fuel level in a couple of days to see where I stand.
Mike