GAS On or Off

[Rick Haywood]

Probably a thread someplace but can't find it. I have my bike on the lift, I have the battery tender hooked up, I have StaBil and Seafoam in the tank and I took a short ride (it's like 20 degrees here) to get all the additives in the carbs, I have it cleaned and waxed and the cover is on. Now my question is do you leave the gas turned on or off. Mine will not set til April without going out for a ride. It may only be 10 miles total or so but it will go out every 3/4 weeks.

 

Thanks in advance

[KiteSquid]

Turn the petcock valve to OFF.

 

If you don't and one of the needle valves gums up and sticks, all of the gasoline in the tank will end up on the floor which is NOT good.....

 

 

 

If you put Stabil in the tank you wasted your money on the Seafoam, IMHO.

 

 

Whenever you run the bike make sure that you get the exhaust pipes hot enough, long enough to boil out all the water..... you might want to make it a 20 minute ride.

 

 

BTW I am still riding. it was 19 F here at SquidAcres when I left for work.

[Dano]

It's actually harder on the oil to just ride 10 miles or so, the oil doesn't heat up enough to burn off the water and condensation created in the crankcase. It's best to go for at least 30 minutes or longer, in order to really heat things up.

 

I assume you have a second gen or RS, those I would turn the petcock off just to alleviate the gas dripping by a not fully seated float valve.

[Snaggletooth]

I don't see any problem with leaving it turned on. You probably leave it on all riding season anyway right? As you don't need to be concerned about flooding the carbs because of the fuel pump there should be no issue.

 

I leave mine on all the time, even during winter stoarge. I flip it back and forth about once a month to just make sure it still moves.

 

As you are planning to ride it whenever possible leaving it on is good. Just remember to keep that tank topped off with fresh gas after each ride to help limit the condensation in the tank. Sure makes the spring time fire up a lot easier.

 

Mike

[Guest scarylarry]

It's actually harder on the oil to just ride 10 miles or so, the oil doesn't heat up enough to burn off the water and condensation created in the crankcase. It's best to go for at least 30 minutes or longer, in order to really heat things up.

 

I assume you have a second gen or RS, those I would turn the petcock off just to alleviate the gas dripping by a not fully seated float valve.

 

 

That has been debated here before and I never understood this, if the temp reaches over 200 degrees which mind does even on a short ride though I do let idle while I'm drinking coffee...So the question is if the temp goes that high wouldn't it burn off all the condensation? Oh I do have a temp gauge this is how I know

[MidlifeVenture]

I worry about the cover for some reason my cover ends up collecting condensation on the inside and all over the bike

[MikeWa]

It is a little like boiling water in a pot. When the pot gets hot enough the water begins to boil. But it doesn't all just instantly boil away. That takes time. How long it takes for all of the water to boil off is dependent on several variables. Like the amount of water, the amount of heat applied, the shape of the container etc. Any how just run the bike long enough to get all of the moisture boiled away.

Mike

[Ky. Rider]

You'll get all kinds of answers on this, some by professionals, some by self proclaimed professionals and some that don't really know what is best but can only speak from experience. I'm in the last group and all I can say is for 5 years I have not turned mine off and I have not had a problem so far.

[darthandy]

That has been debated here before and I never understood this, if the temp reaches over 200 degrees which mind does even on a short ride though I do let idle while I'm drinking coffee...So the question is if the temp goes that high wouldn't it burn off all the condensation? Oh I do have a temp gauge this is how I know

 

You're right...this was debated just a few weeks ago. I believe it was V7Goose (I'm not sure if I got that right) who explained why it was important to run the motor (On the road, not idling) for at least 1/2 hour. Over the years, I've read or spoken to engineers and mechanics who gave the same explanation. That is...the temp gauge shows the temperature of the coolant. The oil is more viscous (thick, so to speak) and takes longer to heat up to a temperature that will cause any moisture to evaporate. Not getting the oil temp high enough will allow more condensation to form but not be "boiled off". The biggest problem this may cause is on the first ride in the Spring when many of us get overly excited and rev the engine higher than we should. If there is enough moisture present it could cause excessive wear to occur on the bearings or in the cylinders. This won't necessarily cause an immediate problem (Although in theory, the engine could seize, but that's rare ) but over time, it could reduce the time to overhaul of the engine. A quick and easy solution is to keep revs low for the first 30 to 45 minutes of the ride so that excess moisture should get "boiled" off. Short rides and idling over the winter months have never been proven to do any good but on the whole, given today's better materials and technology (Say since the early '80's - thanks to more water cooling and tighter tolerances) they don't do as much harm as they used to.

Edited December 10, 2010 by darthandy

[Rick Haywood]

I worry about the cover for some reason my cover ends up collecting condensation on the inside and all over the bike

 

Mine is in the garage which is attached to the house so it never gets colder than about 40 degrees so there isn't any condensation problem or at least there shouldn't be plus I only use a 1/2 cover

[Dano]

Ahhhh, now we get all the info!

 

Condensation won't be a problem with storage like that. I'd still take a longer ride than 10 miles tho! Why get all dressed up just to go around the block?

[Rick Haywood]

Ahhhh, now we get all the info!

 

Condensation won't be a problem with storage like that. I'd still take a longer ride than 10 miles tho! Why get all dressed up just to go around the block?

 

I agree, I am sure it will be longer than that if I am going to take the 10 minutes to put on everything.

 

I guess I could ride over to Indy and meet you but then it is a three hour cruise and we know what happened to Gilligan on his three hour cruise.

[Eddie Fulmer]

Well you are all wrong! You should drain the tank and leave the gas cap off. That was whatever you miss will evaporate. Then run the bike until there is no fuel left in the carbs. then since the oil is still warm drain it all out and save it to use the next time you ride. You can carry the oil in your house and that way it won't get any water in it to boil off. Or if it does you can just put it on the stove in a pan and heat it up a little and the water will go away. Now if you're going to let it sit up more than a week then it's a different story and a lot more work.

 

 

 

If you think this is serious then you are off your meds. :0)

[KiteSquid]

I had a bikes needle valve stick during storage and the entire five gallons of gas in the tank ended up on the floor.

 

it evaporated.

 

Now I had a storage facility filled with an explosive mixture of air and fuel.

 

I spread oil dry on the spill and opened all the windows and doors and it took about four days for the building to become safe.

 

Now if I had any appliance with a pilot light in there my family and I would probably be dead and you would not be reading this.......

 

 

If installed on your vehicles, PLEASE close the petcock during storage. This is for your safety!!!!!!!!

[Freebird]

I seldom close mine during the riding season but I do turn it off during the winter months. Never have a problem in the spring. Just turn on the petcock, hit the starter and off we go.

[KiteSquid]

Whenever you run the bike make sure that you get the exhaust pipes hot enough, long enough to boil out all the water..... you might want to make it a 20 minute ride.

 

 

It's actually harder on the oil to just ride 10 miles or so, the oil doesn't heat up enough to burn off the water and condensation created in the crankcase. It's best to go for at least 30 minutes or longer, in order to really heat things up.

 

 

I stand corrected. Thanks Dano.

 

 

BTW is this an older photo of you?????

 

http://www.local12.com/media/lib/6/e/e/8/ee8508d3-2991-4b36-9f3d-a212993a1582/Story.jpg