Carburated bike question

[mycirus]

So the fuel switch? Do you just keep in on all the time. Shut it off when in the garage. Whats the norm. My buddy bought that 600 and just not sure what to do. I say just leave it on. Is that gonna hurt anything?

Bruce

[JeffL]

I'll turn it off when I think of it, but for the most part I just leave it on. If for some reason the bike sits for a week or two w/ the fuel on, I think it manages to overfill the carb bowls a bit and will start hard and a bit smoky that first time after its sat, but with a daily start, never had any issues personally.

[BostonSVkid]

I have a carbed bike and I dont have a shut off valve and I never have had a problem.

[Tricky Mike]

no manual switch doesn't necessarily mean no switch at all... not sure about the SV, but it's probably vacuum actuated automatic... pistons stop moving, stop creating vacuum, valve closes. Hit the starter, pistons move, creates vacuum, valve opens.

FWIW, I always close the valve on the KTM... don't always remember to open it, but the bike reminds me... usually on the face of the first 3rd gear double. Yikes

[RandyO]

the Sv has an automatic vacuum shutoff


on my XV920R I have a manual vacuum shutyoff on each side of the tank, I shut them both off every time I shut the engine off

[RandyO]

Originally posted by mycirus
So the fuel switch? Do you just keep in on all the time. Shut it off when in the garage. Whats the norm. My buddy bought that 600 and just not sure what to do. I say just leave it on. Is that gonna hurt anything?

Bruce

if you leave the valve(s) open, it's common for the bowls to be overfull and cause problems with the floats

I always learned, TURN them OFF

[richw]

If you have no shut off it probably has a fuel pump

If you are storing it for more then a couple of weeks the smart thing to do is shut it off and run it till the bowls are dry. On my BMW I know if I shut it off 1/3 a mile from the house it will be sputtering when I pull in the driveway. Then no loss of time.

[RandyO]

Originally posted by richw
If you have no shut off it probably has a fuel pump

If you are storing it for more then a couple of weeks the smart thing to do is shut it off and run it till the bowls are dry. On my BMW I know if I shut it off 1/3 a mile from the house it will be sputtering when I pull in the driveway. Then no loss of time.

FI obviously has a fuel pump, and that's why they have a tip over sensor to shut the fuel pump off.

this thread is about carbed bikes, they get their fuel by gravity, if there is no obvious shutoff, it only means that there is a vacuum operated shutoff

[richw]

MY 97 yzf1000 is carburetted and has a fuel pump

[RandyO]

Originally posted by richw
MY 97 yzf1000 is carburetted and has a fuel pump

most carbed model, there are exceptions to everything

[benVFR]

The SV has a fuel pump too doesn't it?

[RandyO]

Originally posted by benVFR
The SV has a fuel pump too doesn't it?

yes, but there is also a vacuum petcock that turns gas on & off

I think the fuel pump is more of an accelerator pump, it's vacuum powered, not mechanical or electric

[Rye]

Shut it off!