Left fuel valve in "prime" position overnight!

JerseyMitch · 10-14-2013, 09:57 PM

Okay, so I didn't know any better and left my bike's fuel valve in prime position overnight for, like, 12 hours. It has a new battery and new plugs (just put them on today.) As soon as I realized what I'd done I changed it to the proper position (as per the manual.) But the bike won't start.

How bad have I screwed up? How do I fix this so I can actually ride this bike?

A little background info: It's a 2004; I bought it for $1,100 from a guy I know. He told me it would need a new battery. It worked great yesterday, the first day I rode it. Since I'm a new rider I rode with some more experienced friends. One of them fiddled with the engine for me, making the fuel mixture a little richer. We filled it with mid-grade fuel, not premium. And left the fuel valve in PRI position overnight.

Today it started, but then quickly stalled out. I replaced the battery & plugs. All this time the fuel valve was in PRI. This evening I looked at the owner's manual (better late than never) and saw the warning about the fuel valve positions. I changed the position to ON, but now the bike won't kick over.

wacio · 09-25-2016, 07:10 PM

If your carb is in good shape - especially float valve working OK, than you don't need to worry about a thing. Pri position should be avoided if you are to leave bike sit for days or weeks. Bike with fuel valve open (what prime position really is) may cause fresh fuel flowing to carb as it evaporates causing varnish buildup.
If you have problem with needle valve not closing correctly you may cause overflowing carburetor - fuel getting into filter housing or engine.
Just be mindful that petcock valve also has tendency to leak. Both valves should be checked from time to time and kept working as intended. Float valve also impacts how the bike will run (assuring proper fuel level in carb).

brizbot · 09-26-2016, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wacio

If your carb is in good shape - especially float valve working OK, than you don't need to worry about a thing. Pri position should be avoided if you are to leave bike sit for days or weeks. Bike with fuel valve open (what prime position really is) may cause fresh fuel flowing to carb as it evaporates causing varnish buildup.
If you have problem with needle valve not closing correctly you may cause overflowing carburetor - fuel getting into filter housing or engine.
Just be mindful that petcock valve also has tendency to leak. Both valves should be checked from time to time and kept working as intended. Float valve also impacts how the bike will run (assuring proper fuel level in carb).

Thanks Wacio!

Yeah I was king of thrown off because the bike doesn't have an 'off' position but thankfully these forums have educated me that 'on' is fine since it (shouldn't) pull gas unless the bike has been started.

I am a little freaked out by the amount of gas that got into the oil, but I drained it last night and plan on putting in a new filter and oil today after work. Let's hope she starts up with no issues!

wacio · 09-26-2016, 07:42 PM

Fuel in oil means that your float valve is not working right. It could be cracked float, dirty valve or damaged o'ring around valve seat. I still would look at taking carb off and checking the carb fuel level adjustment and integrity of valve and oring. In good working carb this shouldn't have happened. Fuel level in carb is lower than height of jets and fuel only gets into the engine then running (sucked in with air).

brizbot · 09-28-2016, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wacio

Fuel in oil means that your float valve is not working right. It could be cracked float, dirty valve or damaged o'ring around valve seat. I still would look at taking carb off and checking the carb fuel level adjustment and integrity of valve and oring. In good working carb this shouldn't have happened. Fuel level in carb is lower than height of jets and fuel only gets into the engine then running (sucked in with air).

Wacio

Thanks again! I (or my bike) didn't blow up!
As I mentioned before I changed the oil, changed the filter, wiped and aired out the air filter compartment, emptied out the tube under the bike, and even started the engine up several times without the spark plug.

I am taking it for inspection this weekend. I will ask the mechanic to check the carb.

Thanks again for your help.
Briz

wacio · 09-28-2016, 03:45 PM

Your bike would not blow up. Exploding vehicles are mostly effects of Hollywood productions. Your worst case scenario would be seizing engine, hydrolocking with potential of some mechanical damage or catching fire (very unlikely).
If you'll have someone look at carb make sure you mention carb causing flooding crankcase and air box so tech verifies action of components responsible for fuel level in carburetor.

10-14-2013, 09:57 PM	#1
JerseyMitch Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 4	Left fuel valve in "prime" position overnight! Okay, so I didn't know any better and left my bike's fuel valve in prime position overnight for, like, 12 hours. It has a new battery and new plugs (just put them on today.) As soon as I realized what I'd done I changed it to the proper position (as per the manual.) But the bike won't start. How bad have I screwed up? How do I fix this so I can actually ride this bike? A little background info: It's a 2004; I bought it for $1,100 from a guy I know. He told me it would need a new battery. It worked great yesterday, the first day I rode it. Since I'm a new rider I rode with some more experienced friends. One of them fiddled with the engine for me, making the fuel mixture a little richer. We filled it with mid-grade fuel, not premium. And left the fuel valve in PRI position overnight. Today it started, but then quickly stalled out. I replaced the battery & plugs. All this time the fuel valve was in PRI. This evening I looked at the owner's manual (better late than never) and saw the warning about the fuel valve positions. I changed the position to ON, but now the bike won't kick over. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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09-25-2016, 07:10 PM	#2
wacio Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Illinois Posts: 174	If your carb is in good shape - especially float valve working OK, than you don't need to worry about a thing. Pri position should be avoided if you are to leave bike sit for days or weeks. Bike with fuel valve open (what prime position really is) may cause fresh fuel flowing to carb as it evaporates causing varnish buildup. If you have problem with needle valve not closing correctly you may cause overflowing carburetor - fuel getting into filter housing or engine. Just be mindful that petcock valve also has tendency to leak. Both valves should be checked from time to time and kept working as intended. Float valve also impacts how the bike will run (assuring proper fuel level in carb).
	0

09-26-2016, 07:42 PM	#4
wacio Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Illinois Posts: 174	Fuel in oil means that your float valve is not working right. It could be cracked float, dirty valve or damaged o'ring around valve seat. I still would look at taking carb off and checking the carb fuel level adjustment and integrity of valve and oring. In good working carb this shouldn't have happened. Fuel level in carb is lower than height of jets and fuel only gets into the engine then running (sucked in with air).
	0

09-28-2016, 03:45 PM	#6
wacio Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Illinois Posts: 174	Your bike would not blow up. Exploding vehicles are mostly effects of Hollywood productions. Your worst case scenario would be seizing engine, hydrolocking with potential of some mechanical damage or catching fire (very unlikely). If you'll have someone look at carb make sure you mention carb causing flooding crankcase and air box so tech verifies action of components responsible for fuel level in carburetor.
	0