Triumphrat

benthepaint · 04-28-2005

Why is it recommended that the fuel tap is turned off when the bike is parked, the reason i am asking this is that i have a memory block when it comes to doing this but it does,nt seem to do the bike any harm

Ride safe Ben

Spooner · 04-28-2005

I never turn it off. Is it really recommended that you do?? I'd be interested in knowing
why too.

rigby · 04-28-2005

The idea is that needles and seats and orifices can leak slightly and over time your carb could allow gas to leak into your cylinder. This doesn't seem like that much of a deal but raw gas can leak past your piston rings and into your crankcase.

And it's true - I've seen it happen.

MickMaguire · 04-28-2005

It's much more likely to happen if you get any corrosion inside the tank or your needle valve seats get worn. What happens with the corrosion is that tiny particles of rust make it through the filters and get caught between the valve seat and the valve so allowing slight seepage.

A search on the threads here will reveal Slinky's Kawasaki Zephyr mod which replaces the stock tap with one from the Kawi which has a vacuum operated "on/off". That way you never have to remember to turn it off again. It is a simple bolt on replacement.

Personally I fitted a ZRX1100 item but I had to modify it to make it clear the carbs and also have a 5/16" hose, so I wouldnt recommend that one.

pipercollins · 04-28-2005

I do remember the manual recommending turning of the petcock. In practice, I leave it on when the bike is in frequent use and I turn it off when it will be parked for more than a day or two.

My Yama has the vaccuum operated petcock, but I really prefer having the option to turn it off when wanted or needed. It simplifies running the carbs dry when winterizing.

MickMaguire · 04-28-2005

Quote:

On 2005-04-28 16:03, pipercollins wrote:
It simplifies running the carbs dry when winterizing.

It's not exactly hard if you want to do that, you simply disconnect the vaccum line and plug the carb takeoff (or crimp the line). Personally I just drain the carbs using the screws provided as it gets all the fuel out. Running the carbs dry will not actually get them all dry and persoanlly I dont like the strains that running dry puts on an engine.

pipercollins · 04-28-2005

Quote:

On 2005-04-28 16:10, MickMaguire wrote:
It's not exactly hard if you want to do that, you simply disconnect the vaccum line and plug the carb takeoff (or crimp the line). Personally I just drain the carbs using the screws provided as it gets all the fuel out. Running the carbs dry will not actually get them all dry and persoanlly I dont like the strains that running dry puts on an engine.

Point taken. It's a tick leftover from my Sta-Bil procedure...but that's a whole different thread (or two).

tridentt150v · 04-28-2005

Turning off is best practise, but given the amount my tap has leaked from new, I sometimes wonder if its worth it.

If I take the tank off - to eg do the valve clearances - and is going to be off for a while [overnight or longer] I have to use a catch container to collect the fuel that leaks through the tap, and its in the off position.

How does the reserve work with Slinky's zephyr tap???

MickMaguire · 04-28-2005

You have 3 positions - PRI, RES, ON

PRI - prime, basicly it's on regardless of vacuum. It's used for the inital fill or "prime" of the carbs

RES - reserve

ON - vacuum switched on /off

Reserve is pretty much the same. I'm not sure if there is any change in reserve amoutn with Slinky's tap. With my ZRX tap it looked to be about the same (similar length main tube).

ReserveBum · 04-28-2005

I left mine "On" for a week and it flooded. Would not start. Wound up fouling the plugs and had to replace them. Now I always turn it off. Learned lesson. My old Honda does not have a valve, so I was not used to having to turn it on/off
Jim