Petcock is on when handle is down so then....

that means the larger "handle" part is pointing at what it does, NOT THE POINTY PART ....RIGHT???? It HAS to be that way because the "pointer" can NOT be moved straight down to "point" at ON, see what i mean? the Pointer is not the pointer. So for it to be on Reserve, the long handle has to be over RES. Right? thx.

 

Yes sir,

The large side points at the desired mode.

Down for on
Res for 'reserve'
Pri for 'spill', I mean prime, for free flowing gas =D

Always fun bombing along and having to flip to reserve while still rolling.

 

especially when you find out your already on reserve

 

very funny yah mon. i hate when that happens. THANK YOUSE!

 

My petcock (original from the factory) has a tiny little arrow cast into it on the handle to point to the current setting.

I don't know if they're all the same, but I got an arrow.

 

hmmmm. well, er , xj's may be different but my xj600 has the little arrow pointing on the pointy end,
if you zoom in you can see the arrow on the side.
ok I've doctored my petcock to be manual only. but the arrow would always be on the pointy end ???
stu

stu

 

I have a question, when using PRI for a cold start, or when I haven't started my motorcycle for a week, what is the proper way of using it? Am I supposed to get to PRI, then leave it there till my bike starts? OR do I put it on PRI, wait, then put it back to ON and then start?

How long can I leave it on PRI before the gas starts going into the engine... because I have left it on overnight and the gas did get into the engine contaminating the oil...

 

I'll be damned if i don't see a little One Eighth of an inch tall, itty bitty ARROW on the outside of my lever, pointed at.......the long side as stated above. Dammit! Alain, i think you could do either. Its just to fill the bowls i believe. and i dont know if being in Pri stops the vacuum signal or not.

 

Prime is a setting which allows the free flow of fuel. Usually to refill carb bowls after running dry, or after servicing. On = normal use. When bike isn't running, neither is fuel. When bike is running, vacuum feeds fuel to carbs. Res extends hose all the way into tank to suck up last drops of go juice!
DO NOT LEAVE SWITCH ON PRIME OR YOUR CARBS AND ENGINE WILL FILL WITH GASOLINE!!!
Edit: Your carbs will not overflow unless they have float issues. I is wrong again!

 

Technically, they will only overflow if your float valves are malfunctioning. When i leave my bike on prime i can watch the fuel stop flowing through my filter once the bowls fill and the valves close up, of course i had to go through the overflow into the crankcase first to k ow my float valves werent working right.

 

Personally, I replaced my black hose with translucent hose, so I put it on PRI until the air bubble in the line mostly goes away (about 3 seconds), then I go back to ON, go half choke, and start it up. That's only when it's overnight-cold, though. If I've already run it that day, I give it maybe half a second of PRI, then back to ON.

 

I set to prime for 20 seconds to fill the float bowls after a long sit, then back to run for starting just so I don't forget. The only danger from leaving the petcock on prime is running out of gas without any notice. If there is gas getting to the oil then the float needles are stuck or faulty.

 

Haha! I did say "tiny little", didn't I??

And of course, it's way too small to be of any use while you're sitting on the seat coasting down the road fumbling with the handle because you're sputtering fumes and trying to switch to RES before the guy behind you runs you off the road...

 

I don't have to use PRI unless it's the first ride of the season. I can ride mine as little as once a week and I've got plenty enough fuel still in the bowls to start the engine. Then as soon as it's running and the vacuum hits the petcock, the bowls will refill if necessary.

If your float valves are working properly it doesn't hurt to prime before starting, but I've never found it necessary. Maybe I'm just lucky?

Your bike really won't start unless you hit prime?

 

I didn't say it won't start. I just always hit PRI to help ensure it will start before the battery loses its juice. When I first got the bike, I didn't know what the PRI meant or what it was used for, and I would sit there cranking for a couple of minutes on full choke if it was cold out (below 48 with no garage) and I hadn't run the bike in a few days. Then I grew a brain and started using the PRI.

Also, I'm describing my worst case scenarios. Most of the time I just have to crank it once or twice and I'm off.

 

I thought it meant "Primary". You know, as opposed to "Reserve". Now what the heck does "On"do? Oh how I've grown... sigh. Thanks XJBikes. Now I'm less of a idiot. Somewhat. Maybe.

 

Wait a minute so you're saying that we CAN leave it on PRIME by accident and it shouldn't flood the engine with fuel overnight?

 

I am saying exactly that. The floats and float needles are what controls how full the float bowls get. If those are working correctly the float bowls will never overfill. They work the same way the float and valve in your toilet does.