Fuel valve Do I need to turn the fuel valve off to park the bike overnight or longer? Does it do any harm to leave it on?

could be you spark plugs need replacing

Is there a position you can move it to that is unmarked? To test the position, put the lever in the unmarked position and let the bike run for up to 10 minutes to see if it will "run out of gas".

Usually the sign of a bad fuel pump check valve that allows fuel pressure to bleed off over night. Try this in the morning. Turn the key to ON for 2-secs, then OFF. Repeat 3 times. Then try to start. If it starts right up, you need a new fuel pump. By turning the key on and off you're filling the fuel lines and building pressure that you lost overnight.

Sounds like a combination of leaking fuel tap and old fuel.

When you park it overnight or longer, pull the fuel hose off the carb , and drain the carb bowl.
So when you next ride it, reconnnect the fuel line, turn on the fuel tap long enough to fill the carb, 10 secs,then turn it off to start the bike, turn it back on when the bike starts.
even if you replace the fuel tap this process can help.


I have a 91 wr still sitting under the house from younger times, and yes very good bike

was fuel left in the carburetors when you parked it your metering jets might be slightly clogged with varnish i dont recomend opening them yourself take it to a professional and next time you park it for an extended period of time close the fuel valve and leave the bike running until the carbs run out of gas "the bike will stop running when this happens"

8N's have a reserve setting on the fuel tun on valve (located under the hood about midway back. If you leave the gas turned on while the tractor sits up overnight, or longer, the pressure of the gas will flood the oil pan.
Always turn off the fuel by turning the fuel supply wheel all the way to the right...l

Try charging your battery fully .idle running will take too long to charge the battery .Leaving your bike ticking over will not harm it oproviding it is not getting too hot through no air passing over the finning on the engine .

First how long has she sat up before you got it. If she sat up 6 months or longer you may need to clean the carb(s). The valve you are asking about, is called a petcock, it turns the fuel off/on to the carbs. Turn it off when you leave it setting for a week or longer. If you want to leave it sit a lot longer, crank up the engine and as its running turn off the valve (gas) let her run out so the fuel (gas) does not gum up your Carb.s Now back to why she quits unless the choke is pulled out. What is happining is the choke shuts off some of the air going into the carb.s This forces the gas to be pulled in past any stoped up gumed up vents, ports what have you. So she runs but not great. You can try this. Turn off the tank valve start her up, to run her out of gas. Get your hands on a Turkey baster, some Seafoam (it is a fuel cleaner) Take the line off of the tank valve, force some Seafoam into the carbs with the baster. Let it sit over night. Start her up next day, (get her outside she will smoke up the house). Hook up your tank, put in some freash gas. Do it again if its not any better. If after 2x it does not clear up. You will have to take the carb out and phy. clean it. repost if you need help with that.

Make sure that you turn your fuel to the off position when you leave your bike sitting for more than a day. Gas will sometimes leave the tank, and pass through your carb, and into your cylinder. It will then bypass your rings and seep into your oil. Dosen't happen overnight, but after about a week i becomes common if your float is sticking. Good Luck.22

If the float valve is in good shape and everything else is OK, no, you don’t have to turn off the fuel petcock. However, if anything isn’t perfect you’ll have, at best, gas all over the bike and the floor. At worst, you’ll fill one cylinder with gas and the other cylinder will fire when you try to start it and you’ll go into hydro lock and bend a connecting rod