Quick petcock question

My 82 650 maxim runs fine with the petcock set on prime. I can see fuel in the in-line filter and I'm good-to-go. If I move the lever to on, the bike will run for a while and then die. I'm thinking hole in the magic diphragm or something similar is pimping the vac.

Is there any harm in riding in prime. In other words, using the tap like a conventional, "old school" petcock?

I understand the need to set the lever to on when the bike is parked. That's how every motorcycle I've ever had worked anyway. You know, on to ride and off to park. I'll replace the tap in the near future, but am I going to mess anything up by running it this way? :?:

J

 

just, shouldn't be a problem as long as you remember to switch off of prim when you park. Check the vac line form carbs to fuel valve, it may be off at carbs, kinked or have a hole. Also, if you forget to switch off of prime & your floats are not set right you will flood your crank case with gas. Not a good thing.
Gregg

 

There is one bad think about running on prime. You have no reserve. Reserve is dependent on the pipes that stick up from the petcock, and prime works like on for fuel levels. So, you can run out of gas and still have gas in the tank.

In addition to what gregg.. stated.

 

Tried taking the petcock apart and looking at your diaphram?? Mine had an extra O-ring (PO) in it on the plunger cause it leaked. And in time that O ring swelled and I wasnt getting any gas even in prime. So i jsut replaced every O ring and the vac diaphram and was Good to Go from there
SLKid