Petcock on reserve question

When it's on reserve? does it free-flow like when it's in the "PRI" posision ?
Or, only flow when the engine is running?
(like the "OFF" posision)
Would the only way to see if it works be by intentionaly running out of gas?
I tried mine once, when the tank was removed from the bike (w/gas in the tank) and no gas came out.

thanks for your comments


Post edited by: ~DW~, at: 2005/11/10 22:37

On or reserve only flow when vaccuum pressure is present, Prime flows regardless. It would be unusual for a petcock to go bad and *not* flow fuel. Normally the opposite happens and the petcock will flow gas when the engine is not running and cause carburetor leaks. If it flows gas via vaccuum in the on position, it should flow the same during Res. The only difference is the petcock lever changes which tube inside your tank the fuel is allowed to flow through from the longer tube to the shorter tube.

Thanks Ron,
You answered my question, thats what I was hoping it would be !