Petcock "PRI" Setting

[AlanB]

So it's getting to that time to start my z1000 after 4 months or so in dry/warm indoor storage - I had drained all fuel from tank/carbs before storage - What's the best technique for first time starting using the PRI setting on the petcock ? cheers.

[zed1015]

Prime is just a bypass (like a normal manual tap) for the vac operated tap.
You need it on prime for initial cold starting to fill the carb float bowls.
Once running the tap can be moved to ON and the engine vac should keep it open and long as the tap diaphragm is ok.

[Mr Bump]

If you want it to fire up straight away without any churning over waiting for it to draw fuel up though the choke:

turn the fuel on (to prime if using a vacuum fuel tap), wait for the carbs to fill up

blow down two of the breather pipes until you hear bubbling (and not any longer)

Start it up. It should fire immediately. The blowing bubbles effectively 'tickles' a couple of the carbs to give it something to chew on straight away.

Works every time, especially on cv carbs as they can be sulky if they haven't been run for a while.

Olly

[AlanB]

Thanks guys - How long would you normally need to keep petcock on PRI to fill carbs before moving to ON ?

[zed1015]

Thanks guys - How long would you normally need to keep petcock on PRI to fill carbs before moving to ON ?

Assuming the vac tap is working as it should you can switch to ON as soon as the engine is running.

[AlanB]

Following on from the earlier trail - Just to clarify - When starting after winter storage with carbs/tank having previously been drained etc, should I -

1/Refill with fresh fuel
2/Then use PRI on petcock for say 30 seconds or so to fill float bowls
3/Move petcock from PRI to ON
4/Use full choke when hitting start button ?

Just wanted to check as this is first time me starting this z1000 a2 bike after winter storage

Thanks

[Mr Bump]

All correct, though you should leave it on PRI until it's running happily. The pri setting just bypasses the vacuum tap, so it acts like a normal fuel tap. As llong as the carbs don't flood you can ride around all day with it on PRI.

Olly