Hitchcocks Forum

Quite right Eric, I've used petrol that's been stood three years (all be it in a lawnmower) Perhaps didn't burn too well but it worked.
I would not hesitate to use petrol that's a few months old.

Thanks guys.At 66 years old I bought my first Royal Enfield bullet 350 last October.Having ridden and had motorcycles since 1967 I have always left fuel over the winter in my bikes without problems.

I tried to use some 25-year old petrol that came with my Meteor Minor. Even the mower wouldn't run on it.

Hi Guys--------- I thought that "Old Chestnuts" were traditioinally roasted in the Autumn ??...LoL !!..This link I'm posting is fairly lengthy but IMHO is worth the effort to read, especially the last few sections}--------- http://armchairbiker.com/ethanol-in-pet ... d-to-know/ -----.My Bullet '65 has been left outside but under a cover since last October.......The first job on it this year is to check on the piston type currently fitted ( as it's an unknown quantity to me ) so a fuel tank and carb removeal will be done anyway.. I'll report back here later with photographs as to what I find in them....

Probably the best info on this that I have seen is here from the Federation of Historic Vehicles

http://www.fbhvc.co.uk/legislation-and- ... formation/

Nice one Valsp---- "it does exactly what it says on the tin" ----------- Just for those who might not be "in the know" so to speak}--- TEL = Tetra Ethyl Lead which is the actual additive used when mixed with Petrol ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetraethyllead )....................whereas Octane is not actually found in your petrol at all but is an anti-knock Rating Value and is a comparison of the fuel under test in the Lab. and the performance of a mixture of Iso Octane ( The very best anti-knock fuel but horrendously expensive ) and Normal heptane ( Which is the very worst fuel for anti-knock )........ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating ..........When the fuel under test and the Octane / Heptane mix both show the same knock symptoms then the % of Octane in the mix becomes the Octane Number that you see on the forecourt fuel Pumps...........Incidentally the modern trend seems to show a RON number ie}---- Research Octane Number.............Any of you more, ahem ..."Senior" persons remember "Pool Petrol" ??.....Master Sergeant Bilko could be relied upon to get some ----at a price, naturally !! ....................................

Two weeks ago I readied my sixty 5 for the coming season. At first it would only start and run for a few seconds at a time and I could not get it to start with the kick start. Thinking there was a blocked jet in the carb I was getting ready to strip the carb but thought I would try fresh fuel first. Once there was fresh fuel in it it started first kick. Strangely enough my er5 was fuelled up and left at tge same time and it starts and runs fine on the old fuel

After a while being unable/not able I have started to fettle the two bikes in hope of getting some miles done this year
The Bullet was last used 14 October and left with about 3/4 tank of fuel
The Flash & a Box last ridden 10 october with about a gallon of fuel.
Something strange happened yesterday - both engines fired up second swing!

Hi Guys-----Hi Bryan,... I heard a rumour that based on your "Flying" performances you must be using AVGAS !!..LoL !!........Yes, I also last used my Red Baron around mid-October and it's been under wraps but outdoors under the main canopy all that time.......As promised earlier I'll get out there this afternoon and see what's what...............I'll start by draining the float bowl and record what comes out....Then turn the fuel tap on to check the quality and flow rate of fuel from the tank.....Then try for a start in the normal manner.......more later this evening.

As promised, here are the results}-------- Float Bowl completely empty and dry !!........ no signs of anything untowards !!...............Petrol flow rate into sample dish normal.....NO WATER or gunge etc....Apparently no compression on kick-over but a few shots of EP90 then diluted down with WD40 through the Plug hole soon restored that !!.........Battery currently on charge so here are the photos basically showing NOTHING really !!



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