Gas shutoff valve handle direction

[wrndln]

My coupe has been setting for some time. I can't remember which direction the handle on the gas shutoff valve under the gas tank is for OFF and ON. I think The handle being straight up and down is ON, but I am not sure. If anyone can post the correct direction for the handle I would appreciate it. I should have marked with a label.
Rusty Nelson

[Roadster Rich]

Mine is horizontal for off and vertical up and down for on. Although I have read some places that state the valve should be horizontal in line with the gas line for on. I think there is some confusion and the handle actually should be in line with the valve body and flow coming from the tank to be on, and that would be up and down.

[oldwoodsman]

straight up and down on mine is on.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Yep, just think about launching a rocket ship.
When it's pointed up it's ready to blast off.
When the launch is horizontal, it's shut down.

[C26Pinelake]

Just remember, Up, Up and away! Up and down, not sideways. Wayne

[Willie Krash]

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It may help to remember that with the handle down it points the direction the fuel flows,

[CarlG]

All bets are off on the '31 style valves. I have seen them with the handle in several orirntations.

[Tiny]

Pointed at the floor to drive on 31's. On late 31's pointed across the firewall to drive or at least that's how the two I deal with are. I always think of it as pointed at the road to go on the 31, and pointed at the starter to go on the late 31

[Nabco]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

Yep, just think about launching a rocket ship.
When it's pointed up it's ready to blast off.
When the launch is horizontal, it's shut down.

Nice!!!

[marty in Ohio]

I think you all of guys are right. The handle pointing down is the on position. That is all except mine! When I bought the '30 Town Sedan 23 years ago I had no idea that there even was a fuel shutoff. I don't remember how I found out. Well mine is opposite. I just remember to start it "up" and shut it "down." I've been wrong all these years but "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
Marty

[coupe1942]

The previous owner of my pickup had marked the directions with tape to indicate which direction to turn on the fuel. He even told me he had done so when I got the truck.

Me, I still forget every now to turn the blamed thing off. I need an alarm bell or a cattle prod to remind me, I suppose. :-)

[Keith True]

Years ago somebody told me to think,down and out.When the handle is hanging down the gas is going out.It seems people would get confused on the spark also,so he would tell them,start it up.To start it up you push it up.

[160B]

FWIW

For the vehicles with the gas shut off valve inside. Note the valve outlet is 90 degrees from the inlet.

Think of the gas line as if it did have a valve that has an outlet 180 degree from the inlet and imagine the outlet is straight down.


When the valve handle is perpendicular to the pipe, NO flow, valve is in the off position.

When the valve handle is in line with the pipe, you have flow, valve is in the on position.

Using the sketch below visually rotate the valve 90 deg with gas flowing in from the top

[mshmodela]

My late 31' has two. The valve next to the tank I labed with a sharpie --actually the ink is easily removed.

[Walt Ebie]

Just installed a new one......as it came, vertical is "ON", horizontal is "OFF." Of course, you may have already done it, but you could try to start it - you'll soon know if you're getting gas or not.

[JohnLaVoy]

Of course the early 28 is the opposite!

[C26Pinelake]

Originally Posted by mshmodela

My late 31' has two. The valve next to the tank I labed with a sharpie --actually the ink is easily removed.

Why and where are the two? Wayne

[John Kuhnast]

I Thought I was the only one. On my late 31 under hood I regent The handle so it is in line with the pipe when on and at right angles when off.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

You can't imagine how MANY times I FORGOT to turn it on & it went "BLLLP", at the end of the driveway!
After being in the horsepital for 4 months, struggled into Minerva & NO START! "Thought" the "EVAPO" GHOST had kiped my gas. Sat up in bed @ 2:17, "OH crap, fergot to turn on the gas", complicated by the fact that the gauge cork had DIED!
Bill Dummy

[old31]

On my 31 roadster it is: up and down = on, left-right or horizontal = off.

It is always opposite of what I feel it should be.

I like Toms rocket ship analogy.

[old31]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

Yep, just think about launching a rocket ship.
When it's pointed up it's ready to blast off.
When the launch is horizontal, it's shut down.

Tom, we need to analyze the rocket ship analogy.

So what happens if the rocket ship is sitting on the equator and needs to go east or west? MMMMMMM, you say. Then the quickest way would be to launch horizontal to go east-west.

So now when the earth turns 90 degrees, what was ready to go east-west is now ready to blast off north.

Geeez, its not rocket science

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

If I flew from Dallas to Fresno, in a F-18, I could be HERE, before I LEFT!
Bill Fast

[Jim Brierley]

Think of it as a water faucet, CCW for on, CW for off.

[Jim Brierley]

Think of it as a water faucet, CCW is on, CW is off.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Jim Brierley

Think of it as a water faucet, CCW is on, CW is off.

I have BALL water faucets, 1/4 turn CW, is ON They're probably made in a RHD country???
Bill W.

[johnbuckley]

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On various As I come across them mostly down for on ,.... but not always!!

[kbinde2]

An article I read recently addressed the same problem, and the author had a rather unique remedy.. to hang the key on the "horizontal" positioned handle when not in use.! To start the car the fuel would have to be turned on, and in retrieving the key, the reminder would be to turn valve handle. His solution also works to turn the fuel off, his key ring (chain) wouldn't stay on if the valve was in the vertical position.., h-mmm, maybe.!

[coupe1942]

If you do it wrong, your going to know regardless in a very short while. right? :-)

Maybe that is what makes model A's difficult for thieves to steal if they really don't know about the gas turn off valve direction, let alone who to set the spark and gas. :-)

Maybe this should be a bonus in reduction of our insurance rates because it is a theft deterrent system when you think about it. :-)

[John Dayhuff]

Originally Posted by old31

On my 31 roadster it is: up and down = on, left-right or horizontal = off.

It is always opposite of what I feel it should be.

I like Toms rocket ship analogy.

Same here, I think Tom has the right idea but I'm going to label mine anyways since it can't hurt anything.

[McMimmcs]

My father always told me that it was up, up and away to drive the car. Works for me !

[dr.j]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

Yep, just think about launching a rocket ship.
When it's pointed up it's ready to blast off.
When the launch is horizontal, it's shut down.

Tom, excellent ! Long time no speak. All good here and putting up with the C-19 restrictions. You ?

[1928Mik]

I got a cool tiny magnetic sign from Snyder's I put behind the shutoff on the firewall that states which way it should go. I know vertical is on, but in case my son drives it he will know...

[Big hammer]

This thread was started back in 2016, it's nice to read what others posted 4 years ago, especially Bill Williamson, as he doesn't post any more

[fuzes45]

Snyders sells Gas Valve Magnet, you can stick on gas tank


Bob F

[Zoltan]

down and out

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

You can't imagine how MANY times I FORGOT to turn it on & it went "BLLLP", at the end of the driveway!
After being in the horsepital for 4 months, struggled into Minerva & NO START! "Thought" the "EVAPO" GHOST had kiped my gas. Sat up in bed @ 2:17, "OH crap, fergot to turn on the gas", complicated by the fact that the gauge cork had DIED!
Bill Dummy

I miss Bill's posts...

[Phil Brown]

Originally Posted by Y-Blockhead

I miss Bill's posts...

You're not alone on that,
My grandfather always said to park it, shut the gas off ( making the handle horizontal "--"), and hang the key on the handle then when you go to leave and grab the key you'll always remember to turn that gas back on and not look like a fool to the girls
Still works for me today all of these years later.

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by Phil Brown

You're not alone on that,
My grandfather always said to park it, shut the gas off ( making the handle horizontal "--"), and hang the key on the handle then when you go to leave and grab the key you'll always remember to turn that gas back on and not look like a fool to the girls
Still works for me today all of these years later.

Ditto on missing Bill's wisdom (and Tom W).
These days, having been married for over 50 years, I don't care about looking like a fool in front of the girls. They aint girls any more!

[ssg57]

If you can hang you keys on the lever it is in the off position!

[Phil Brown]

Originally Posted by ssg57

If you can hang you keys on the lever it is in the off position!

Easy to remember

[stevemclark]

Copy this and tape it beside the valve,or buy this.https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/p...9342&cat=41707.

[Dave Dta]

If you can hang your keyring on it, it is off.