Rebuild or Replace Fuel Petcock

[Guest]

Now that I'm derusting the inside of my gas tank, I have to decide whether to rebuild the existing petcock or replace it. It doesn't leak but the lever does not turn very easily.

[almarconi]

I always replace, never had any luck with rebuilding them. They still usually leak after rebuild.

[Agemax]

just try stripping it down, give it a good clean up, check for worn seals or diaphragms before replacing as you may not need them.
rebuild it and smear the moving parts with silicon based grease. it will be nice and smooth and operate freely afterwards

[chuck hahn]

I have got 2 kits from Z1 and neither fixed my leaking petcock on the 78 1000E.. New oring in the lever, new opring in the diaphram..nothing ever worked..that being siad, if they are still available I would get 2 NEW ones and throw one on the shelf for future use.

Thats just my opinion of course.

[tom203]

The rebuild kits are likely designed for newer petcocks. But this guy persevered and made them work (head to first post). Personally, I'd get a new petcock and eliminate worry!

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=203943

[Tamara]

I'm leaning towards a new one based on everyone's input. Since there's nothing to be lost by disassembling this one to see if the problem is obvious, I'm going to do that too.

[koolaid_kid]

My GS petcock was hard to turn. I disassembled it and found it was the o-ring. Replaced it with a viton from mcmasterscarr, turned fine.

[chuck hahn]

To EVERYONE:::: From time to time, put a drop or two of 3 IN 1 oil at the top of the lever and let it seep in and down around the lever hub..then rotate it back and forth to work the oil in..youll be amazed at how smooth and easy they really do turn!!! Yet again this is another NEVER THOUGHT OF maintenance area.

[Tamara]

Thanks for the additional input!

[shirazdrum]

If it's not leaking don't even think of replacing it. Spray the lever with some WD-40 and gently put it on reserve. There is no need to keep playing with the selector, just put it on reserve and forget about it.

The only reason I would ever use the selector is to put it on prime after the bike was sitting for a long time. Your car doesn't have a "reserve", so why should your bike.

Cheers,

Chris

[Steve]

Your car doesn't have a "reserve", so why should your bike.

I believe that would be because virtually every car available has a gas gauge.

Fortunately, most of the GS line also has a gauge, but that feature was the exception, rather than the rule back in the day.

.

[koolaid_kid]

I believe that would be because virtually every car available has a gas gauge.

Fortunately, most of the GS line also has a gauge, but that feature was the exception, rather than the rule back in the day.

.

LOL. Thanks, Steve. I got two laughs out of this; the first was the "leave it on RES" post, the second was your response. I love a good chuckle first thing in the morning.
Back when I was riding two strokes, I had to use the odometer to gauge when I was getting close, but I did not always guess correctly, and RES would get me to the station.

[pete]

I replaced mine, was less than $80 from Boulevard Suzuki.

Mine was always a little stiff to turn, so I dismantled it during the rebuild and discovered the metal disc in there was smashed to pieces... I don't believe that part comes in the rebuild kits either.

[bbjumper]

Overhauled the one on my new to me tank after de-rusting it, with new innards and with a little anti-seize on the moving parts it's good to go..

[shirazdrum]

LOL. Thanks, Steve. I got two laughs out of this; the first was the "leave it on RES" post, the second was your response. I love a good chuckle first thing in the morning.
Back when I was riding two strokes, I had to use the odometer to gauge when I was getting close, but I did not always guess correctly, and RES would get me to the station.

I was referring to the bike she's riding and her bike does have a fuel gauge. we're not talking about two strokes. My point was that motorcycles with fuel gauge don't need reserve function as it doesn't serve any purpose other than wearing down the petcock.