ok to rebuild petcock or is replacement always necessary ?

[seanarthurmachado]

Hi everyone

While waiting on my parts to arrive for my centerstand I am considering what else to fix and in what order on my new-to-me 1979 suzuki gs8850g

I am fairly certain the petcock needs either rebuilding or replacing (the previous owner has a bolt blocking an air vent and the bike arrived to me with the petcock set on prime)

I read the really long thread about top mistakes by new owners and one of them listed not buying a new petcock.

Is there any particular valid reason not to buy a rebuild kit and just rebuild the existing petcock on the bike ?

(Its one of the original petcocks using vacuum with the hoses facing forward.)

I would rather spend $20.00 on a rebuild kit and take some time to fix the existing one than pay 100.00 for a new one.

[Agemax]

not many people have had very good results with a rebuild kit. you could spend 20 bucks on a rebuild kit only to find it still wont work properly.
a new petcock from Z1 is a lot less than $100 and are good quality replacements.
Buy a new one and be done with it.

[seanarthurmachado]

checked z1 do not see petcock only rebuild kits

when I check z1 I only see rebuild kits not petcocks.

[chuck hahn]

Find a new one on Ebay or from one of the vintage supply houses that someone will surely suggest. Your gonna have maybe a 15 to 20 % chance of any rebuild kit actually working ( or stay working for very long anyway ).

[Agemax]

sorry, i thought Z1 sold them as Chuck says, check out some vintage suppliers.

[chuck hahn]

Heres the list of bikes the part number crosses to..

Still available according to Alpha Sports....

http://www.alpha-sports.com/suzuki_parts.htm?q=suzuki-parts

1979 SUZUKI GS750EN - FUEL COCK
1979 SUZUKI GS750N - FUEL COCK
1979 SUZUKI GS850GN - FUEL COCK
1980 SUZUKI GS1000GT - FUEL COCK
1980 SUZUKI GS850GT - FUEL COCK
1981 SUZUKI GS1000GX - FUEL COCK
1981 SUZUKI GS850GX - FUEL COCK

[bccap]

Georgefix on e-bay. Good prices and they are identical to OEM. As a matter of fact I think they are.....

[chuck hahn]

Just typed in GS PETCOCK on Ebay and got 571 entries...do some searching and use the list I provided.

[tkent02]

If the diaphragm isn't torn I have had decent luck with just replacing the little O ring on the vacuum diaphragm. The one that actually shuts off the fuel. The problem with the kits is the o rings and the metal pin it goes no is not the right diameter.

But really just get a new one, it's silly to even mess around with it.

[JEEPRUSTY]

Yes a device that sits less than a foot from your crotch and can spew flamable liquid all over you leg. Nothing to fiddle with really.

I even bought one and I am the cheapest person on this site.
A new one that is OEM from parts outlaw.

There is a really nice write up for the rebuild of a Yamaha petcock somewhere out there.
The writer uses a cone shaped fob on a dremel to polish the seating area where the o-ring seals off the fuel flow. I did this with success but my internal spring was bent so I just got a new petcock as I had to remove the spring and forego having a PRI setting.

[JTGS850GL]

Yep, tried and failed on the rebuild. New is really the only way to go.

[cowboyup3371]

What's the bolt spacing on yours as Z1 has two 44m and a 50mm petcock on their site plus several pingels

[kochic]

I bought a rebuilt few years back, it was a complete waste of money.
Marc