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1978 gs 1000 chain drive PETCOCK

  • Thread starter Thread starter sohcphreek
  • Start date Start date
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sohcphreek

Guest
Hey GS'ers,
I bought this really nice gs1000 chain drive. The petcock has no shut off for fuel. Im trying to figure out how this thing works. Is it missing the shut off lever? I saw "PRI" on the petcock but have no idea what to do. I want to replace it (NOS) if you know where to find this. The gas gauge is not working and wondering how many miles I can go on a tank of gas? Is there a reserve position on this tank? I love riding this machine and want to change the front sprocket to lower top end RPM's, dont know if I go up or down on the # of teeth. It looks like a 630 chain its big!
thanks for any/all your expert help!
sohcphreek
 
Petcock without a lever? Say what? Impossible!:rolleyes:
 
A picture of your bike showing the tank and the petcock will allow us to know if you either have an 1980 750/1100 tank on it with the lever-less petcock or
if a previous owner has made a 1980 petcock work on a '78-'79 tank.
 
You can go about 230km's on a tank of gas if it's running well. Putting a smaller front sprocket will give you more RPM off the start but it's more complicated than that. It effect chain wear of course, RPM for shifting, top end RPM etc... there's more to it than just changing tooth count.
 
I recall that Suzuki was supplying 80 1000 tanks a few years ago.I'm not sure if those came with the 50 mm spacing of the lever less petcock though but I think they might have.
 
If theres a lever on the petcock youll see there are 3 positions marked....PRI..ON..RES.

PRI is the PRIme spot for getting then bowls refilled for such times as doing carb maintenace or running out of fuel even on RES ( REServe ). ON is obviously the ON position. Used when normally riding untill the need to switch to REServe.

Petcock is vacuum operated and will automatically open a diaphram to let fuel flow while the engine is running. The vacuum line runs from the nipple on carb 3 to the small nipple on the petcock. Carb 3 is the third one from the left as your sitting on the bike. Measure a close center to center of the bolt heads...40MM and a lever on the petcock is the stock one. 50MM and NO lever is the dreaded 80 petcock setup.

If you should have need to use then PRIme to refill the bowls, immediately return the petcock to the ON position. NEVER leave it in then PRIme spot as it will let fuel seep past if the petcock leaks internally a little. The fuel ends up in the crank case oil and youll ( can ) tear up the crank.
 
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For the gauge..be sure the wires under the tank are plugged in. Take a jumper and go between the two wires from the harness and see if the gauge goes up when the key is on. If it does, the gauge is good and the sending unit inside the tank is the problem.
 
SVSooke said:
I recall that Suzuki was supplying 80 1000 tanks a few years ago.I'm not sure if those came with the 50 mm spacing of the lever less petcock though but I think they might have.
Click to expand...
Actually they did that since the mid eighties. I replaced the tank on a previous '79 1000E that I had around 1985/6 and it came painted in '79 colours but setup for the '80 petcock. A little PO'd when I got it and then had to wait and order the correct petcock.
 
My bike is a 1978, dont know where 1980 came from. Talked to previous owner and he said the lever on the petcock was broken off? IDK! looked closely and at the top says "FUEL" off slightly to the left "PRI" nothing else. I could see a slotted piece inside so I turned with a screw driver and it does turn left and right. The face shows NO PLACE for 2 screws to hold on the selector arm? The face is small maybe the size of a nickel. tank is black with gold and red pin stripe factory. Any place to buy these or help would be great. thanks sohcphreek
 
sohcphreek said:
My bike is a 1978, dont know where 1980 came from. Talked to previous owner and he said the lever on the petcock was broken off? IDK! looked closely and at the top says "FUEL" off slightly to the left "PRI" nothing else. I could see a slotted piece inside so I turned with a screw driver and it does turn left and right. The face shows NO PLACE for 2 screws to hold on the selector arm? The face is small maybe the size of a nickel. tank is black with gold and red pin stripe factory. Any place to buy these or help would be great. thanks sohcphreek
Click to expand...

Dude! Go back and read what's been written in this thread. Check Vmass's link too. That model petcock doesn't have a lever and it came out in 1980. Your bike has a tank from a later bike.
 
Sandy said:
Actually they did that since the mid eighties. I replaced the tank on a previous '79 1000E that I had around 1985/6 and it came painted in '79 colours but setup for the '80 petcock. A little PO'd when I got it and then had to wait and order the correct petcock.
Click to expand...

Yep, I have one of those also. It is a Cooley tank with no indent for the badges either.
 
I called Chris and confirmed he has an 80 tank and petcock. told hi how you need to bump the starter to reprime the crabs etc etc. What he has a problem with is determining where the slot points for each of the settings. he fears the thing is in PRIme and he has filled the crankcase. I told him to remove the oil cap and take a good sniff and NOT to run the bike till he has changed the oil AND confirmed how to set the slot.

So, Basically , could one of you with the leverless petcock take some real clear pics to show him if there are dots or other indicators to visually tell him whats what? I dont have one to reference right now so any help for the guy would be cool. He needs to be sure its in the ON position so he can leak test the petcock to see if its the main fuel line or the vacuum line that may be leaking fuel back. Or to see if its leaking at all for that matter.
 
One of my '78 1000E had its leaky tank replaced by a dealer with a 1980 tank. The petcock does suck, but who cares.

None of them have an "Off". I believe that it is about lawsuits precipitated from riders who rode out into traffic with the gas off and their bikes died, which compromised their safety. Now there isn't any off position.
 
No off if its running..but it does shut off once the vacuum is gone and the diaphram seat the oring again...
 
chuck hahn said:
So, Basically , could one of you with the leverless petcock take some real clear pics to show him if there are dots or other indicators to visually tell him whats what? I dont have one to reference right now so any help for the guy would be cool. He needs to be sure its in the ON position so he can leak test the petcock to see if its the main fuel line or the vacuum line that may be leaking fuel back. Or to see if its leaking at all for that matter.
Click to expand...

Late '79 or early '80 1000 replacement tank with the 1980 petcock. The first pic shows it in the RUN position. Parallel to the Earth.
The second, in the PRIME position. Perpendicular to the Earth. (Dark here and had to use a flashlight to get good pic's as the flash was too bright.)




 
So I see the two dots...where is there a mark on the part that swivels??? Which is the reserve? Does it only rotate 180 form one side to the other? Im way to tired to go to thr storage unit right now to look at the one on Gregorys 80 Cooley and honestly I am more familiar with the pre 80 petcocks.
 
WOW, Now that is some real help!! I have been in the "PRI" position the perpendicular / up and down. Not good. Im going to pull both fuel lines and let it sit with fuel lines in bottles and see if I truly have a problem. Thank you so much!
sohcphreek
 
78/80 fuel petcock

78/80 fuel petcock

So Chuck, heres what I did,
Drained oil and filter replaced filter and housing, filled the tank with fuel and left drain plug out. put a water bottle under to catch any leaking fluid, to decide if its mixed with gasoline or just remnants of oil. Looks like just oil so far but im gonna let it sit til sunset ( 8 Hrs or so). Then Im gonna fill with oil and ride like i stole it!
Thanks sohcphreekIMG_0726.jpg
 
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Does the oil you drained out seem rather thin and watery or smell like some gas has been mixed in???? Gas wont necessarily seperate itself from the oil remnants in the oil pan. The true test is to do the two lines from the petcock to the two individual bottles over night. Thats gonna for sure answer if one side or the other of the petcock is leaky.
 
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