Aftermarket petcocks

[tkent02]

Some they fit, some they don't. Too bad they don't tell you which ones.

While my bike is apart I took the petcock apart to check it out, because I notice it's been getting a little 'weepy' (not to mention floats were starting to stick). The problem turned out to be the O ring on the diaphragm, it wasn't sealing properly. I've read about the rebuild kits but I already had a spare diaphragm that came with the bike, and was in good shape - so I put it in, hey it couldn't hurt to try. Well the think really oozes gas now, not full volume but a LOT. After some studying I conclude that the metal post that the O ring mounts on is not long enough to properly seat the O ring in the petcock, thus letting gas enter from the tank at all times. No matter what I do the thing will not seat, yet when I install the diaphragm without the nylon spacer it DOES seat. My theory is that these K&L kits are sold as a one size fits all, but in reality one size does NOT fit all. These people really have no business being in business. I bet I could take the O ring off and put it on my old diaphragm, which probably was okay, but I was stupid and threw it away . SOOO, it's either try my luck with one of the Z-1 aftermarkets, or go with a '78 OEM from Bike Bandit for twice the price, over $80 I believe. Did I mention ??

 

[rapidray]

If you buy ONE Pingel petcock, it will last the life of your bike! Simple as that. Or, you can keep buying stock diaphram petcocks that will continue to fail. I use Pingels for a reason. Ray.

 

[hampshirehog]

If you buy ONE Pingel petcock, it will last the life of your bike! Simple as that. Or, you can keep buying stock diaphram petcocks that will continue to fail. I use Pingels for a reason. Ray.

Got to disagree with you Ray. Those poxy O-rings wear out too fast and the blo*dy things leak as if they were run by BP. The OEM ones do wear out but buying a new one every 20 years or so ain't bad.

Or replace the things with the old fashioned cork seal type. They fail a bit quicker but making a new cork seal every now and then for pennys (or use the cork out of an empty wine bottle for nothing) is hard to beat.