Cock problems, GS1000G

[Jon]

I read somewhere else on here that

(a) there's not much point using a service kit on an old petrol tap as the fix won't last long, and:

(b) that it is better to get a new tap (or cock, as you Americans rather rudely call them) for a GS750 or other smaller GS model (550? 450?).

I'd like to check on this as my cock is not working. Previous owner has fitted a manual on/off tap in the line, leaving the old one in situ (presumably it got stuck in prime).

Can anyone confirm, please, which models of bike's petrol taps will fit directly in a GS1000G (1980 model) tank? Thanks in advance.

 

[hampshirehog]

What is the mounting bolt spacing on your cock? It'll either be 50mm or 42mm (or 44mm - I can never remember).

 

[tom203]

44mm is most common, but you might have the 50 mm spacing of the leverless petcock.

 

[chuck hahn]

Be sure you have 2 holes in that cock. The 1 holers are PAINFULLY hard to drill a second hole in.

 

[seanarthurmachado]

(b) that it is better to get a new tap (or cock, as you Americans rather rudely call them) for a GS750 or other smaller GS model (550? 450?)

Sorry to offend with our terminology.

Perhaps you should check with the Japanese forums and ask for "Nenryō-ben" instead. (Or course you probably won't understand the rest of the conversation with them. :> )

By the way, the term "cock" comes from old english (which pre-dates discovery of the Americas and originates in England.)

As stated by others, measure the spacing between the center of the bolt holes.

sean

 

[bonanzadave]

(or cock, as you Americans rather rudely call them)

You're the one calling bread pudding "Dick"

 

[blowerbike]

Viagra can help a poor functioning cock

 

[Guest]

Viagra can help a poor functioning cock

Yeah, if you like having your heart jump out of your chest. Don't ask.:dread:

No one I know of, ever called them cocks, though I'm sure everyone, but a few, has petted one once or twice in their adolescent days.:highly_amused:
We call them petcocks or fuel petcocks, but with the PC police everywhere they are now referred to a fuel shutoff valve or fuel valve.

 

[Jon]

Great petcock advice, thanks. I've been looking on Ebay and found 40mm or 50mm hole spacings mentioned. I measured the mounting screws on mine and they look like 47mm, maybe you could call it 48, but not 50. Japanese stuff is typically very precise, and I'd be surprised if anything called 50mm was more than 0.5mm away from that.

Surely Suzuki only fitted one kind of tap to the 1980 GS1000G? If anyone knows what that tap is, that's what my bike's got, I reckon.


Going back to my original question, is it the case that taps from other models will fit? In which case, what models/years?

 

[hampshirehog]

Suzuki only used 2 spacings or 50mm and 44mm. Depending on year your bike could have either (and reg year doesn't mean anything as it runs out of synch with the Suzuki production year). The measurement is to bolt centres. Does your cock have a lever or a slot that you can put a small screwdriver in?

 

[Jon]

Update:

Found an ad (here's the link, if it works... http://www.discountbikespares.co.uk/ourshop/prod_1725139-TAP-FUEL-GS1000G-GS850-GS750.html ).

It says it is 45mm between centres. This is the tap my bike has, by the look of it. No way do I want to fork out ?95 though - hence hoping to find the cheaper alternative somebody on some other thread mentioned! Wish I could go back to it but no idea what it was called or even which section it was in.

EDIT: Thanks Hampshire Hog - you must have posted while I was still writing. No, my tap has the look-through hole, like the one in the link I posted above. I was trying to measure between centres but with most of the tap in the way, only possible to be approximate - but no way was it 50mm. Could have been 45 I suppose? I can offer some calipers up to it tomorrow for a more accurate measurement.

 

[hampshirehog]

The hole centres are 44mm on that tap. Take a look at the one in the link below. The fuel outlet is on the other side but if you have enough room to plug the hose in there it'll work.

http://www.z1enterprises.com/ItemDetails.aspx?itemDescription=Petcock+(vacuum)+Suzuki&item=KL18-4359

 

[GS1150Pilot]

By the way, the term "cock" comes from old english (which pre-dates discovery of the Americas and originates in England.)

sean

Possibly, though there is some disagreement there among philologists. It may well derive from Latin.

 

[Jon]

Hmmm... This bike's turning out to be a bit of a pain. If I can;t get the right tap, what is supposedly wrong with the repair kits I see on sale? Like I said in the 1st post on this thread, I've seen somebody on here say they're a waste of time because they only last a week or so before failing. Is this true?

If all else fails I'll get a piece of aluminium machined to fit the tank, with a 1/4"BSP threaded hole to take a standard British petrol tap. I've never understood the advantage of these vacuum operated taps anyway - is there any?

 

[hampshirehog]

I've never had any problems with the repair kits but, and it's a big but, you need to make sure you have the right kit for your tap. Loads of sellers don't know what they're selling so ask the right questions before you buy.

 

[tom203]

"I've never understood the advantage of these vacuum operated taps anyway - is there any?"

Sure, once put in "on" spot, just leave it there- no need to remember to turn it off when visiting your favorite watering hole ,so no fears of petrol overpowering float seats and dumping gas first thru carbs, then engine- bad news!
There are two versions of the standard 44 mm spacing petcock- the slighty more expensive one has more reserve capacity (higher pickup) which is probably what you want.

 

[Jon]

You're the one calling bread pudding "Dick"

Fair point!

 

[bwringer]

Remember the old days of the GSR forum, when we'd have entire conversations about "pet****s", thanks to a slightly overzealous naughty filter?


The vacuum-operated petcock is important because the float valves in the carbs are not designed to and are not capable of holding back a tank of gas while the bike is parked. They're usually fine over a lunch or something, but given a couple of days, even float valves in perfect condition will seep fuel into the crankcase.

So unless you have the sort of brain that never, ever, not once, forgets to turn the fuel off or on, at some point you're going to end up with gas (sorry, petrol) all over your garage floor, or you're going to grab a handful of throttle and the bike will wheeze and die, usually with a speeding truck (sorry, lorry) filling your rear view mirrors.

 

[Jon]

Being used to old British bikes, remembering to turn petrol (sorry, gas) taps on and off at the appropriate times comes naturally. Nonetheless I'd prefer to fix the tap I've got or replace it with another the same that works.

By the way, what do you call the stuff that makes gas ovens work in America?

 

[seanarthurmachado]

We call it "natural gas".

Usually referred to simply as " gas " because obviously no one will run a stove on gasoline (petroleum distillate).