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Good replacement petcock?

  • Thread starter Thread starter randyshipp
  • Start date Start date
R

randyshipp

Guest
Is this a good replacement petcock for my 1980 GS850GL? I'd been thinking of just tracking down a rebuild kit, but this is a less expensive option than most replacement petcocks I've seen, and only about $10-15 more than the rebuild kits I've run across. I just want to be sure there are no petcock "gotchas" I might be running into by using this instead of a kit.

Thanks in advance!

Randy...
 
chef1366,

Thanks for the lead. I'll definitely keep him in mind...pretty good selection.

Randy...
 
Plus, you can still buy 'em brand new from Suzuki. A little more expensive though.
 
That looks like a good option at Z1. There good folks to deal with. Ray
 
Go for it!

Go for it!

It looks to me like it's well worth a try!! (It can't be as crummy as the OEM petcock).8-[
 
take a look at Pingel

take a look at Pingel

I'm going to chime in with my .02 worth. I know they're expensive but they're worth it. For around $85 you can buy a chrome plated Hex Pingel that doesn't need the vacuum line and flows WAY better than the other fuel valves. Operation of the On-Off-Res lever is very smooth and they look great. Made in the USA and is a really good valve. Both my bikes have them. No more worries about fuel valve problems. Like I said, just my .02 worth.

Don
 
Hey Don, ever hear of Canal Fulton, Ohio? It's by Canton and Massillon. That's where I grew up. Sometimes I miss those friggen hicks.
 
No, I'm sorry I haven't. This was the first time. I travel east to the Ohio river and then north and south on the river quite requently but rarely do I make it north east.
 
Pingel

Pingel

don_gibb6512 said:
I'm going to chime in with my .02 worth. I know they're expensive but they're worth it. For around $85 you can buy a chrome plated Hex Pingel that doesn't need the vacuum line and flows WAY better than the other fuel valves. Operation of the On-Off-Res lever is very smooth and they look great. Made in the USA and is a really good valve. Both my bikes have them. No more worries about fuel valve problems. Like I said, just my .02 worth.

Don
Click to expand...

I agree. I didn't mention it in my first post but that's what I now use, as well.
 
I'll add that I purchased a "Custom Chrome" single outlet petcock for my GS 850 from Z1. I had to also purchase the adaptor plate to mount it to the tank. Total for both pieces was around $28. It has no vacuum diaphram so I'll have to plug the vacuum hose from the #2 carb. The fit and finish of the petcock seems pretty good and I is heavy and well made. It's made in Taiwan. Only time will tell how durable it is but I see no reason why this thing won't last a good long time. It might not be as good as a pingel but was a lot cheaper.
 
My original OEM vacuum operated petcock is working trouble free as it has for the past 26 years with no maintenance. If I did have to replace it, I would rebuild it or go with another vacuum petcock, which is far more convenient than a manual petcock. Manual petcocks have been used on motorcycles since the beginning, and are just a gas faucet. There is nothing about them or chrome plating that warrants a price of $85, but as long as there are people who are willing to spend that much for the cachet of a name which has some mysterious grasp on the imagination they will be popular, like the overpriced and underfiltering K&N air filters.

$28 for a manual petcock is more like it.:)
 
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Reserve

Reserve

The Pingels are great on the 1980 models because the OEM petcock doesn't have a reserve. I think a reserve is a MUST!
 
A reserve is a must only on bikes without gas gauges. If you have a gas gauge that works and an odometer, why do you need a reserve? Cars get by without a reserve tap with just a gas gauge. Why is a reserve a must on a motorcycle with a gas gauge?
 
Easy!

Easy!

Well, that's an easy one! The gas gauge on both my old, junkey pick-up truck and georgeous new BMW work really well. On my GS750L, I show 'E' with about 100 miles left in the tank. I think that's pretty common.

I suppose I should bend the sending unit arm but haven't done so. A reserve is a very cool feature and, as much as I hate to admit it, it would have helped me out a lot in cars back when I was young and foolish....'cause I ran out of gas a bunch of times!:oops:
 
Custom Chrome for $28 !! Excellent !!!

Custom Chrome for $28 !! Excellent !!!

Had I known they even existed, I would have definitely bought one. I'm all for saving a few bucks when you can and yeah, $85 is a lot but the Pingel is without a doubt, high quality. I think the choice of vacuum or gravity fed is more of a personal preference than anything else. There's a lot to be said for having a vacuum operated fuel valve that you can leave in the On position and for the most part, completely forget that it even exists. Personally, I liked getting away from the vacuum operation. I've tried rebuilding the stock fuel valves using the K&L kits but the ones I worked with would always seem to leak, if not immediately within a very short period of time. One of the benefits of a gravity fed valve is the satisfaction of being able to turn the fuel off. When the seals or diaphram of the vacuum operated valves start failing, the first indication is the dripping of gas from the valve. As far as the addtional flow of gas with the Pingel, that's probably only noticable during periods of extended wide open throttle, and since most of us never do that very often, I doubt it factors in to the equation here really. Phillip, you should consider yourself very fortunate that your OEM fuel valve has lasted 26 years, maintenance free. I REALLY wish mine had.
 
richardhaggarty said:
Pingel sells a vacuum version of their fuel valve here:

http://www.pingelonline.com/hex_vacuum.htm

However, these valves are for HD bikes. Of course, for a price, they sell adapter plates to fit our bikes here:

http://www.pingelonline.com/adapter_plates.htm

Like was mentioned before, this is a pretty expensive option:
Pingel Vacuum Fuel Valve: $169.00
HD to Import Adapter Plate: $26.95

That would put the total with shipping charges over $200!
Click to expand...

Yes, but then your would have a vaunted PINGEL and the envy of the gullible. Maybe for a little extra your could get a big PINGEL decal to slap on the gas tank.:)
 
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