No lever on petcock?

[eastern]

Hmm...there seems to be a couple differing views on the position of the slot.

CHEF: If the notch is up and down it is on prime. Back and forth is run. It doesn't matter how many times you spin it around it is what it is.

PLANECRAZY: I haven't looked at my '80 550L in a while, but I'm pretty sure that the normal running position for the "slot" is vertical (which makes sense when you consider that if the petcock DID have a lever it would be positioned vertically to be in the normal "run" position). Some people have told me that turning the slot doesn't do anything at all, but I'm by no means certain of this.

Now when I purchased the bike the slot was vertical. Who knows how long it had sat like that since it had not been on the road since 2005. Now after I had taken the tank off and cleaned the petcock then reattached the tank and tried starting her the carbs began to leak. So I switched the slot to horizontal. I assume this indicates that vertical is prime and horizontal is run? Or that the drain screws are simply leaking from the corroded and worn out o-rings which are in need of replacement.

 

[DanTheMan]

Don't know, I rarely ever touch mine (petcock), I'll have to look and let you know how it's positioned.:-D

 

[KGB]

My 1980 GS1000S.........horizontal--side to side=on
Up and down or vertical is prime.

 

[bgmart450]

Here is some clarification ... to my knowledge ALL of the 1980 GS's had leverless vacuum only petcocks, and 1980 was the only year that Suzuki did this. It was not a space issue, because many models that had plenty of space for a levered petcock did NOT have one. The following year they all DID.

Both our 80 450's have levers and list them as such on the stock schematics.

No prime position, just on/res. Of course the twins are always a lil off from the other models.

 

[DanTheMan]

On mine, vertical is on, horizontal is prime.

 

[eastern]

So I guess the position on the leverless p/c models is not a universal application. How would I go about checking whether the "on" setting is horizontal or vertical on mine then? I guess pulling the tank and sucking on the vacuum line and if it flows even when I stop sucking then I assume it is on prime?

 

[bradleymaynar]

Yor previous post seems to shed of bit of light on the correct position for your bike. Though you didn't mention if changing the postition from vertical to horizontal stopped the overflow.

Brad bt

 

[eastern]

Well considering that the drain screws are leaking as a result of squished 27yr old seals I am not quite so sure anymore. The gas was never coming from any overflow tube...just the drain screws. This is driving me nuts...and I haven't even tried taking the intake boot screws out yet.

 

[chuckycheese]

Popular subject

Popular subject

As Chef1366 correctly pointed out, space was definitely the issue in 1980 and the error was corrected in 1981. If you do some searches, I think you'll find that the '1980 petcock caper' is one of the very most popular subjects discussed on the forum.

Do a search for 'Pingel' and you can find out how to deal with it....and end up with a reserve, to boot!:-D

 

[KGB]

According to the factory service manual 99500 39001 03E
section 15 1980 GS1000E/ST page 29
shows the petcock horizontal or side to side is ON
vertical or up and down is PRIME

 

[Guest]

Don't know, I rarely ever touch mine (petcock).:-D

Yeah, right =;
I have a couple of cats for pets.

 

[rufus]

I have an 82 GS750e. Petcock works but the lever is broken off. Anyone have the body by itself? lol

 

[Kcwiro]

As Chef1366 correctly pointed out, space was definitely the issue in 1980 and the error was corrected in 1981. If you do some searches, I think you'll find that the '1980 petcock caper' is one of the very most popular subjects discussed on the forum.

Do a search for 'Pingel' and you can find out how to deal with it....and end up with a reserve, to boot!:-D

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=69615


there I did the work for you... I'm doing my pingle mod tonight before I take the bike out tonight:-D

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=69578

both of these should help you out ... thanks chucky for posting so much info for the rest of us =)

 

[bcrowther]

Thank you for your information. I too had this question. I just got a new petcock for my 1980 GS850 L and found that it came in the prime position, vertical, and when I turned it to horizontal it only pumped gas when I was trying to start it or it was on. So it was using the suction hose to send the gas.

The only question I have is that I saw in another posting that it would not over flow your carbs if your float was working properly. Anyone know any truth to this?

 

[Guest]

If the petcock isn't flowing fuel unless it's running it won't overflow the float bowls.
Even on prime these petcocks need vacuum to activate it but not constant vacuum like run.

 

[pvalade]

What are the petcock settings

What are the petcock settings

I went through the same thing with my 1980 GS550L. I also thought the lever was broken.

Now that we all know about this style of petcock, what ar the settings:

I have a little triangle pointing downwards with fuel written above it and purge written to the left. I also have dots on each side of the horizontal diameter. I don't have a user manual so I don't know if the position of the slot (where the lever was assumed to be). Currently I leave it vertical, but in term of design usually a slot of this type should be allingned with the flow. If you need a picture I can send one.

I also researched to find a rebuild kit and was told that it would be better to replace it with one that has a lever.

Hope you can help.

Pierre

 

[pvalade]

Oops

Oops

I just saw the answer. Does anyone have an original user's manual?