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petcock nightmares

  • Thread starter Thread starter 94ta
  • Start date Start date
sedelen said:
There is a check valve inside the petcock for the vacuum line. You should be able to determine if it works by sucking and blowing air through it. All bets are off if you can blow air freely both ways.
I've had some success rebuilding these petcocks. You have to align the holes on the diaphram, to the hole in the block that fits between the two sides of the diaphram, to the breather hole on the main part of the petcock that goes to the front of the diaphram. I learned through trial and error, but the one thing I was overlooking because it's hard to see is that hole on the petcock, it's about in the 2 o'clock position as you look at the front of the petcock, close to the upper right hand mounting plate that attaches to the back plate, close to one of the 4 back plate mounting screws. If that hole is clogged your petcock will not breathe and allow your diaphram to open and close normally.
Also that 4 hole rubber seal under the selector lever has got to be good, as does the seat the little O ring mates to on the diaphram. Your vacuum line should be in about the 10 o'clock position as you look at the front of the petcock. Any little dirt can cause it to fail, I soaked mine in gasoline and put it together loosely, to allow the diaphram to find it's own center and tightened down the screws evenly.
The carbs flooding to me is normal if the bike sits and has gas going to the carbs. Both my bikes have done it when I left it in Prime, and it is clearly stated in the owners manual that can happen.

Also, there is an old post I have been trying to find that I have not been able to locate. It concerns a "modification" to the petcock that will not allow fuel to flow, but you can't forget to not turn it off. I didn't want to suggest that yet for fear of taking responsibility for it should that fail, so I'm still looking for that post.
Click to expand...
Is this the mod you are talking about?

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=130786&highlight=petcock+modification
 
BigD_83 said:
Is this the mod you are talking about?

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=130786&highlight=petcock+modification
Click to expand...


No, but here it goes, and I'm not suggesting anyone do this, as I'm recalling it from memory of something I read about a year ago.

First, you file off the stop on the front piece that keeps the lever from rotating completely around, then you file off enough of the lever so that the lever can point straight up without hitting the gas tank. When the lever points up, fuel is shut off, that's it in a nut shell. But I'd like to find that post to see if there's any more details other than that.
 
sedelen said:
No, but here it goes, and I'm not suggesting anyone do this, as I'm recalling it from memory of something I read about a year ago.

First, you file off the stop on the front piece that keeps the lever from rotating completely around, then you file off enough of the lever so that the lever can point straight up without hitting the gas tank. When the lever points up, fuel is shut off, that's it in a nut shell. But I'd like to find that post to see if there's any more details other than that.
Click to expand...
Here's a thread with pictures of that mod...

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=167714&highlight=file+fuel+petcock
 
allojohn said:
Your bike is an inanimate object. If things are right it will run right. You must take your time, be methodical and follow the checklist on BassCliff's site. Buying a petcock which does not fit is not the bike fault. The carbs you bought on ebay must be checked thoroughly - they may have all sorts of problems. There are no short cuts. Sorry but this is the only path to success.
Click to expand...

This is my favorite post of any I've seen, especially the inanimate comment...classic. I have actually been quoting this post to explain to my patients how to improve their spines (I'm a chiro). The spine is sort of inanimate and will improve if you do things in the correct order, exactly as I tell you to do...nearly every time, just like a GS will respond to the executed list of "things to do". I get such a kick out of reading DAILY of the malfunctioning GS and all of it's woes (that are this "stupid bikes" fault). And then I wait for it...wait for it..BassCliff and Co. do their thing, and if advice is meticulously followed...the universe falls into harmony again...if they do not the GS gremlins attack at will...squirting gas into eyes, and emptying cans of seafoam into the abyss as valves overheat and are sucked in!! I mean to compliment all of you on your patience pertaining to the redundancy and repetitiveness of this service that you provide for no remuneration except for the love of machinery and your fellow man. I am in awe!! Thank you all.
 
chirobo said:
This is my favorite post of any I've seen, especially the inanimate comment...classic. I have actually been quoting this post to explain to my patients how to improve their spines (I'm a chiro). The spine is sort of inanimate and will improve if you do things in the correct order, exactly as I tell you to do...nearly every time, just like a GS will respond to the executed list of "things to do". I get such a kick out of reading DAILY of the malfunctioning GS and all of it's woes (that are this "stupid bikes" fault). And then I wait for it...wait for it..BassCliff and Co. do their thing, and if advice is meticulously followed...the universe falls into harmony again...if they do not the GS gremlins attack at will...squirting gas into eyes, and emptying cans of seafoam into the abyss as valves overheat and are sucked in!! I mean to compliment all of you on your patience pertaining to the redundancy and repetitiveness of this service that you provide for no remuneration except for the love of machinery and your fellow man. I am in awe!! Thank you all.
Click to expand...

Well, I'm certainly glad someone got something worthwhile out of this post!
 
I wish my electrical skills matched the speed of my search skills in this forum :dancing:
 
I got busy with work and moving. Havent had a free moment to put into the bike, and any free time ive had its been 110* outside.

I did measure the bolt holes of the petcock, 44mm is what it is. Thanks for the replys and your time. Sorry i didnt get a picture of it, but it hasnt looked like any of the ones ive seen so far.

Just bought one for 44$ on ebay. I guess the tank i have isnt a stock 79 tank as the 44mm spacing is more common on early to mid 80's bikes?
 
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Well heres a picture of the old petcock, just because i finally found a camera. I went through the carbs, wow. One of the main jets was literallya half turn away from falling out, blocked beyond all hell. Ill be doing the soak it looks like! The idle jets are rough too, suprised it even ran. Thanks for all your help as always.

Also here are pics of my intake boots...theres no oring on these, what does this mean?

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3899014094_medium.jpg


3899014095_medium.jpg


3899014093_medium.jpg
 
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It means your bike has mix and match pieces. The petcock is not correct for your bike (the vacuum nipple would come out at an angle). That means that you got the wrong rebuild kit. Sadly, the rebuild kits don't work well even for the correct petcock.

The intake boots are Kawasaki, seen by the rubber plug on the nipple. They do not use o-rings, they tend to leak air, and they do not match up so well.

I'm glad you tore into the carbs: they almost always have problems. The hanging idle can come from air leaks OR partially plugged pilot jets. Soaking the pilots is not enough: there can be hard deposits that do not come out with soaking. I use a very fine strand copper wire, strip it back 2", and use 1 or 2 strands to ream out the jet orifice until it pulls through with no resistance. The copper is much softer than the brass, so it won't gouge.
 
Well taking the gasket off that was between the intake boot and head it ripped, I cant seem to find these gaskets anywhere, it might have not even been a OEM part and someone just put it there.
 
Well heres an update on my nightmare (haha)

Got a new Fuel petcock, holy balls, fuel stays INSIDE the tank. This is phenomenal!

Took apart the carbs and cleaned them. Put them back on the bike. I cant open PDF files on this computer and have been busy near computers that can. I dont know what the true idle and fuel screw adjustments are.

Right now the bike has the air screws (screws on top) all the way in. I beleive the fuel screws are out 1.5 turns. She runs, not perfect. I wish someone just knew the jet size and settings for a gs1000 with pod filters, or could get me close.

The biggest update apart from the petcock would be the hanging revs. This one was so simple it just got over looked. When giving the bike a quick rev and letting off, the throttle bracket doesnt return back to position quickly. Holding a screw driver with pressure on it, revving it and letting off, she comes down alot faster.


progess.
 
Got a new Fuel petcock, holy balls, fuel stays INSIDE the tank. This is phenomenal!
Click to expand...


just went though a similar ordeal with a bike I acquired this summer. Petcock always leaked. Cut the handle and filed off the tap so I could turn it up past the tank to physically close the passage. That really only worked if the knob was at exactly 11 o'clock and still was iffy. I finally bought a new one a few weeks ago and it was truly a sublime experience when I first put it on.
 
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