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Petcock vacuum o-ring preservation

Andrew Vanis

Andrew Vanis

Forum Mentor
Past Site Supporter
Petcock vacuum o-ring preservation

Indulge my OCD.

Received a replacement petcock recently. Noticed it was shipped in PRIME position. Concluding it was shipped/stored in that manner so the O-ring in the vacuum diaphragm doesn't get permanently compressed in storage.

Wondering ? what about putting an in-line shutoff between petcock and carbs so during periods of longer non-use the shutoff can stop fuel flow and then leave the petcock in PRIME to preserve deformation of that o-ring?

I was going to put in a shutoff there anyway just to avoid the dreaded fuel in the crankcase happenstance so I guess this question is more about leaving the petcock in PRIME during storage for the benefit of the petcock.

Thoughts?
 
It had to be shipped in SOME position...RIGHT!!!! Is PRIme worse than say in RESereve?????? or ON????

Yes your OCD is way over thinking chit. Just give it a squirt of penetrating oil around the lever area and work it back and forth to keep it lubed..done.
 
This is kind of off-the-wall, but what I did with a stuck petcock was to spray silicone in to the petcock liberally, and then place the petcock on the stove-top just above where the gas pilot burns. I checked the temp of the area with an infrared thermometer, came up to 100 degrees. Tried to move the lever with pliers without too much force a couple of times, and about the third time, it moved with a 'pop' and was smoothly free after that.
 
The lever can stick to the oring or the flat rubber plate with the holes in it behind the lever from being dry and not moved for a while. That's why I said to spray some oil on it from time to time and work it in well.
 
I re-read to make sure but i was not asking about it being stuck. What i was wondering is if it is better for the vacuum petcock to be dis-engaged rather than engaged. In the prime position the o-ring/diaphram is held open mechanically (o-ring is not touching the seat). This is the same position that occurs when vaccum opens the petcock. It makes sense that the petcocks get shipped/stored that way because the o-ring is not under pressure.

Considering failing petcocks are not uncommon after some use, the question was about keeping the o-ring disengaged by putting it in prime position in the hopes of having the o-ring keepit.s shape better.
 
It won't matter. If the oring takes a shape from the seat contact it will still seal just fine. Unavoidable. OTOH, if it is dried out or stiff, it can leak. That is aging, plain and simple.
 
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