Fuel Ideas

[Mk1inCali]

Anybody gone through with this mod as posted:

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=19363.0

I've just recently started getting into fuel starvation issues with my Y2K model, and it's quite annoying with my daily commute requiring freeway travel to both work and school.

I used some fuel system cleaner here recently, ran almost the full tank through, and it's still doing it, although not as badly.  I was running on REServe for a while, only putting in enough gas to get off of reserve (I'm a poor college student, what can I say), and so I'm not sure it is worth upgrading to a Pingel with reserve, but I'll do it if the above mod doesn't work.

Thanks in advance!

[GeeP]

I had a Pingel petcock and took it off.  The damn thing started leaking from the press fit at the union of the valve body and 90 degree hose fitting.  Turned out that the thing had 2 cracks completely though the valve body.



The cracks are a direct result of the press fit, and precisely where I would expect to find them.  I checked the interference and it's waaay over .002" per inch of diameter.  I don't know why they used a press fit in the first place.  That's not the type of construction I like to see on a fuel supply valve directly above my engine.  It most certainly would not pass as a type-certified part.

I was going to make a new valve body, but rather than re-engineer that POS I went down to the aircraft supply and bought a Safair TSO'd drain valve and installed that.  $17 as opposed to $78 plus shipping and it's LIGHTER.  I don't know what Pingel is smoking, but it's strong stuff.

[Mandres]

Jesus, for what Pingel charges I assumed those valves were made with aerospace precision.  What a sloppy product.  Did you call them on it?  I would have made a huge fuss if that were my part.

-M

[Mk1inCali]

That is f%$king rediculous.

There's probably a similar product for marine use, wouldn't you think?

I'm in San Diego so I could probably pick something up locally, or would I be better off getting something aircraft certified over the intraweb?

[GeeP]

I'm sure the marine supply will have something suitable.  The only reason why I used an airplane part is because it was local, inexpensive, and I was there.  Oh, and I wanted to ride, NOW!

Later this year I'm going to take that off and come up with a nice permanent solution that bolts to the side of the frame per stock.  That's the trouble with all these aftermarket valves, you have to reach up next to the hot engine to turn your fuel off.

Whatever you do, you'll need a conversion flange to get to a pipe thread.  The stock petcock has a 2-bolt flange with a gasket that bolts directly into the tank.  You could easily make one with a small piece of 3/16" bar stock about 1.25" wide, a drill, and a 1/4" or 3/8" NPT tap.

Didn't bother talking to Pingel.  The previous owner bought the thing and installed it before I bought the bike.   No worries, I wouldn't want that thing on my bike anyhow.   

[Mk1inCali]

I need to think this through, because from my fuzzy memory, the stock frame mounted petcock has tubes going up to the tank's outlets, from the tank mounted on/off valve.


I'll keep it posted/updated as I make any progress.

[corndog67]

My '95 doesn't have an on/off valve on the tank.  So when I pull the tank and remove the hoses, I get gas all over.  So I only do this when the bike is cold. 

[TragicImage]

I was going to make a new valve body, but rather than re-engineer that POS I went down to the aircraft supply and bought a Safair TSO'd drain valve and installed that.  $17 as opposed to $78 plus shipping and it's LIGHTER.  I don't know what Pingel is smoking, but it's strong stuff.

that seems like a major repair... did you file the appropriate Form 337 for that?

[average]

My '95 doesn't have an on/off valve on the tank.  So when I pull the tank and remove the hoses, I get gas all over.  So I only do this when the bike is cold. 

If you lift your tank up, you'll see a flathead screw on the petcock that you turn to shut off the fuel. 

[GeeP]

that seems like a major repair... did you file the appropriate Form 337 for that?

Of course!  Along with a 210 application for single STC, research of applicable sections of part 23, a flight manual supplement, a maintenance instruction supplement, and the drawing package.  I'm told that I should expect field approval sometime before I die.   

[TragicImage]

you know, you and I are probably the only people that find that even remotely funny.

[PapaFox]

you know, you and I are probably the only people that find that even remotely funny.

You're not alone, but you can also understand why I'm building Experimental 

[Cannon Fodder]

you know, you and I are probably the only people that find that even remotely funny.

No, but I don't think you have to get FAA approval for a fuel valve on a motorcycle.  Could be wrong though.