darn petcock died. Question about Pingle

Jenya · May 13, 2006, 11:08:43 PM

Hello,

Fristly, I would like to reasure that I honestly did the search and read through merriads of posts regarding petcocks and Pingles.
However, either I overlooked or the info wasn't there, but I still have a question.

It is my understanding that Pingle mounts into the tank. Is that is so, how does one reaches down and switched to Reserve when running out of fuel on the highway?

As far as my dead petcock goes, I think I will take a route of somebody who posted a way to turn it into a manual shut off valve. At least, until I find a better solution.
What a piece of crap Suzuki petcock is. Is it really so difficult to find a petcock from another brand/model that is also frame mounted and vacuum operated?

Jenya

runsilent · May 14, 2006, 06:03:51 AM

Search for "pingel petcock"

Egaeus · May 14, 2006, 06:23:29 AM

How, exactly, did your stock petcock die? Diaphragm? Leaking?

You don't reach down and switch a Pingel (like runsilent said, not Pingle) tank-mounted petcock. It's just not accessible from the seat. From what I've read, if you want a frame-mounted design, it will cost considerably more (too much IMO).

GeeP · May 14, 2006, 08:47:04 AM

Quote from: Jenya on May 13, 2006, 11:08:43 PM
It is my understanding that Pingle mounts into the tank. Is that is so, how does one reaches down and switched to Reserve when running out of fuel on the highway?

You don't. You learn to plan your gas stops much better.

QuoteAs far as my dead petcock goes, I think I will take a route of somebody who posted a way to turn it into a manual shut off valve. At least, until I find a better solution.
What a piece of crap Suzuki petcock is. Is it really so difficult to find a petcock from another brand/model that is also frame mounted and vacuum operated?

I don't recall this, maybe someone else will know if you can do that. I've never seen the stock petcock, as mine came with a Pingel. A defective Pingel I might add. However, by the time you get the adaptor plate, valve, and hardware to mount that Pingel thing you'll be out about $100 or so. You can do a whole lot of farm store jury rigging for that price - which is what I did.

Here's my experience with Pingel: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=25317.0

scottpA_GS · May 14, 2006, 09:37:03 AM

Post in the For sale trade section... Im sure someone has another petcock on there...

What is wrong with yours? I replaced mine thinking it was the problem but it wasnt...

I still have my old one if you want to give it a try. $10 free shipping.. PM me..

Alphamazing · May 14, 2006, 09:40:46 AM

Hmm.. I have a frame mounted petcock that was in good working order when removed from my old bike. Send me a PM if you're interested.

Jenya · May 14, 2006, 10:23:52 AM

what happened to my old petcock is that it doesn't hold the vacuum.
What made me suspicios at first is that I removed lots of gunk from the vacuum spigot and wondered where all that gunk could have come from.
I then reassembled and tested with a hand vacuum pump and, sure enough, it drops the vacuum rapidly. I then tried cutting new gaskets for it.
Still doesn't hold the vacuum. Not sure why. The diaphragm seems integral. No tears.

Jenya

corndog67 · May 14, 2006, 01:07:25 PM

Suzuki doesn't sell the diaphragm gasket separately? Or as part of a rebuild kit?

Jenya · May 14, 2006, 02:16:57 PM

Nope! Suzuki doesn't offer replacement parts or rebuid kit for the infamouse gs500 petcock. Only as the whole.

Jenya

Chris2P · May 14, 2006, 02:46:07 PM

Have you tried to use a gasket sealer that is imperveous to gas? Might be worth a try.

Chris

Wrecent_Wryder · May 14, 2006, 04:30:01 PM

5f

scottpA_GS · May 14, 2006, 05:51:49 PM

The GS one is unique in the aspect that it uses a vaccume to controll the flow.. That seems to be the trouble maker.. Most bikes have (Off) (on) and (res) as you know the GS has no (off).. The pingle petcock is a general replacement but I am not sure if there is much work involved in mounting it.

Wrecent_Wryder · May 14, 2006, 06:08:35 PM

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scottpA_GS · May 14, 2006, 06:31:23 PM

I agree...Having an off setting would rock! I have been able to leave mine in the prime postion (without vacc) for days with out the gas flowing out

so i guess its not all bad

Jenya · May 14, 2006, 07:02:30 PM

This is the solution I was going to try for turning stock petcock into a manual shutoff valve with ON, RES and OFF positions:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=19363.0

scottpA_GS · May 14, 2006, 07:11:00 PM

I see that in the test you did you think its not holding the vaccume? I thought the same wabout mine and it was the float height

I dunno.. I ran mine just like you posted.. capped off the vaccume.. that didnt solve the problem... I adjusted the floats and..

no more fuel starvation

Even if you are loosing vaccume you should be able to ride on PRIME.. that bypasses the Vac

Jenya · May 14, 2006, 07:48:57 PM

Actually, when testing, I have had petcock off the bike and completelly disconnected. Then the vacuum port connected to the vac pump and it wouldn't hold the vacuum.
So, it is quite possible that fuel starvation problem I have had is due to floats, but I am taking one step at a time. I don't think petcock was supposed to leak vacuum by design. My carbs are completelly taken apart right now and I will make sure the float level is set properly when putting them back together.

Jenya

Mandres · May 14, 2006, 09:18:26 PM

Maybe I'm misunderstanding but I don't think the valve is intended to hold a vacuum. The engine's vacuum simply opens the diaphragm, opening the fuel passages. Here's how you test it:

1. turn off the in-tank petcock
2. hook up the hoses to the frame petcock
3. set the frame petcock to "on" or "res"
4. fill the tank up and turn the in-tank petcock on

There should not be any fuel running to the carbs; disconnect the line from the carb intake and make sure there are no leaks. To test whether the frame petcock is working properly apply a vacuum to the port on the frame petcock (by using a pump or just sucking on the hose) and fuel should flow out as long as the vacuum is applied.

-M

Jenya · May 14, 2006, 09:35:40 PM

So it IS intended to leak in air and deminish vacuum on the other side of the diapragm? I figured that is exactly why my petcock had lots of black gunk in the vacuum spigot, because it was leaking and sucking in gasoline fumes.

In my test, applying the vacuum would indeed open the diaphragm, but the vacuum meter would show that vacuum becomes lesser and lesser and within, maybe, 5 seconds the diaphragm would close from the lack of sufficient pull.

Jenya

12thmonkey · May 14, 2006, 09:37:37 PM

Some idiot (and by idiot, i am referring directly to my bike's PO) disconnected all of the vacuum lines from my fuel system. So i have no vacuum hoses running to my petcock at all. i generally just run it on PRI. Would the missing vacuum hoses be a problem for this? i have fuel starvation if i hang out above 70 for too long...but 60 and under, it runs fine. Should i get some vacuum hoses and reconnect everything?

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darn petcock died. Question about Pingle