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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: LOUiE on October 22, 2008, 02:42:00 PM

Title: 2 n00b questions...
Post by: LOUiE on October 22, 2008, 02:42:00 PM
1) my tank petcock has OFF (left) and ON (down) but I can turn it all the way to the right which says nothing... does this just mean it is more on than regular on?   :icon_confused:

2) i've done some work  relocating my handle bars (still on the front tho  ;) ) a bit ago and now i realize i can shift gears without pulling in the clutch.  Of course its not a nice smooth shift and its not good for the bike, but does this happen to everyone elses?  I can't remember if mine did this before I worked on it...  ex.  I can step down on it and change into 1st from neutral w/o the clutch lever.
Title: Re: 2 n00b questions...
Post by: natedawg120 on October 22, 2008, 03:14:15 PM
1- could you get us a picture if this is a gs you are talking about you should have on-pri-res with on at the bottom, pri turning 1/4 turn counter-clockwise, and res at the top.  If what you say is true you have an aftermarket petcock.

2- Clutchless shifting is perfectly alright if you know what you are doing.  When up shifting you put a little pressure on the shift lever and blip the throttle closed - the bike should slide into the next gear with no clutch.  Downshifting is a bit more tricky, and opposite of up shifting.  I go clutchless while up shifting regularly, but not downshifting, its real easy to momentarily slide the rear when going down so i use the clutch, call me old fashioned.   Now if done incorrectly over time you are going to kill something.

Title: Re: 2 n00b questions...
Post by: LOUiE on October 22, 2008, 03:19:27 PM
1) talking about the tank mounted petcock (not the frame one with On-Res-Pri)  but the one attached to the tank.

2) so I didn't screw anything up?  sweet.

thanks for the info!! :cheers:
Title: Re: 2 n00b questions...
Post by: fred on October 22, 2008, 04:59:28 PM
Quote from: LOUiE on October 22, 2008, 03:19:27 PM
1) talking about the tank mounted petcock (not the frame one with On-Res-Pri)  but the one attached to the tank.

2) so I didn't screw anything up?  sweet.

thanks for the info!! :cheers:

The tank petcock only has two positions, on and off. You can spin it in either direction to go from one position to the other. I believe it is on when the slot for a screwdriver is vertical and off when it is horizontal...
Title: Re: 2 n00b questions...
Post by: natedawg120 on October 22, 2008, 05:22:11 PM
my bad i missed the tank part of that tank petcock :laugh:.  But yes fred is correct, if the line is vertical it is on horizontal is off
Title: Re: 2 n00b questions...
Post by: Bluehaze on October 22, 2008, 10:10:31 PM
If you turn it all the way over then it will just be off again.  I did that myself.. couldnt figure out why it wouldnt start.. i thought hell if it kept going it must be ok.
Title: Re: 2 n00b questions...
Post by: LOUiE on October 22, 2008, 10:12:34 PM
dang... I hate obvious solutions... they make me feel stooopid.