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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: rger8 on April 21, 2010, 08:48:47 PM

Title: In line petcock?
Post by: rger8 on April 21, 2010, 08:48:47 PM
Isn't there a simple way to really shut the gas off? I'm thinking some kind of simple on/off small in-line petcock just below the tank maybe. :dunno_black: I hate to have gas just sitting there in the float bowls and jets if I have to leave it for a few weeks. Any idea's?
Title: Re: In line petcock?
Post by: acid on April 22, 2010, 02:27:26 AM
http://gs-500.info/index.php?title=Convert_petcock_from_vacuum_to_manual
Title: Re: In line petcock?
Post by: tt_four on April 22, 2010, 04:54:58 AM
Once you shut the bike off you can always just drain the float bowls. It only takes about 2 minutes for the whole process, most of which is just time waiting for the gas to drain. Technically having an actual shut off isn't going to help you empty your carbs when you park the bike, unless you turn the gas off before you get home and let it drain the carbs as your ride home, but you'd have to be a math genius to time that perfect, and even then I don't think the carbs would completely empty themselves, I think the bike would just stop running.
Title: Re: In line petcock?
Post by: tt_four on April 22, 2010, 05:05:05 AM
Acid, I read through that link you posted and I see that switching the selector valve around turns the pri to off, and switches the on/res. and that there's no vacuum needed for the gas to flow. Does the PRI still let gas through if the gas is on, or does it completely shut it off, regardless of the engine running or not? I might be interested to try that next time I have my tank removed.
Title: Re: In line petcock?
Post by: sveach on April 22, 2010, 07:59:12 AM
Quote from: rger8 on April 21, 2010, 08:48:47 PM
Isn't there a simple way to really shut the gas off? I'm thinking some kind of simple on/off small in-line petcock just below the tank maybe. :dunno_black: I hate to have gas just sitting there in the float bowls and jets if I have to leave it for a few weeks. Any idea's?

There's a valve/petcock just under the tank where the two fuel lines attach to the tank. You can turn the knob with a flathead screwdriver. Fuel flows when the knob is vertical, fuel doesn't flow when the knob is horizontal.

Is that what you're talking about?

You can turn this off, and then run the bike till it dies, if you want...but you have to lift the tank to turn this valve off. Unless you're REALLY good...
Title: Re: In line petcock?
Post by: pandymai on April 22, 2010, 08:30:30 AM
Quote from: tt_four on April 22, 2010, 05:05:05 AM
Acid, I read through that link you posted and I see that switching the selector valve around turns the pri to off, and switches the on/res. and that there's no vacuum needed for the gas to flow. Does the PRI still let gas through if the gas is on, or does it completely shut it off, regardless of the engine running or not? I might be interested to try that next time I have my tank removed.

tt_four: i do believe the "PRI" becomes a complete shut-off, so no gas flows to carbs when parked. i think i'll be doing this today! haha

edit- i get it now, inside the petcock the rotation puts the new "PRI" to where the original "ON" was, so if a vacuum is put to the petcock, theoretically it would allow fuel to flow, right?
do you think they just removed the vacuum line from the carb to the petcock since it's no longer "needed" for the flow of fuel?
Title: Re: In line petcock?
Post by: DoD#i on April 22, 2010, 09:25:22 AM
Quote from: sveach on April 22, 2010, 07:59:12 AM
There's a valve/petcock just under the tank where the two fuel lines attach to the tank. You can turn the knob with a flathead screwdriver. Fuel flows when the knob is vertical, fuel doesn't flow when the knob is horizontal.

Is that what you're talking about?

You can turn this off, and then run the bike till it dies, if you want...but you have to lift the tank to turn this valve off. Unless you're REALLY good...

All you need is a long screwdriver. Tank does not need to be lifted.

Picture by Kerry (petcock is ON in the picture. Turn 90 degrees either direction to turn OFF):

(http://www.bbburma.net/MiscFotos/100_1485_TankPetcockInONPosition.jpg)
Title: Re: In line petcock?
Post by: pandymai on April 22, 2010, 10:20:14 AM
i'll be doing a test of the mod today if i can.. or within this week depending on when i get all my parts in. =P

good luck to anyone else that plans on fiddling with their petcock.. kekeke
Title: Re: In line petcock?
Post by: tt_four on April 22, 2010, 11:15:05 AM
Quote from: DoD#i on April 22, 2010, 09:25:22 AM

All you need is a long screwdriver. Tank does not need to be lifted.

a REALLY long screwdriver. I tried this for 5 minutes with a long screwdriver the other day and wasn't getting anywhere. Maybe I'll try to find a longer one.
Title: Re: In line petcock?
Post by: seamax on April 22, 2010, 12:35:59 PM
even with along screwdriver it is still hard to turn the screw since you have the other fuel nipple in front of it. i gave up and unscrewed the tank.
Title: Re: In line petcock?
Post by: flair.14 on April 22, 2010, 01:02:27 PM
Would I need to cap the vacuum nipples coming off the petcock and carb if I do the in-line petcock?
Title: Re: In line petcock?
Post by: tt_four on April 22, 2010, 06:46:35 PM
I would definitely cap it off on the carb. The petcock won't really matter, but I'd do it just in good taste.
Title: Re: In line petcock?
Post by: tt_four on April 22, 2010, 06:47:23 PM
Oh, and make sure to take some more pictures and let us know how it works out. If I hear good confirmation I'll do it to mind. I'm just curious why I've seen so many people replace theirs, but NEVER heard of anything doing this before.
Title: Re: In line petcock?
Post by: tucsondude on April 22, 2010, 07:35:25 PM
crf 250 petcock? 1-2 plastic 1/4" fuel switches.

isnt the purpose of the factory petcock/vacuum to shut the fuel off when not running?