I don't know how many of you read my post "Need carburetor parts", but it seems that the same butt-head, wanna-be mechanic that lost parts dissassembling the carburetor also took it upon him/herself to disassemble the fuel valve.

The selector cone (or what ever you call the cylinder with the drilled passages) is missing. I ran out of gas a week ago trying to see how far I could go before switching to 'reserve'. Well, lucky me, I had been drinking from reserve and main all along so I ended up pushing my bike to the gas station (thank goodness the GS500 is light).

Anybody have a used fuel valve for sale? I read on a post a few days ago but can't find it again, that there is a pretty good after-market fuel valve for GS500's out there. Who makes it and where can I buy one?

THere is the pingel... but i hear its extremely expensive...

Also, someone else was considering using separate fuel valves for res, pri, and on... may be an option?

I found these on a dirtbike site:

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/item.asp?style=8024&department=646&Division=6

It says not recommended for motors over 300 CC but they're talking two strokes so it should be fine for the GS. Get 1 for the Res line and One for the Pri/On line and a T to join the two and then you just have to figure out a way to mount them.

I'm going to continue digging to see if I can find anything better. $30 bucks is about half way to a Pingel.

A guy on the chassis builder's list just successfully converted a vacuum petcock to a manual one. He just used JB Weld to fill up the appropriate passage ways, and some Dremel work to do away with the vacuum. I have to look at my GS switch to see if it'll work.

I have a GS fuel switch I'm not using, but it didn't flow enough fuel on my bike. Kinda reluctant to offer you a non-working switch...

Quote from: Black SnowmanI found these on a dirtbike site:
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/item.asp?style=8024&department=646&Division=6

That item is listed as a 5/16" In-Line Fuel Valve.  Wouldn't the 1/4" In-Line Fuel Valve work better?

I'm assuming that the measurement refers to the I.D. (Inner Diameter) of the fuel line, but I could be wrong....

While I'm on the subject, I happened to go to my local home center last night, so I took a picture of the fuel valve I mentioned in another thread:



OK, so it's for a riding lawn mower.  And it probably won't flow enough fuel for the GS500E engine at high RPMs.  But it's cheap enough to experiment with if you're in a bind.  (I think it was 7 or 8 dollars.)

Anyone?  Srinath?  

BTW, sorry about the glare....

EDIT: Changed link from sisna.com to bbburma.net

I suspect any simple on/off valve like that will flow way more fuel than the GS one, even a garden tractor one. The 1/4" does refer to the fuel line ID, and while I think the GS stuff is actually 6 mm, 1/4" is close enough.

You'd have to have two of them, one for reserve, and one for main, T'd together into the carb line. And figure out how to mount them.

I think one reason the GS vacuum switch doesn't flow enough fuel at large throttle openings, is that the engine vacuum decreases, and the vacuum switch starts to close.

Thanks for the responses folks. I think I'll try the lawn mower fuel valve for starters to get me back on the road. I was on the Blueridge Parkway today in a cage and saw many, many bikes on the road (and what a beautiful road it is). I wanted to be on one of those biks so bad I could spit. I'll try the cheap lawn mower fuel valves to get me back on the road but ultimately I want to return this bike to completely original condition. However, without the show room cosmetics as I don't really want to paint it.

Ride safe guys and thanks again for the ideas.

Quote from: KerryThat item is listed as a 5/16" In-Line Fuel Valve.  Wouldn't the 1/4" In-Line Fuel Valve work better?

I'm assuming that the measurement refers to the I.D. (Inner Diameter) of the fuel line, but I could be wrong....

I picked the 5/16" because it was the largest 1/4" might fit better but I was hoping the large 5/16" would flow better.

Quote from: Black Snowman

Quote from: KerryThat item is listed as a 5/16" In-Line Fuel Valve.  Wouldn't the 1/4" In-Line Fuel Valve work better?

I'm assuming that the measurement refers to the I.D. (Inner Diameter) of the fuel line, but I could be wrong....

I picked the 5/16" because it was the largest 1/4" might fit better but I was hoping the large 5/16" would flow better.

Gotcha.  (Meaning, "I understand.")

My main worry about the 5/16" size stems from ThinkAgain's opening lines in the opening post of the thread Irregular Idle.  Maybe I just worry too much - does anyone else have experience with using 5/16" fuel line on their GS500?

1/4" is lots for the GS, and even more powerful bikes. It works for 200 hp cars! I use 1/4" with my Pingel and my 60 hp GS on the race track, and it works fine.

A simple 1/4" valve and 1/4" line will work fine. 5/16" won't make any difference to the idle either, but it will be harder to get a seal on the 6 mm fittings.

You can't have too much fuel flow to the carbs, as long as the pressure stays below 5 PSI or so. The floats and needles regulate the flow to the jets. You sure can have too little though.

http://www.bikebandit.com/partsbandit/product.asp?pf_id=1912470&dept_id=496254
Found another, inexpensive, fuel valve. Only $10 each.

BikeBandit didn't give enough info about that MotionPro valve - it's for 3/16" fuel line.

Here is the set of MotionPro valves as shown in the Dennis Kirk 2002 Street catalog.  The prices are still current.

Meanwhile, check out the 1/4" Universal valve for $10.99!



EDIT: Changed link from sisna.com to bbburma.net