Last night I replaced the air filter and exhaust on Junior. In lifting the tank to do the air filter, a fuel line pulled off (Note to self: turn fuel OFF before lifting tank). To turn fuel off, I had to reach in from the right side with a very long screw driver to get at the petcock valve.

Going to replace the clear vinyl hose someone put on as it is stiff, no extra length and the clamp won't squish it down so there is a small fuel leak.

Looking at the Suzuki parts diagrams, I notice you get at the fuel petcock valve from the LEFT side, where the petcock is located. Why would anyone ever put the fuel petcock on backwards? Sheer stupidity?

I've got a nearly new replacement petcock, new gasket and new gaskets for the bolts. I might as well install the new tank if I'm going to replace a fuel line.

ALSO: Are there any correct Suzuki parts diagrams? The diagrams of the petcock show the gasket not as a simple oval but one with two cross members which isolate the bolts. Even for the 2009 is shows the same and buying gaskets and petcocks the gasket is a simple oval. So where are there correct parts diagrams?

Bought my GS500F brand new, my tank petcock is accessed from the Right hand (throttle) side.

Quote from: adidasguy on October 25, 2010, 01:31:45 PM
....(Note to self: turn fuel OFF before lifting tank)....

Quote from: adidasguy on October 25, 2010, 01:31:45 PM
To turn fuel off, I had to reach in from the right side with a very long screw driver to get at the petcock valve.

that's the way it was stock on my bike. i was wondering about the stupidity of it too.

i saw that it was the same way on kerry's bike in his valve clearance check video  

Odd how all the parts diagrams show it the other way so you access it from the left - which makes more sense.

I think I'll put it on the "correct way". It makes more sense and that's what the pictures show.

If you rotate it so it's accessed from the left side (clutch side), does the lip of the gas tank get in the way of turning the petcock on/off? If it doesn't - I'm going to rotate mine! It's a pain in the ass doing it by yourself.

Quote from: sveach on October 25, 2010, 01:42:41 PM
Bought my GS500F brand new, my tank petcock is accessed from the Right hand (throttle) side.

I bought mine brand new as well and mine is on the left (clutch) side and facing out to allow proper access

Quote from: sveach on October 25, 2010, 02:11:22 PM
If you rotate it so it's accessed from the left side (clutch side), does the lip of the gas tank get in the way of turning the petcock on/off? If it doesn't - I'm going to rotate mine! It's a pain in the ass doing it by yourself.

I found this out last summer and thought of doing the same thing. But like you say, the frame gets in the way. I have a nice long screwdriver that does the job 

Yeah, I'm pretty certain my 98 is stock and it's accessed from the right.  It is pretty stupid, especially because the drain tube is right in front of it.

The diagram is just backwards... Lead a lot of people to confusion on the hose routing before too (look up some old hose routing topics..it's been discussed..).

I can deal with the need to use a long screwdriver to turn the fuel on and off--- I just think they could have put the cap drain nipple/tube in a different location (Brendan just finished his post as I was posting mine..)....it's in the damn way ( on the Gs500e's anyway...haven't looked under an F  tank yet..).

I just wish there was a good source for real 7mm fuel line...the thinner factory stuff not the damn super thick crap you get here....The VW /German guys use 7mm stuff...Anyone used the "German stuff"?

I'll add 7mm fuel line to my shopping list when I go to Berlin in December.

Quote from: Firstoni on October 25, 2010, 02:13:01 PM
I bought mine brand new as well and mine is on the left (clutch) side and facing out to allow proper access

Are you talking about the one on the bottom of the tank? Or the one mounted on the frame on the left side with On, Prime, Reserve?

Also mine faces the right side as well.

Quote from: Jared on October 25, 2010, 03:36:47 PM


I can deal with the need to use a long screwdriver to turn the fuel on and off--- I just think they could have put the cap drain nipple/tube in a different location (Brendan just finished his post as I was posting mine..)....it's in the damn way ( on the Gs500e's anyway...haven't looked under an F  tank yet..).

I forgot to mention - I bent my long screwdriver to go around the drain nipple 

I don't think space is an issue.
The only thing I can think of is with it "backwards" you can get at it from the right side without lifting the tank. Pointing to the left, you'd have to lift the tank to get at it.

since someone mention the drain stem. did anyone else notice it's location right above the carb top?

it's location forces an immediate bent in the drain hose. it doesn't seem to kink the hose enough to block it but dam, couldn't they have designed that it better? 

You think thats bad design???........get underneath and see how the center-stand is fitted 

I noticed that mine seems half backwards.  The screw is operated from the right (throttle) side but the long and short nipples for regular and reserve are in the wrong spots.  I noticed this last time I had the hoses off and switched them so the they went to the correct inlet on the frame valve.  Now reserve is actually functional!