Petcock handle hard to turn

[Odinist]

HA!! REMEDY!!

I bloody hate that program (I do IT for the FAA, it's the system we use). It's so f'n slow. What's worse is the Remedy database guys swear up and down it's not their problem.

Have you ever seen The Chronicles of George? It'll crack you up, seriously.

http://chroniclesofgeorge.nanc.com/

 

[spyug]

After reading this thread I decided to look at mine since it hasn't moved off the on position since I got it 3 seasons back. Well surprise, surprise, it didn't move. Frozen solid. So I sprayed it down with liquid wrench but so far nothing.

I think I need to put some vice grips on it but I'm afraid to as I'll likely "torque" it off. I just know that's what will happen with my luck.

I guess I'll leave it alone this season and look at it over winter storage.

Cheers,
Spyug

 

[twiggy2cents]

if it is the small style you can take the front off on the bike and then take a screwdriver and wiggle the white plastic piece back and forth slightly(not too much it can come out) and oil up the oring on the front piece and put it back together and it will be back to original hard to turn

 

[Nessism]

if it is the small style you can take the front off on the bike and then take a screwdriver and wiggle the white plastic piece back and forth slightly(not too much it can come out) and oil up the oring on the front piece and put it back together and it will be back to original hard to turn

Bought a new small handle petcock recently and it turned like butter; they are not supposed to be hard to turn.

 

[Guest]

It's probably an inherent issue with the vacuum actuated petcocks.....they typically see much less movement, compared to the mechanical items that are switched on/off whenever the bike is ridden and parked. On my bike too, the petcock does not move that freely....awkward switching to reserve, on the fly, with riding gloves on. I've never had it apart....just gas up before 280 kms, when it usually begins sputtering a bit, ready to hit reserve.
The petcock was like this, even when I bought the bike with only thirteen miles on it, so it's safe to assume the problem is age, not mileage related, since it sat for 20 years.

Tony.

 

[cyclefvr2]

mine is hard to turn as well, i hate it when they get like that, im sure a good cleaning would fix it, and a buffing wheel,with mothers polish but im lazy at the moment lol

 

[Guest]

Get a pingle!!!!!!

 

[twiggy2cents]

rephrase that to 20-30 years of age original

 

[Steve]

Chef, why bother with a Pingel when STOCK works so well?

 

[Larry D]

Some just leave the petcock on reserve all the time. I'm not so sure I agree with this. The petcock never moves and "freezes" in that position. I like to run my tank to the reserve, switch it, then fill up and turn it back to on.
It "uses" the mechanism the way it was intended and keeps it easy to turn.

 

[Barneycanoe]

Took mine completely apart, cleaned and lubed it all, re-twisted the small brass spring which I had mangled turning the petcock through 360 degrees (duh) and at least I can move it with my fingers now. 1982 GS850GL, by the way. I think Nessism is right, plastic piece is too tight in the metal barrel. I didn't sand mine, just cleaned and lubed and it's ok for now.