GS1000 Petcock Neoprene Washers

[sedelen]

Well, I screwed up.
I accidentally broke one of my four petcock neoprene washers. These are the ones that go underneath the two screws that secure the petcock to the tank.
I have two petcocks, but all four were in bad shape. I'm putting a newly repainted tank on, I think I'll be able to get by with the best 2 of the 3 remaining, but still I'd need to get some new ones.
Does anyone know off hand where you can find these? I'd hate to have
this be a show stopper as I'm reassembling the bike.
Thanks in advance.

[7981GS]

I bought a bunch of them from Z1enterprises.
I think they were only about $2-3.00 each.

Daniel

[Nessism]

Those washers are dowty seals. Available where OE Suzuki parts are sold.

[sedelen]

Thanks Guys!
I'll be sure to put them on my shopping list, "Dowdy Seals," never heard of them, I learn something new everyday. In the meantime, I'm going to try to use the two best ones I have in the next half hour. I'm going to lube them up lightly with some grease, not overtighten them, and pray I don't have any leaks.
Who knows, maybe I'll get lucky like Chuck Hahn who doesn't have any washers and no leaks.

[bwringer]

I've used black nylon 1/4" washers from the hardware store many times.

No leaks and I still have all my hair.

[JEEPRUSTY]

I use the thick plastic liner from a pop bottle cap.

If it hasnt leaked by now it never will.

[Nessism]

Geeze, here we go again...

Dowty seals are regular metal washers with a rubber seal on the ID that sits proud of the washer. With one of these installed on the screw you simply tighten the screw like normal, and the washer is captured with metal on metal contact. Using plastic/rubber washers can lead to leakage if you over tighten the screw, or often the plastic/rubber washer creeps with age and the clamp load in the screw will go down. Not good since a leak can follow.

Get the proper part if you want to do the job right.

[JEEPRUSTY]

Geeze, here we go again...

Dowty seals are regular metal washers with a rubber seal on the ID that sits proud of the washer. With one of these installed on the screw you simply tighten the screw like normal, and the washer is captured with metal on metal contact. Using plastic/rubber washers can lead to leakage if you over tighten the screw, or often the plastic/rubber washer creeps with age and the clamp load in the screw will go down. Not good since a leak can follow.

Get the proper part if you want to do the job right.

Well well we have been told. I shall go out and tell my Plastic seals to start leaking merely because they were not engineered for the purpose they so effectivley serve.

If you can get the correct parts lovely, but if you are in a bind you can easily make do and not be surprised.

[Nessism]

Well well we have been told. I shall go out and tell my Plastic seals to start leaking merely because they were not engineered for the purpose they so effectivley serve.

If you can get the correct parts lovely, but if you are in a bind you can easily make do and not be surprised.

Hey man, do what you want. No hair off my balls if your crotch catches fire due to a leaking petcock.

Seriously now, I hate to see threads with half assed fixes promoted going into the archives without at least someone presenting the proper fix. Again, do what you want but gasoline is nothing to mess with.

[chuck hahn]

Roasting biker balls on an open fire..hot flames lapping at your legs...

[BassCliff]

Hi,



I really appreciate Ed and others who stress the proper procedures and real OEM parts to maintain our classic bikes. You guys keep on doing it.




I also like to hear about other "proven" fixes, knowing the possible risks and weighing those against the time/money/availability factor. But I always feel better when I know I've done the job right. To each his own. We're all adults here....mostly.



(Thanks for giving me a chance to use my new icons.)


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[chuck hahn]

Hey Cliff..been a while ..how about an update on how you and Jessie are mending up? Hows all doing? New thread??

[sedelen]

I put the best two washers under the screws of my petcock and attached it to my newly painted tank, I applied a light coat of grease at all seals and mating parts to get a good seal, so far so good, no leaks, but the one washer I damaged by trying to remove it with a knife, I cut completely through it, there was no
metal in that rubberized corky dowty seal, or any of the other 3, I attached my spare petcock to my spare tank, put some gas in it and it did leak. Went to the local motorcycle shop and asked for some "dowty seals" and the parts guy looked at me like I was from Mars. I explained what it was I was looking for and pulled out a petcock screw for size. He opened his junk drawer and pulled out 2 teflon, nylon washers. I have those but haven't installed them yet.
I went to the parts fische and looked up the petcock, they clearly show those dowty washers but don't list a part number or even an item number.
I remember pulling a oil pressure switch housing from a salvage bike in case I wanted to remove my oil cooler which included a special oil pressure switch housing that had hose connectors. The two screws that attach the housing have those same size and type of washers, dowty seals I guess, and I looked those up in the parts fische,
They are listed as part number 09168-06023, replacing 09168-06009 and are called "washer, oil gallery exhaust."

[Nessism]

The two screws that attach the housing have those same size and type of washers, dowty seals I guess, and I looked those up in the parts fische,
They are listed as part number 09168-06023, replacing 09168-06009 and are called "washer, oil gallery exhaust."

Yup Steve, those are the same. I try to keep a few on hand as spares. Nice thing with dowty seals is they allow the bolt to reach a normal clamp load since it's basically just a metal washer. Compressible washers can squeeze out of place or creep with time, although people with a fine touch can often achieve reasonable results with them.

[sedelen]

Yup Steve, those are the same. I try to keep a few on hand as spares. Nice thing with dowty seals is they allow the bolt to reach a normal clamp load since it's basically just a metal washer. Compressible washers can squeeze out of place or creep with time, although people with a fine touch can often achieve reasonable results with them.

Glad to know we're on the same page! My next order from Boulevard Suzuki will be a half dozen or so of them little dowty washers.