Petcock- where's the knob?

[Guest]

Probably a really dumb question, but on my newly acquired '80 550L, I thought the knob was broken off, but when I found a new one to order, the pic looks just like mine... What gives??
http://www.newmotorcycleparts.com/fu...cocks_suz.html
2nd one down...

Thanks!

[Steve]

Sorry about your luck, you have the "dreaded '80 petcock".

There were problems with available space that year, so the petcock has no lever. It also has no REServe position, just RUN and PRIme, so watch your gauge or your trip meter.

Thankfully, that petcock was only out for one year, and not all bikes in that year were "blessed" with it. Not sure if one from another year would fit or not. You will have to check clearance to the carb or airbox, whichever is under the petcock, as well as the bolt spacing where it mounts to the tank.

.

[Crankthat]

If your bolt spacing is 44 mm , this Florida guy has them- I'm using one on my 650; note fitting direction

http://www.georgefixs.com/servlet/th...S750%2C/Detail

Found this on another thread.

[mrbill5491]

the spacing is tight and the bolt holes are 50mm. pretty wide compared to everything else of course...

[nejeff]

Sorry about your luck, you have the "dreaded '80 petcock".

There were problems with available space that year, so the petcock has no lever. It also has no REServe position, just RUN and PRIme, so watch your gauge or your trip meter.

Thankfully, that petcock was only out for one year, and not all bikes in that year were "blessed" with it. Not sure if one from another year would fit or not. You will have to check clearance to the carb or airbox, whichever is under the petcock, as well as the bolt spacing where it mounts to the tank.

.

I'd rather have his problem than mine. I have the 80' 550E and you can't find an aftermarket one (at least I can't) and the factory Suzuki is $80 bucks

[Dogma]

Odds are the 32 year old petcock wasn't holding good vacuum anyway. I have the same thing on my 850GL. The plastic part of the valve deteriorates so it won't hold vacuum, and there's no rebuilding it.

The new one will be reliable if you can stand to be without reserve. I never missed it, but it's my first bike and the fuel gauge works. So I never developed anything like the habit of relying on having a reserve to bail me out when I don't pay attention to the fuel.

The other odd thing about that petcock is using prime. You need a screwdriver to do it, and you need to turn the engine over a couple times to pull a vacuum on the petcock. In the prime position, the valve stays open. In the run position, it doesn't hold the vacuum long, giving a spurt of fuel to the bowls with every vacuum pulse. In the old, worn-out condition, you never get good vacuum at all, starving the carbs.

Use a screwdriver to prime it in the spring, then just ride it every week or two. Or you can monkey around with an adapter plate and a manual fuel shut-off Pingel.

[Rover]

Nejeff: __
I'd rather have your problem,the GS1000 factory petcock is about $250._____

[MatBirch]

Thanks guys!
I'd have never guessed. I'll get new one coming.

[sedelen]

Nejeff: __
I'd rather have your problem,the GS1000 factory petcock is about $250._____

Actually it's more! Retail is $356.32, Boulevards Suzuki's Price, $277.98!
What a bargain!

http://www.boulevardsuzuki.com/fiche_section_detail.asp?section=95436&category=Motorcycles&make=SUZUKI&year=1978&fveh=2146

[gsgeezer]

pingel, pingel....

[nejeff]

Actually it's more! Retail is $356.32, Boulevards Suzuki's Price, $277.98!
What a bargain!
http://www.boulevardsuzuki.com/fiche...1978&fveh=2146

Ok, but that type takes a rebuild better doesn't it? That looks like the same one I had on a XS1100 and i rebuilt them and they worked like new. But damn, that is expensive!