Petcock Spring ?!?

[Guest]

Hi guys,

I just bought a Suzuki 400L 1979 for a restoration project.

My petcock was not working correctly(always open) in any position so I was having some fuel in the crankcase (carb rebuild is my next step).

After a dissasembly of the petcock I figure out that the diaphragm spring was missing. And obviously, by the look of the philips screws I knew that I was not the first one to open this petcock. Unfortunately, the rebuild kit that I found do not include this spring.


Where can I buy this spring ?


Thank you

[Vinny]

Or maybe someone could tell me the dimensions of the spring and I could find a similar one on Mcmaster...

p.s.
Since I started to work on my bike, I used a lot of good informations and tutorials from this forum. Thanks to everyone for this great Community.

[GSXR7ED]

Welcome,

My suggestion is to buy a new fuel petcock. Z1 Enterprises has em' and they cost about $50. Buy genuine Suzuki parts so she runs great!




Ed

[Vinny]

Thank you GSXR7ED,

Is it this petcock that you recommend for my bike ???

Petcock (vacuum) Suzuki
KL18-4359

http://www.z1enterprises.com/ItemDetails.aspx?itemDescription=Petcock+%28vacuum%29+Suzuki&item=KL18-4358

[GSXR7ED]

Z1e

Thank you GSXR7ED,

Is it this petcock that you recommend for my bike ???

Petcock (vacuum) Suzuki
KL18-4359

http://www.z1enterprises.com/ItemDet...item=KL18-4358

I didn't see your GS400 listed on there as bikes this would fit. If you did the research and that's what you got, send them an email or call them to be sure.


Good luck.


Ed

[SqDancerLynn1]

Cut the nib off of the lever, and file the notch in the cover. Then you should have enough clearance so you can turn it to the up position That will be an Off

[Gorminrider]

I've swapped petcocks across three 400's with no issue with the hole-spacing, so I'd stick my neck out as a good guess that a petcock for the American 450T will fit your "L" fine.(...though to look at them they might not be a happy fit for a 400 E where the tap is close to the frame and sidecovers)

the spring is just strong enough to push the diaphragm plug back in versus the bike (or you!) sucking on the vacuum to open it. It's not awful thick or strong and you should be able to find something similar around. Quickly, I'll attach a bad picture,but it gives a clue.



..actually, between the two settingsRUN-RES might work as total shut-off?

the funky diaphragm is cut from a Taymor rubber-raft repair kit! and still works fine but I'm a sick/thrifty person.

[Vinny]

Thanks for the brainstorm

First I will try my luck with a similar spring and use a drilled water bucket as a benchmark. I really want a reliable petcock so if it's not perfectly waterproof I will look forward on the replacement option.

SqDancerLynn1 your proposed modification is very clever, it could be a cool upgraded feature to my petcock.

Thanks for your help !!!
I will give you feedback when the problem will be solved

[hugo151]

hello, i have got exactly the same problem as you, finding the spring missing when i opened up the fuel tap, to be honest i didn't even know there was supposed to be one till i opened my spare tap & the spring popped out.my bike is a gsx250- 8 valve, is yours the 8 valve 400 ? my local suzuki supplier seam to have all the internal carb stuff for my bike & i'm going on monday to see if they have a spring & the rubber "O" rings that go on the petrol prime screw which have perished, by the way ,my spring is 20mm long X 10mm dia & the guage is roughly 0.5mm. i'll measure the guage properly when i get access to a vernier on monday.

[hugo151]

hello, i have got exactly the same problem as you, finding the spring missing when i opened up the fuel tap, to be honest i didn't even know there was supposed to be one till i opened my spare tap & the spring popped out.my bike is a gsx250- 8 valve, is yours the 8 valve 400 ? my local suzuki supplier seam to have all the internal carb stuff for my bike & i'm going on monday to see if they have a spring & the rubber "O" rings that go on the petrol prime screw which have perished, by the way ,my spring is 20mm long X 10mm dia & the guage is roughly 0.5mm. i'll measure the guage properly when i get access to a vernier on monday.

yes the guage is 0.5mm. the suzuki shop said the spring & little "O" rings are not listed. i found a spring which looked similar but felt alot stronger. this was 0.7mm guage, i'm going to look for one at an old bike breakers i know, & then to a fuel injection place to see if i can get the O rings.

[Vinny]

Thanks Hugo.

I will start my tests with your dimensions. A friend of mine will provide me with some differents industrials springs

[hugo151]

hello vinny, my fuel tap was also dribbling out in the off position, i'm pretty sure its because the little rubber seal on the end of the prime screw is not seating properly, i've ordered some viton o rings to fit it . its 2mm i/s x 4mm o/s x 1mm cross section, i've also ordered a rebuild kit, i'm confident it'll work. ps i found a spring the right guage but a bit longer but a bit smaller dia, & adjusted it to fit.

[hugo151]

i have found the springs that hold the carbon brushes on a 9" grinder are possible