Has anybody done this before?

[Guest]

I am thinking of gutting my petcock, blocking the vacuum tubes and installing a solenoid valve which turns on with the key switch.
I have a friend who works in the petro business and can hook me up with a valve.
I know I could get an adapter plate but the freight from the States is a killer.(eg. Those little rubber bushes that are between the headlight mounting bracket and the forks are about $2.50 each and fecking $79 for frieght!)
Anyway it should work shouldnt it?
Cheers

[hampshirehog]

Sounds like a very neat idea - I can't envisage any problems with it and you'll have to put a photo on here to show how you've done it. (Not a lot of room down there).

And have you ever considered moving to the moon in search of cheaper postage? $79 - and I thought the UK was bad!

[lurch12_2000]

I notice people like to change out the vacuum style petcocks and wondered why, other than if it's just not working?

[Steve]

You might also look at your local Kawasaki dealer (if you have one). The KZ1300, or in your case, z1300 from 1979-1988 used an electric solenoid for fuel control. It also had a petcock for OFF, RUN and RESERVE, but nobody ever moved them and just relied on the electric valve. In fact, unless I had to remove the fuel tank from the bike for service, my petcock lived in the RESERVE position and I watched the fuel gauge for refill clues.


.

[nastyjones]

I have never understood why someone hasn't come up with a cheap alternative to the stock vacuum petcock.

[duaneage]

They have, it's called a manual valve but if you forget and leave it on the carbs leak when the bike leans on the sidestand.

[1980GS1000E]

I would personally just stay with the vacuum petcock. Replace it if it doesn't work.

[Nicholaschase29]

Seems plausible to me, go for it!

[kruppy761]

Has anyone found a manual petcock that will fit?

[gsgeezer]

I refer that kind of work to my friend George Jetson.

[rphillips]

I have both a KZ1300 & 3 Zukes, In the past 25 years, I've rebuilt 2 zuke petcocks, that have worked perfectly ever since. Not bad for 25 yrs. The Kawasaki valve is defective now. Not enough pressure from tank to push fuel thru valve, when tank gets near empty. I only get about 10 mi. on reserve, but still have appx. 1 gal. of gas in it. The KZ1300 web sites advises to remove the electric fuel valve, because they, like the Suzuki, cause problems. For my use vacuum is best, electric is next, & the antique, manual petco. I like vacuum best, elect 2nd, & the antique manual would be last. Probably cause my memory isn't what it was 30 yrs ago. Just my opinion.

[tomcat24551]

I have both a KZ1300 & 3 Zukes, In the past 25 years, I've rebuilt 2 zuke petcocks, that have worked perfectly ever since. Not bad for 25 yrs...

Please advise which model Suzuki petcocks you rebuilt. And also, do you remember whether you used OEM parts or aftermarket kits?

Thanks,

Tomcat

[tone]

hmm seems a little overcomplicated changing to a valve the stock taps have been working well for years & still are in most cases + theres potential for yet another suzuki electrical related problem to rear its ugly head :?

ps 27 years to date of suzuki riding & only ever changed one fuel tap & that was on a 4 year old bandit 12 :shock: which i hope explains the above opinion :-D

[HiSPL]

I have modified the original petcock to be a manual one. A little jbweld in the "prime" hole of the barrel and seal everything else up. It works a treat. Now moving it to prime is the off position and run and reserve still function like normal.

I don't see why you couldn't build a solenoid valve. The petcock was easy to gut and seal up.

[rphillips]

I forgot, I rebuilt a petcock on a 1985 GS 550 "ES", with a cheap rebuild kit from ebay. I replaced the petcock on my 1986 GS 1150 "ES".