Where is the petcock knob?

[Greenagain]

I'm confused. I'm in the process of resurrecting a 1980 GS1100E. The tank was Kreemed in it's past life, and is now rusting again so I picked up a 1980 GS750E parts bike with a rust-free tank. As you more experienced folk are aware the petcock's have different bolt patterns so they're not interchangeable. The 750's petcock has no twist-knob so I'm looking on alpha-sports parts fische and they have a drawing of it missing the knob too.

http://alpha-sports.com/spst/1980%20GS750E/24.htm

What am I not understanding here?

[Commodus]

I'm confused. I'm in the process of resurrecting a 1980 GS1100E. The tank was Kreemed in it's past life, and is now rusting again so I picked up a 1980 GS750E parts bike with a rust-free tank. As you more experienced folk are aware the petcock's have different bolt patterns so they're not interchangeable. The 750's petcock has no twist-knob so I'm looking on alpha-sports parts fische and they have a drawing of it missing the knob too.

http://alpha-sports.com/spst/1980%20GS750E/24.htm

What am I not understanding here?

Some just have a little screw.

[psyguy]

might be useful for you to read this

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=119931

[Greenagain]

Thanks guys. I did do a search for 'petcock' first, and got 500 threads. I read through about 80, but that title didn't catch my eye.

I feel about $ 60 better so far, as long as the rubber bits are still good in it.

I did read many posts about not bothering to rebuild them, and only replace them though.:-D

[emjay]

I think the petcock knob is on the petcock. :-D

[Planecrazy]

All the '80 bikes (with the possible exception of the "little" bikes) had leverless petcocks. My '80 GS550L still has the original petcock on it and it still works just fine (he says while crossing fingers and knocking on fake wood!).

Regards,

[Steve]

All the '80 bikes (with the possible exception of the "little" bikes) had leverless petcocks.

Where do you draw the line on "little" bikes? My son's '82 650L and my wife's '82 850L both have levers on the petcocks. :shock:


.

[Planecrazy]

Where do you draw the line on "little" bikes? My son's '82 650L and my wife's '82 850L both have levers on the petcocks. :shock:


.

Are they aftermarket or original units? I'm pretty sure the 650's had leverless petcocks as well, though not 100% positive. My 550 is smaller than your bikes, but has the leverless petcock, for example...

Regards,

[psyguy]

All the '80 bikes (with the possible exception of the "little" bikes) had leverless petcocks.

what bikes are you referring to?!
many i've seen from the era have levers (including my current 850)

[Planecrazy]

Your 1980 850 originally came with a leverless petcock, as did most every model that year. They went back to the levered ones in '81, so to answer your question I'm referring to most every 1980 Suzuki GS motorcycle with an OEM petcock. I suppose the non-US bikes may have had different petcocks, but in all probability yours most likely has been replaced at some point in its life with an aftermarket levered piece. If you look up the Suzuki replacement part for most 1980 bikes you'll find that it specifies the leverless units.

Regards,

[emjay]

... If you look up the Suzuki replacement part for most 1980 bikes you'll find that it specifies the leverless units ...

You can check it out on the parts list at the Alpha Sports online micro fiche.

[Planecrazy]

Thanks, Emjay! I meant to look that up and post it but you beat me to it!!

Regards,

[psyguy]

Thanks, Emjay! I meant to look that up and post it but you beat me to it!!

Regards,

huh, i'm getting more confused now ?:?
so, is this a leverless petcock?

http://www.alpha-sports.com/suzuki_parts.htm

[BassCliff]

That part to the right of #2 looks like a little lever set to the "RES"erve position. That's what my bike's "fuel cock" looks like.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[Planecrazy]

huh, i'm getting more confused now ?:?
so, is this a leverless petcock?
http://www.alpha-sports.com/suzuki_parts.htm

I can understand where there might be some confusion. In years past when I looked up these parts I'd find true "leverless" replacements, but I see that on several sites now they reference a "levered" petcock, even though the true OEM pieces had no lever. I've owned both a 550L (which I still own) and a 1000G, and have seen numerous other 1980 bikes with original petcocks - all had "leverless" units. In the diagram below if you look at part #13 you will see what's on my 550L ... a "leverless" petcock. Note how there's a small rounded "nub" at the bottom of that piece ... that's where the plastic slot is that allows you to manually switch the petcock from run to prime (there is no reserve).

Hope this helps clear things up.

Regards,