update to petcock saga

[PAULYBOY]

A few weeks back, I realized my petcock was broken. Apparently, it dumped a real load of gas into my oil. I ordered a rebuild kit online, basing it all on the fact that according to all my numbers and my title, I own an 82 GS850. I get the kit, and can only use about half of it, and there was nothing else in the kit to finish rebuilding the old petcock. As in, it's not the one for the petcock oin my bike. Reinstall it in the tank, while I'm in the midst of repainting all my stuff in the Tim Burton meets dia de los muertos motif.ut some fuel in the tank while it's off the bike. Leaks, even with no vacuum being hooked up. My understanding is that the only way fuel should come out is either when its ion reserve, or with a vacuum pulling the diaphragm open during startup. Naaah- it leaks as bad as when I took it off the bike. 24 bucks shot. OK order a new one from someone on ebay, for a 1982 GS850. 47 bucks with shipping. Came in the mail late last week. New, pretty, shiny. Uhoh, the inlets for the hoses are facing the back of the bike, 180 degrees opposite of the old one. Then, when I try to install it, I find that the screen is bigger around then the old one, and they won't interchange. Get the grinder out, make it fit, use a bunch of new cool fuel hose and clear vacuum l.ine so this time I can see if fuel is going anywhere or anytime it shouldn't. Now that the bike is painted and back together, I plan on starting it up tomorrow and sede if it works.
As with my experience in the car biz for 20 years, one wonders why the small things that work just fine, and should be kind of universal, don't just get left alone in their continued production. I'm sure tha Suzuki could have made one petcock that would feed enough fuel to most of their lineup to make it a pretty universal part for a num,ber of years. [-o<

[TheCafeKid]

Pauly, I think your bike is actually a PRE 82 850G. The 82 and up have a more square tank with "knee inserts" on the sides. Your side covers also say that its a pre 82, as they changed as well. And one last clue would be the Zook "star" pattern wheels on the bike. The 82 and up used the design like the ones i picked up from you. Obviously, the petcock changed as well. I would send that one back if you can, and get the correct petcock.

[Nessism]

I think Cafe hit it on the head; your bike looks to be an '80 or '81. The petcock changed, among other things, for '82 - has a small lever compared to the early petcock that has a large lever and is quite different on the inside.
I agree that it's kind of strange how many different petcocks Suzuki used during a short period of time. At least the 850 never used that dorky 1980 petcock with a slot instead of a lever.

[PAULYBOY]

I'm starting to think you guys are right. Although the sticker for emissions, etc., on the frams say it's certified in accordance with 1982 specs. Which number on the vin tells me the year again?

[Dogma]

At least the 850 never used that dorky 1980 petcock with a slot instead of a lever.

Mine has it. They must have thought people would be confused by a lever they needed only once a year. Maybe they had too many warranty claims where people had just left the lever on prime.

[Nessism]

Mine has it. They must have thought people would be confused by a lever they needed only once a year. Maybe they had too many warranty claims where people had just left the lever on prime.

Slot petcock on an 850?? Guess the parts book is wrong.

[PAULYBOY]

ness &amp; josh were right

my bike is a 1980, no matter what the title sez. I checked w/ a local zook dealer today, and sure enough, it's a 1980. Ran it today on prime with the vacuum and the fuel hoses attached and unkinked. Ran great, as a matter of fact, after the carbs, intake orings, bench synch and seafoam, this thing runs smooth, quiet, strong. Until.... I put the petcock in the up and down position, which is where its supposed to be right? As soon as the float bowls emptied-dead on arrival. I also noticed a lot of smoke, but I'm thinking it could be from the leftover gunk in the compression chambers from the gas mixing with the oil, then the seafoam treatment, then all the time I tried to ride it while it was "sick". After about 20 minutes around the block near home, the smoke seemed to clear up. As I've said before, some of youze guys are BRILLIANT! Have a beer on me, I've given up my usual 2 or 3 a year in solidarity with my stepdaughter, who has been sober now for 6 months.