Homemade petcock diaphragm

[loungeguy69]

Had a leaking petcock diaphragm which was causing fuel to get sucked down the vacuum tube into carb #2. Consequently the engine ran on only three cylinders while #2 drowned.

Since I'm an impatient kind of guy I made a replacement diaphragm using a square from a nitrile mechanic's glove using an Xacto and hole punches. I used an HPV gasket dressing to keep everything in place for reassembly and the subsequent blow-suck test shows it works like a champ. Doesn't leak either.

Question: How long do you think this will last? Should a proper kit be ordered now or should we see what happens?

[mixongw]

You get an A+ for creativity! If the Nitrile is compatible with gas, I'd say your good to go.

BTW I used to live off Bee Ridge Road!

[loungeguy69]

You get an A+ for creativity! If the Nitrile is compatible with gas, I'd say your good to go.

BTW I used to live off Bee Ridge Road!

Haha! What's up my friend! Sarasota's still crazy. Too many 'q-tips' and vacationers looking at palm trees while driving.

The nitrile gloves in question are super-resilient to gas. Had a pair lying around for weeks with fuel on them without showing degradation. I've made quite a few gaskets by hand so why not try it..?

[psyguy]

i'd leave it like that for as long as it works
beware of "rebuild kits", they often dont do the job, so a replacement fuel tap is the way to go, if you need to

[loungeguy69]

i'd leave it like that for as long as it works
beware of "rebuild kits", they often dont do the job, so a replacement fuel tap is the way to go, if you need to

I'm a cheap bast**d and always look for ways of not giving money away. I lilke sticking it to 'The Man'. The petcock, in round terms, is in good shape so I don't want to spend $60 on a new one. I've polished the o-ring mating surfaces and everything else is as clean as can be. The o-rings have been replaced so the only variable is the daphragm.

I suppose we'll see what happens! Looks ok so far!

[lucabond]

Being a cheap sob myself with a bad petcock I was thinking if I could find an inline fuel shut off to place after the petcock I could just shut off the gas when not in use. Has anybody done this ? My diaphragm is good so no worry on the gas flowing into the cylinder, depending on the cost of a shutoff it might be a cheap way to go.

[Larry D]

Nice!!

Somebody save this one. I think it going to be very useful in the future.
You should get the invention of the month award!!

[Baatfam]

Being a cheap sob myself with a bad petcock I was thinking if I could find an inline fuel shut off to place after the petcock I could just shut off the gas when not in use. Has anybody done this ? My diaphragm is good so no worry on the gas flowing into the cylinder, depending on the cost of a shutoff it might be a cheap way to go.

When I got my 1100E it was set up this way...had a cheap shut off valve after the petcock...looked like it came off a lawn mower...

But...being a cheap bastard with everything except my toys....I bought a beautiful, smooth and easy to use Pingal petcock....around $100....love it....

Later,

[psyguy]

for all you self-proclaimed "cheepos", bear in mind that the fuel tap often leaks due to the weakend diaphragm SPRING, and this spring is not a part of any rebuild kit i've seen
so, if your fuel tap leaks on the ON or RES position the cheapest solution is to first try replace that spring - available from your hardware or engineers store for a few cents

[Zook]

Being a cheap sob myself with a bad petcock I was thinking if I could find an inline fuel shut off to place after the petcock I could just shut off the gas when not in use. Has anybody done this ? My diaphragm is good so no worry on the gas flowing into the cylinder, depending on the cost of a shutoff it might be a cheap way to go.

YEP!

Go to the local lawnmower shop and get the little black and red Briggs & Stratton fuel shutoff. Might cost all of $5, probably less. I have one on my Guzzi and had one on my Concours after the petcock crapped out and hydrolocked the engine.
Works well.

[PAULYBOY]

Being a cheap sob myself with a bad petcock I was thinking if I could find an inline fuel shut off to place after the petcock I could just shut off the gas when not in use. Has anybody done this ? My diaphragm is good so no worry on the gas flowing into the cylinder, depending on the cost of a shutoff it might be a cheap way to go.

Search online for a Briggs & Stratton repair shop/supply house. They have a fuel shutoff for most of their motors that will work inline. About 8 bucks. That was gonna be my next stop before I did what I did with my petcock.

[PAULYBOY]

Ooops. Sorry, didn't see the previous post before mine.

[doctorgonzo]

Nitrile gloves are the Sh*t. I repaired a slide diaphragm with one and it was still holding several months later when I finally swapped it for a better one.

[Ed Vrolijk]

Being a cheap sob myself with a bad petcock I was thinking if I could find an inline fuel shut off to place after the petcock I could just shut off the gas when not in use. Has anybody done this ? My diaphragm is good so no worry on the gas flowing into the cylinder, depending on the cost of a shutoff it might be a cheap way to go.

When i got my GS1000 the petcock didn't work properly. It only worked on prime, and 1 1/5 years later it stil is. The only bad thing is not having a reserve. Just don't forget to turn it to the on position when you stop, and make sure your floatlevels are correct.
Ed