new petcock/ leaking screw?????

[kparkfan]

Just installed my new petcock and one of the screws is leaking from the threads. What can i do to stop this. Is there supposed to be washers on the screws? There wasnt any on the old petcock just a crap load of sillicone.

[Nessism]

There are supposed to be special sealing washers under the screws.

[kparkfan]

great so now i need to order those , or can i find that type at the local hardware store.

[jwhelan65]

I am having the same problem, what did you do?

[salty_monk]

You could probably use a thread sealing compound &/or a copper washer under the head of the screw,

Dan

[jwhelan65]

You could probably use a thread sealing compound &/or a copper washer under the head of the screw,

Dan

I think I'll try both

[chef1366]

Use o-rings. RTV will break down from gas.

[salty_monk]

I was talking about thread sealer not RTV... but not sure if that will break down too.

I suppose a rubber O ring under the head of the screw would work fine too - good idea.

Dan

[81ZUKI75]

"Fiber Washers"

I picked up a handful of fiber washers at the local hardware store and cured the same problem on one of mine.... naturally it only took two.

[Nessism]

Get the proper sealing washers. They are called Dowty seals. Check this link to see what they look like. http://www.anplumbing.com/shop/index.php?shop=Washers

[jwhelan65]

Just ordered two new bolts and washers from Suzuki...

[hikermikem]

When i order these "oil gallery" washers, I usually get a bunch of them. They're used in a other places on these bikes, like in the head for example.

[gssuzukixxx]

The exploded view in the Bike Bandit site does show a gasket washer that goes under each screw but I think they are only to seal against any gas the might seap past the "O" ring that fits into the petcock base. The screw holes in the tank are sealed from the gas.

I had the same leaking past he screws so here is what I did and it has worked because I have no further leaking. I took a piece of fuel rated clear plastic tubing a little longer than the length of the petcock. I slit it and spread it out flat. Then I carefully cut a hole for the petcock screens and for the 2 screw holes. Careful workmanship is important here (I used a paper punch for the screw holes). Then I sandwitched the new "gasket" between the tank and the petcock and tighten down the screws. No more leak and cost $0.

Brian

[hikermikem]

The exploded view in the Bike Bandit site does show a gasket washer that goes under each screw but I think they are only to seal against any gas the might seap past the "O" ring that fits into the petcock base. The screw holes in the tank are sealed from the gas.Brian

The O-ring doesn't prevent gas from leaking thru the mounting holes/screws - it's located inside of that area. It prevents gas from leaking out from around the large hole the petcock fits into,

The 2 mounting screws are threaded into through-holes, thus some sort of seal in needed to keep the gas from seeping down the threads & onto your hot engine .

The proper washers have a rubber seal captured in the ID & work quite well, but any method to seal those threads will work as long as it's gas-proof.

[gssuzukixxx]

Hiker,

You are right, and I stand corrected. Both my '77 GS750 and '79 GS850 have a different "O" ring design so my home-made gasket would not work on an '80 GS1100.

Better go with the right Suzuki parts.

Brian