stiff fuel tap

[indyjoel]

Hi

my fuel tap is SUPER tight and hard to move around.

Is there a fix apart from tearing down the petcock to adjust it?

[hampshirehog]

Sometimes they loosen up with use - just turn it around a few times every day and see if it gets any better. Otherwise you need to take it apart - easy job (but still a pain draining the fuel).

[sharpy]

new kits are about 50 bucks, new tap about 110. just some fiddling withe the front 2 screws if it has them. Take tank off and if its half full or less stand it up against a wall and remove the 2 phillips screws and a plate, wave washer, tap and a rubber part will fall out. Clean every thing and replace with some rubber grease and tighten. But fuel will leak thru anything so if the rubber is hard or broken it will leak. We had a 850 tap with a brand new genuine kit put thru it and still leaked. Got a new one problem solved> thats why i know the prices.

[Nessism]

The later fuel taps have a tapered barrel plastic piece that swells after sitting in gas for a long time and gauls to the aluminum petcock body. If you remove the plastic barrel and carefuly sand it with super fine sand paper it will turn more easily.

[argonsagas]

You could try a very simple solution first: use spray silicone on it.

Let the spray sit and evaporate for ten minutes, while the under part penetrates. Then turn the handle. If there is any movement, spray once more, again wait a few minutes for penetration, and it may come clear.

After that occasional sprays with graphite or molybdenum will add lubrication and may forestall disassembly.

[Nessism]

You could try a very simple solution first: use spray silicone on it.

Let the spray sit and evaporate for ten minutes, while the under part penetrates. Then turn the handle. If there is any movement, spray once more, again wait a few minutes for penetration, and it may come clear.

After that occasional sprays with graphite or molybdenum will add lubrication and may forestall disassembly.

The only thing this will do is lubricate the O-ring around the lever, which is not why the lever is difficult to turn. Won't hurt though so worth a try.

[posplayr]

The later fuel taps have a tapered barrel plastic piece that swells after sitting in gas for a long time and gauls to the aluminum petcock body. If you remove the plastic barrel and carefuly sand it with super fine sand paper it will turn more easily.

Good idea, they all seem to be super tight

[Steve]

The later fuel taps have a tapered barrel plastic piece ... If you remove the plastic barrel and carefuly sand it with super fine sand paper it will turn more easily.

And the earlier ones have metal barrels that corrode. Same remedy, though, just polish with fine sandpaper or a Scotch-Brite pad. I have also used a small wire wheel in my Dremel rotary tool to polish the inside of the petcock body.

This results in a petcock so easy to turn, it almost makes you wonder if it's going to seal properly.

.

[salty_monk]

The new one I just bought from Z1 turns so easily I thought it was broken... (but it works fine..!)

Dan