1980 GS450 - bad petcock...bad.

[Anonymous]

Just looking for those with familiarity of 80 GS450's I've done some snooping through the posts looking for information on petcocks. I know mine is shot, its not hard to notice the leak... I've been looking to replace it however, it is exceptionally hard to find one specifically for a 1980 GS450L. Reading some of the previous post I have this hunch that there aren't even any available rebuild kits for 80 petcocks, and finding an original is ridiculous. My question to you GS Gurus, is a rebuild kit for a 1981 GS450 so fundamentally different from a 1980 that I would be a fool to spend my money? Would a new or replacement petcock off an 81 also be a waste... and finally.. if all of the above are next to impossible, could someone guide me on this prospect of selecting a more expensive but acceptable pingel valve option? The bike despite this leak- in whatever position run/off/res and it really is a drip drop drip rate, is fabulous, however i can't deny that continuous leak of flamable fluid...

Thanks

[chuckycheese]

Awful

Yeah, most of the OEM petcocks are troublesome. The repair parts for your bike are still available (so is the whole thing) from Suzuki as far as I know. I think the same one was used in 1981 but I'm not sure about that. I think you could buy a Pingel for only about $20 more than the OEM petcock and I'm sure you'd be pleased with it.

I put a Pingel on my bike and I'm pretty sure the '80 GS750's are the tightest fit of any of them. If you do a search of my posts you'll find all the part numbers and instructions. It's really fairly simple; (otherwise, I probably would have screwed it up). :roll:

[bgmart450]

From Bikebandit the petcocks are quite different from 80-81. I would't get an 81 rebuild kit. Not sure if the whole unit would interchange, a wrecking yard might be of some help there.

[chuckycheese]

Same

I beg to differ, Brent....at Bike Bandit, the petcocks are EXACTLY the same part number and price for both the 1980 and 1981 model.... :roll:

They're different for most models but not for that one!

[bgmart450]

mmmmmm lemme check
1980 (my year) they only list the L but the one shown is the one I have.
1: COCK ASSY FUEL 499350-001

1981: TX
1-1: COCK ASSY FUEL 499353-001

1981 LX
1: COCK ASSY FUEL499350-001

(My bad, there is one that matches, but note also one that doesn't)

If the kit is for the LX then it'll work. But not every rebuild kit for 1981's will be identical.

[chuckycheese]

Yeah

Yeah...the part numbers are really confusing. :roll: :roll:

[Anonymous]

Which would be the most successfull? If the OEM parts have a bad rep, would upgrading to a pingel valve probably be in my best interest... I did last summer attempt to order that part from bikebandit, the schematic matched what i have on the bike now but... after almost 3 weeks on backorder or waiting for confirmation of a part I gave up.