the main on the petcocks won't work??

[mrbsyammy]

I have a 79 xs 1100 special and for some reason the main tank will not work all the rest do it does not have diaphram on the petcocks the diaphram is seperate... I rebuilt them and they will not work??? boy I feel really dumb because there is nothing to them DAH!!! prime works reserve works but no fuel on main position??? I know there is something that is really simple here but I must of ate to many bowls of dumb ass this morning well last week.lol.lol HELP this senile old man out here guys I think he finally fried his last brain cell. THanks great site

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Mr. Bill,

Might be a dumb question, but are you using the large end of the handle to indicate what function you are selecting?? The large end covers the function you want. Also, do you still have the OCTOPUS? The Prime and Reserve flow thru one of the petcock outlets, the "ON" main flows from the other outlet. Are you testing them at the petcock, or at the octopus or carbs?

The MAIN won't flow to the carbs thru the octopus without the engine running applying vacuum to it to open the valve up! The Prime circuit bypasses the Octy's valves, and feeds directly to the carbs!

When you rebuilt your petcocks, did you do them one at a time, or both together, possibly mixing up parts from one to the other?
IIRC, the openings in the handles are differently located along with the lables, specific for left and right sides.

Did you verify that the outlets were clear, and not clogged? Rust, varnish, etc. can get down in there and clog it up?
T.C.

[mrbsyammy]

yes they are clean and yes I did them seperately and yes I know the bike has to be running and I do have the octopus on it but before I replaced the octopus it didn't work then either? I have the big part of the lever straight down and the little part is on top, so ???? Thanks

[TopCatGr58]

Have you tested the REPLACED Octy? Take the vacuum line and apply vacuum to it "any way you want" but with the engine off, and see if fuel flows out of it. IF it doesn't work, then you can try to take it apart and clean it, corrosion can build up around the metal piston and it gets stuck, or holes can form in the rubber vacuum diaphragm! To use the bike before you fix it, just turn to PRIME, and drive. Just remember to turn to OFF when parked!

This is one of many reasons why many of us just REMOVED The Octy, and turn the petcocks on and off !
T.C.

[red bandit]

Just because you didn't get parts mixed on petcocks doesn't mean someone else didn't. Take em apart and look em over to see if the passages in the "handle" line up with the right holes in the body. Just a thought.

[mrbsyammy]

YA SURE ITS EASY FOR YOU TO SAY.LOL.LOL I JUST FILLED MY GAS TANK I KINDA THINK YOU MIGHT BE CORRECT ON THIS NOTHING ELSE MAKES MUCH SENSE , SOMEONE MUST HAVE SWICHED THEM IN THE LAST 27 YEARS ...TOOO BAD I DON'T HAVE ONE THAT ISN'T MESSED UP SO I COULD SEE HOW IT IS SUPPOSE TO BE...WELL I GUESS I HAVE TO GO RIDE MY SCOOTER AND BURN THE GAS OFF DAMN I HATE DOING THAT