Moment of truth - petcock screens

[Incubus]

Today is the day I see if my work will result in a living XS11. The lightning rods on installed on the turrets, wild thunderstorms are predicted and the electrodes have been hooked up to the assemblage of bodies parts on the lab table. With the right strike I'll pull the master switch and let the audacious power of nature flow into the inanimate corpse and find out if it lives.

Either that or I'll push the starter button and hope.

Last minute detail. The intank screens around my petcocks are disintegrated. For the purposes of this first time attempt, since I have in-line fual filters anyway, I figure I can live without ths screens for a little while. But since we in Texas know how much junk we put in gasoline before we ship it to the Yankees - and sometimes some of that chunky stuff ends up staying in Texas - I know I need some type of screen. The OEM screens are still available from Yamaha - at $20 a pop. Ouch.

Has anyone tried fabricating petcock screens? What did you use that both allows free flow of fuel and stands up to gasoline?

Thanks, y'all.

Patrick

[Ljay40]

patrick

Ive heard of guys using a piece of old window screening and
just cut out what you need allows for gas to flow freely and traps chunks and is cheap and easy to clean.

[Wildkat]

Wire mesh

Kind of what Ljay was saying...
The FJ didn't have a filter when I bought it and some fine wire mesh in there worked fine until I was able to get the filter replaced...

[xswilly]

you really should try to get some from ebay or a bone yard as the screens control the reserve on the petcock
without screens you won't have reserve

[81xsproject]

screw the screens. It is the plastic that controls the fuel level designated for reserve. I would cut the bad screens out, put them back in the tank to control reserve, and put in some nice inlines. But hay, just my opinion. Not trying to rally up all the inline filter folks against the bare nessesity folks

[planedick]

Fine screen...

Took apart a hydraulic filter and found 3 different mesh size screen inside and Stainless Steel too. After unwinding there was about 5 feet of the stuff only about 3" wide. Lifetime supply. The finest mesh was extremely fine and would work for the final filter even. McMaster.com has a suction filter like that with 200 mesh Stainless Steel screen for $16.26. You could have a lifetime supply also.... Cat. # 9807K71

[trbig]

Could you not use the fine little screens that are in a faucet? They are stainless steel and you can buy them for next to nothing at a hardware store... heck even Wally World has them.

Tod

[ccogswel]

You really need to keep them filters. Without them it would be just a few minutes you will have no fuel flow and you will be tearing the petcocks apart to clean them as well. I had done that electrolosis on a tank and while I had the filters out the gas had dried up and when I put it all back together they wouldn't flow. If your screen on your filters have no tears you can do what I did. I cleaned them using some finger nail polish remover and then I took a fine sewing needle and lightly scraped the screen to clean the gunk off. Then I took the small tip end of the needle and poked little holes in them. That way all the holes you make will not be big enough to let trash in. It worked for me. What have you got to lose. Good luck!

[John]

Screen Tower Alternative

Here's a thought..(ow, that hurt) If you can't find any screens, and you want to retain reserve, you can get what looks to be 1/4 inch steel brake tubing, cut to 2 3/4 inches, and inset it into the larger of the two ports in the petcock where the screen tower would be. That would be the height of the run side of the screen tower. When the fuel level got to the height of the steel tube you've just inserted, it would start to run out of gas, and you would then switch to reserve, as you normally would. You could even stuff some stainless steel wool into the tube to act as a filter. All of this is based on a Special petcock.
Succubus, I happen to have two screen towers from a Special petcock I can set you up with, if they are the same as those on a Standard. The petcocks are not the same for those bikes, so I don't know about the screen towers.

[Incubus]

Reserve is not going to be a problem. The plastic tube is still intact. The screening, however, is completely gone. No traces. There's really nothing to screen out any sediments from the tank from the petcocks. I have inline filters which will keep crud out of the carbs, but nothing to keep crud in the tank. I'd be happy to try the screens you have, John. If they didn't fit I could send them back. I just hate to ay $20 each for the screens from Yamaha. It seems outrageous to me.

For now, I can get it running and work the bugs out without the screens. I am going to need something in the long run, though. Something usable also may come up on Ebay. I haven't rebuilt the petcocks yet, but I figure that will come at some point.

The maiden voyage has been postponed until tomorrow as I wait for the clear coat on the gas tank to set up to my satisfaction. Anticipation always exceeds receipt anyway.

Patrick

[John]

Well, bummer

WildKat just checked Yamamamma's parts site and it looks like the screens will not swap over, but you're welcome to try if you want. PM me and we'll discuss it.

[80mdnt11]

Hummmmmmmmm, let's see..........Visit local paint store, pick up a couple of funnel strainers. Cut out piece/roll up and insert into plastic tube. Liked John's idea also. Just a thought?
Good Luck!.............Hope the maidin voyage (or as I call it..SHAKE DOWN CRUISE..) goes well.............Jim

[Incubus]

When all else fails, sometimes I allow myself to fall back on the crutch of knowledge. Measurements would probably let us learn quickly whether those Special screens would fit my F.

The petcock tubes measure four inches long from the gasket surface to the end. The base is .75 inches by .4 inches. An effective screen would be slightly bigger than that.

This might be the first time those dimensions have been posted on the board.

I called around today trying to find fine mesh brass screen, like we used years ago to strain fresh paint - no dice. I tried to find any type of screening, but the only thing I could come up with is window screen, which would be wholly unsatisfying. I have some medium and "00" steel wool, but I thought that might eventually disintegrate and cause more problems than it would solve.

I have some mesh strainers, I'll have to see how durable they appear to be.

Patrick

[80mdnt11]

Well, Here's One Anyway

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/YAMAH...QQcmdZViewItem

[81xsproject]

I have the tops off of my tank filters and have never had a problem with my petcocks.