stupid ques.

[SFSPECBIKER79]

i've had my 79 xs1100 sh bike a couple weeks, and looked at the manual posted on one of the pages, but i can't sipher it, so if the long part of the valve on petcock is pointed toward the ground it is in the (on position) right?

[tarzan]

My bike is a 80 special so it has different petcocks but it is straight down for run.Mine also has it written on the plate behind the lever.I'm not for sure but I do believe on is also straight down for yours.

[red bandit]

What he said. Straight down is on. Sh designates 81 special. 79 standard would be F.

[tarzan]

Oops ,overooked the SH part.I have a bad habit of glancing through posts and not reading thoroughly!So yea your petcocks are the same as mine.Have a great day.
Rick

[dbeardslee]

Rowdyboy - You should have some markings on the plate just under the petcock handle - Pri, On, and Res. When the handle covers the markings, that's the position it's in. On is the normal running position, flows from the top of the tower (inside the tank) and should shut off the gas flow when no vacuum is present. Pri (prime) flows gas all the time regardless of vacuum from the bottom of the tower, and reserve flows from the bottom of the tower when vacuum is present.

[Bamper]

(quoted by some old dead guy)
The only stupid question is the question unasked.

[SFSPECBIKER79]

thanks a bunch, i know on my kaw it is opposite ever which way the long tang is pointing is not what its doing, like it has an arrow pointing the other direction, if you follow me, any way thanks again, i get the picture now. just didnt want to get ready to ride and all my petro be in the crankcase.

[dbeardslee]

Rowdyboy - I had the same problem transitioning from my old Honda. Whooda thunk something so simple could be so, er, not.

[sebastiano]

sorry to revive this old thread but i have a quick question. i am happy to now know for sure that when the lever covers the words (on, pri, res) it is in that position. my question is this: i have a leaky hose in the back of one petcock. its from the hose on the bottom (which i believe is the reserve, right?). i switched the lever to on but wouldnt it just be better to run in reserve since im always keeping my tank full anyways. i just dont want to end up with sludge and rust and muck in the bottom of my tank bc i never use reserve. make sense? im guessing a hose clamp or zip tie would keep a tight fit on that hose, but since its fuel im dealing with id like to hear other advice.

geez i feel like im all over the place.

i just started riding and working on bikes and this is my first one. a '79xs11

im happy this resource is here! thanks for reading!

[dbeardslee]

Would you rather have the sludge and rust and muck in your carbs?

[fredintoon]

Which hose?

sorry to revive this old thread but i have a quick question. i am happy to now know for sure that when the lever covers the words (on, pri, res) it is in that position. my question is this: i have a leaky hose in the back of one petcock. its from the hose on the bottom (which i believe is the reserve, right?). i switched the lever to on but wouldnt it just be better to run in reserve since im always keeping my tank full anyways. i just dont want to end up with sludge and rust and muck in the bottom of my tank bc i never use reserve. make sense? im guessing a hose clamp or zip tie would keep a tight fit on that hose, but since its fuel im dealing with id like to hear other advice. geez i feel like im all over the place. I just started riding and working on bikes and this is my first one. a '79xs11
I'm happy this resource is here! thanks for reading!

Hi Sebastiano and welcome,
pretty please revise your profile to add a signature and the exact bike type you have?
OK you have a '79 but is it a Standard or a Special? The gas taps and gas hose connections are quite different between the two.
But in general, if it leaks gas you gotta fix it.
And habitually running switched to reserve has it's drawbacks.
Sooner or later you WILL run out of gas. If the taps are switched to ON you can switch to RES and hopefully that will get you to the next gas pump.
If you run out of gas on RES think about how heavy that bike is to push.

[cywelchjr]

Hi Sebastiano and welcome,
pretty please revise your profile to add a signature and the exact bike type you have?
OK you have a '79 but is it a Standard or a Special? The gas taps and gas hose connections are quite different between the two.
But in general, if it leaks gas you gotta fix it.
And habitually running switched to reserve has it's drawbacks.
Sooner or later you WILL run out of gas. If the taps are switched to ON you can switch to RES and hopefully that will get you to the next gas pump.
If you run out of gas on RES think about how heavy that bike is to push.

Been there done that. Found out that I had a range of 15 miles on reserve (silly me thinking it would go further) and ended up pushing it for a while (I was lucky it was rush hour because the highway helpers gave me some gas, they only work during the rush hours, providing emergency gas or a short tow to the first exit). I have NEVER run out again, and don't plan to.