fuel pet cock repair kit or replace?

[CaigeZ]

I have a 1979 xs 1100 special and have not used it in years. I am going to clean out the tank and took off the pet cocks and the wheel with 4 holes needs replacing as do some of the other gaskets, etc. I am not sure about the filter. I am new to this but want to get this baby running again. Can I get new pet cocks and parts or is it best to get a repair kit or individually replace the parts I need to fix it? Yamaha does not carry the pet cocks any more, so the question includes what is the best source? Can anyone help me?

[oseaghdha]

Check here

[CatatonicBug]

Welcome to the forum! There are several places to find replacement seals and things for these bikes. Ebay is common, and you'll find a few lists in the "Links" section of the forum. Just about every consumable part on these bikes can still be found somewhere, so if you run into trouble, before spending a fortune at a Yamaha dealer, ask here, and you'll be directed to a much cheaper alternative.

There are a few folks on here who seem to have quite a selection of parts available for sale, so a scroll through the "Parts for Sale" section may be helpful as well.

We also like pictures! Lets see some "before" pictures of your bike before you get too far into the restoration! It'll be amazing to see the difference in the "after" pictures.

[dbeardslee]

I rebuilt the petcocks on my 79F, and it worked for a while and then they started leaking again. Part of the problem seems to be that the diaphram boss on the rebuild kits isn't the same size as the factory boss. IIRC it's 1mm shorter. I finally just s-canned them and replaced them with partsnmore manual petcocks. Haven't had a problem since. If you do opt to rebuild you may want to keep the old diaphram, and just replace the o-ring on the boss if the diaphram itself looks good. You'll probably have better luck rebuilding the petcocks on a special than on a standard, as it's a simpler setup.

[fredintoon]

I have a 1979 xs 1100 special - - I am going to clean out the tank and took off the pet cocks and the wheel with 4 holes needs replacing as do some of the other gaskets, etc. I am not sure about the filter. I am new to this but want to get this baby running again. Can I get new pet cocks and parts or is it best to get a repair kit or individually replace the parts I need to fix it? Yamaha does not carry the pet cocks any more, so the question includes what is the best source? Can anyone help me?

Hi Caige and welcome,
the Georgefix seal kit should work for you.
Polish the lever face where it slides over the 4-hole seal using 1,000 grit wet or dry paper and oil so the face shines like an outhouse door on a frosty morning.
If you are re-using the existing zig-zag spring rather than fitting a new one, very carefully re-arch it just a tad all round so it presses the lever onto the seal properly.
The big square diaphragm in the kit is for the octopus valve. I am among those who say the octopus is a needless complication and should be thrown away.
With the octopus gone there is room to fit in-line fuel filters if the fuel tap filters are in poor shape.
Don't forget to cap off the now unnecessary "prime" gas tap spigots.
And if your grandpa could remember to switch his gas off when he parked his bike, so can you.

[Incubus]

"shines like an outhouse door on a frosty morning."

I have got to visit Saskatoon, if only to see the outhouses on a frosty morning. It must be quite a spectacle..... glimmering, like stars in the night sky...

Patrick

[DenyP]

Welcome! I have had good luck rebuilding my pet cocks with Georgefx repair kits, and using the tips mentioned in previous tips. I recomend rebuilding them one at a time. I mixed the selector when I did my 850 and reserve no longer functioned. Of course I found this out 5 miles from a gas station!!

Deny

[CaigeZ]

Thanks

Thanks for the recommendations. I have ordered the georgefx from ebay and hopefully it will do the job. It looks like it comes with two, if not I will have to order another. Thanks to all.

[Unclefacts]

Has anyone replaced them with Pingel petcocks? Anyone know if they fit?

[CaigeZ]

Georgefix seal kit problem

Well guys, I got the georgefix seal kit and one concern I have is the wheel with the 4 holes does not have that little nub that fits into the lever so it turns when you turn the lever. Also that rubber wheel (valve) is thicker than the one I will be replacing. Can anyone tell me how to deal with this?

[oseaghdha]

Well guys, I got the georgefix seal kit and one concern I have is the wheel with the 4 holes does not have that little nub that fits into the lever so it turns when you turn the lever. Also that rubber wheel (valve) is thicker than the one I will be replacing. Can anyone tell me how to deal with this?

Are you saying it lacks something which is preventing the lever from turning it, or that the lever is turning it because it lacks something?

It should lock onto the boss inside the cavity. The lever should not turn it. The "wheel" must not move.

If it's too thick to assemble and operate, I'd send it back but, I'm not sure that's the case. It may be snug, so put some grease on the oring and wave washer.

[dbeardslee]

CaigeZ - Can you post some pics?