Help with removing petcocks?

[jayklink]

I've been trying to remove my petcocks from the gas tank without striping the bolts. I've been using a hand held impact wrench (the type you hit with a hammer), which has worked well with removing frozen bolts or nuts before. I guess these are too rusted. Any tips, hints or advice to help me out would be great.

[Ken Talbot]

Bigger hammer!



Seriously, it probably just needs a bit more of a slap to break things loose. Of course, that is assuming you have not inadvertently switched direction on the driver so it is trying to tighten the screws. BTDT. Also, I find it useful to eliminate the slack by pressing the driver in against the screw before striking it with the hammer.

[Chuck Olds]

In addition to taking Ken's advice on taking the slack out of the hammer driver, Jason, I use a high-wattage hairdryer to heat stubborn bolts and as they cool, I spray PB Blaster (penetrating solvent like Liquid Wrench only better!) on them. You may want to repeat this as necessary. The hairdryer won't damage the paint. Patience is required for the solvent to penetrate and loosen the rust. Then hammer away!

Good luck,
Chuck

[strom]

I had the same problem.

Drilled the bolt heads off, took off the petcocks and unscrewed the bolts with grip pliers... replaced the original bolts with allen ones...

LP

[skids]

Those phillips head bolts SUCK! Get them loose by using visegrips with good sharp edges on the jaws.

[jayklink]

Thanks for the tips
I got one petcock off using the PB Blaster and a hair dryer. Worked a good sweat up whaling away at it with the hammer. The other bolts were too striped, so I had to drill the heads off. Going to go get a good pair of vise grips tomorrow. Thanks for the help!!

[TopCatGr58]

Old Thread, new subject!

Hey folks,
Decided to use an older thread to post a newer subject query. I was given a spare 82XJ gas tank as part of my payment for help rendered to a fellow rider to get his XJ rode worthy, tranny fix, etc..

I am wondering if the petcocks from my 81SH will fit on it, or will I have to get new ones for it?? This will be a winter project, to also see about fitting this tank to my XS, someone wrote to me a long time ago that they had done this retro fit, would like to get the details about it, so that I might be able to have a little more cruising capacity with the larger tank. I also think that the XJ tank will look a little more sexier than my XS!! Thanks.

[Mike Hart]

Hmmm... well, let us know, ok?

The frame on the XJ is different around the seat and rear of tank, due to the lower seat height, the more radical slope of the tank. It might could be done, but it isn't a 'bolt-on' kinda deal, I suspect.

Always liked the looks of the XJ tank myself!

[koehlerk]

midnight xj

didnt I see a midnight with an XJ tank on it. Wonder how they did it?

http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group...c=gr%26.view=t

[Mike Hart]

I haven't looked with this in mind; the bend in the frame may start behind the tank, and so, be very do-able! The seat? fuggedaboudit.