Fuel Valve (Petcock)

[RIX97]

My fuel valve (aka petcock) seems to be loose. It has a mounting bottle with what looks like a rubber 2 sided bushing with a sleeve going through the center of the bushing which allows the bolt to be tightened down without crushing the bushing. The problem I'm having is that bolt is tight but the petcock is flopping around. Am I missing something in the assembly process? Would be happy to post pictures if I could figure out how to do it.

[Chrisj CMA]

My fuel valve (aka petcock) seems to be loose. It has a mounting bottle with what looks like a rubber 2 sided bushing with a sleeve going through the center of the bushing which allows the bolt to be tightened down without crushing the bushing. The problem I'm having is that bolt is tight but the petcock is flopping around. Am I missing something in the assembly process? Would be happy to post pictures if I could figure out how to do it.

As long as the secret screw in the center of the knob is tight. All sounds normal. Check that screw with a Phillips  screwdriver

[RIX97]

That's exactly what it was, thanks. I thought I had it tight but it needed a little extra elbow grease.

[Craig9409]

OK, so petcocks. On this forum a guy complained he was having intermittent power loss especially under high demand such as an on ramp. Who doesn't like to goose the hell out of it on an on ramp when the path ahead is devoid of obstacles? Get'er.... :0)

A guy responded something like get rid of your petcock and get a Pingle. Which I had never heard of. I'm brand new to this motorcycle bought as a restoration project a couple months ago. I've ridden the bike 1/2 mile so far. I'm making Youtube videos on the project here...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChQ2eXYtoQxq8Af5IQ1keIw Come see if you like.

My fuel tank looks virgin inside. It has no rust. Oh it's a 1998 GL1500CT. Nice and clean tank.

The petcock is a vacuum assisted valve. It has 2 lines, outflow to carbs and a vacuum line.

Why the vacuum line? Is it just a redundant shut off situation? Like if you forget to manually close the valve? Mine seems to work fine, but I haven't tested it under high demand, Yet.

Is the OEM petcock prone to fail and cause fuel starvation under acceleration or top gear high load operation? I assume it has a diaphragm which by now at 24 years of age, has to be in some stage of petrification. I have seen OEM replacements and rebuild kits for sale. Fuel system failure is not that unusual especially with the alcohol we now are forced to use in our fuels unless we go way out of our way to avoid it. I do go out of my way with my spendy Stihl lawn equipment and my snowmobile which actually has a selectable computer setting of Alcohol vs non, and is designed to tolerate alcohol fuel (2016 Polaris Axys 800cc).

The guy says the Pingle petcock has "huge flow capacity and it's impossible to out run it".

The pingle isn't cheap. It's fully manual on off without the vacuum assist in the model I ordered. Link here
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/PGE-1311-CH/applications/make/honda/year/1998

It's a lot more $$ direct from Pingle's website, so I ordered mine from Summit Racing. I haven't received it yet as they are special order shipping from Pingel direct via Summit.

I thought I would be proactive and put it on the bike when it gets re-assembled following it's make over.

What are your thoughts on this situation? OEM Petcock or something else like the Pingle no vacuum valve?

[hubcapsc]

Why the vacuum line?

It is a vacuum operated petcock, no gas will flow if there's no vacuum.
I never turn mine off, I only move it to reserve when needed.

What are your thoughts on this situation?

I read every post on the board when I got my Valkyrie and was sure
that I MUST desmog, get a pingel and get an electric fuel shutoff
valve.

My thoughts are that you don't need any of those. I've rebuilt my petcock
a couple of times during big maintenance shots over the years. I like simple.

The "hydrolock" thing is real, so it pays to keep an eye on whatever kind of
petcock you have.

-Mike

[valkmc]

Why the vacuum line?

It is a vacuum operated petcock, no gas will flow if there's no vacuum.
I never turn mine off, I only move it to reserve when needed.

What are your thoughts on this situation?

I read every post on the board when I got my Valkyrie and was sure
that I MUST desmog, get a pingel and get an electric fuel shutoff
valve.

My thoughts are that you don't need any of those. I've rebuilt my petcock
a couple of times during big maintenance shots over the years. I like simple.

The "hydrolock" thing is real, so it pays to keep an eye on whatever kind of
petcock you have.

-Mike

I bought a new Standard in July of 1998. I owned it until 2010 and put more than 90k on it. I only turned the fuel off if I was going to be away and the bike would be sitting, not very often. Not sure if was lucky or not but I had no problems. Fast forward to last Oct. when ai picked up a 97. I now turn the fuel off when I'm not riding and the petcock was checked just before I bought as part of a intensive service. Unlike when I owned the 98 and was oblivous, I now worry about hydro-lock, lol!

[Bagger John - #3785]

I've owned 5 Valkyries in total. For several seasons, all 5 were in the garage simultaneously.

Two were bought new (in '00 and '01). The rest trickled in several years later. Some were sold. Etc.

So a long story short: I have almost 50 years cumulative time (and many tens of thousands of miles) with the GL1500C line. I have had four OEM petcock failures in that time: One and two, a slow leak through the diaphragm and shut-off valve (fixed by a new petcock). These failures happened to both Interstates, and the failure mode/symptoms were identical in both cases.

The other two happened with my second ('99 CA-model) Tourer, One was a partial and the other was a complete diaphragm failure, within 2 years of each other. No gas could flow, and there was no leak. The fix for that bike was to mount a restrictor in the vacuum line to the #6 intake runner.

I/S #2 now has an OEM CBR600F3 petcock in place of the vacuum operated unit, and I'll probably install a Dan-Marc shutoff valve inline with it at some point. I have another CBR petcock to convert the Tourer when next I have the tank off.

FWIW, I always shut my gas off manually. 52-year habits are hard to break.

[Craig9409]

Thanks for the information. I'm going to order a rebuild kit for the stock one. The Pingle manual valve has been shipped. I'll decide at some point which I will go with.

New question as I am new to this bike, a 1998 GL1500CT.

Hydrolock? I assume if the fuel is left on and a float sticks, it can fill a cylinder with fuel should the intake valve of said cylinder be open. Has this been a big problem on these bikes? Six individual carbs increases the chances I suppose. What is the general story on hydro locking a Valkyrie?

I also try my best to shut off the fuel every time. Hit and miss but I probably get it 90% or better.

[Jess from VA]

Hydrolock take two things.  1)A petcock leaking fuel (with six cylinders and carbs, there's a lot of fuel below the petcock even when off) with the bike off, AND 2) a stuck float valve.

If you get a big jolt starting, get off the start button immediately.  With no clearance valves, you can bend one, and break gears off the starter wheel.  If you get the big jolt, you pull the plugs and hit the start button, and the cylinder full of gas shoots it out (apparently a long way), that tells you which float valve.

Always turn any motorcycle petcock off (FI bikes have no petcock).

Here's the simple way to remember to always turn it off.  

When you are home to put the bike away (not for lunch or shopping), you reach down right to turn off the key, and you reach down left to turn off the petcock.  Every time you shut down at home, you reach down ON BOTH SIDES (key then petcock).  Do this every time and you never forget.

[Dirty Dave]

The vacuum petcock let me down twice.

Once when I first had the bike and didn't know the petcock needed vacuum from #6 intake
to flow gas. The hose had a crack so would run for a while and then die. Trailered it home.

The second time was when it hydrolocked. How can gas flow if the bike isn't running?
The amount of gas that hit my garage walls was awesome.

Love the Pingel. Looks great and you get rid of that ugly chrome plated disc with
the long wiggly shaft. I always turn the petcock off at the end of the ride.

Down side is a smaller reserve, unless modified. I'm good for about 20 miles......

[Tazman11]

I love my Pringel. Well made, precise, and just quality that always works. I got tired of messing around with the OEM and switched. Getting ready to do my wife’s trike. It’s also kind of security devise as a thief would struggle (unless it was one of you guys.)

Not that the original was not well intentioned and state of the art at that time. Fast forward and there are better solutions FOR ME.

[derek533]

I love my Pringel. Well made, precise, and just quality that always works. I got tired of messing around with the OEM and switched. Getting ready to do my wife’s trike. It’s also kind of security devise as a thief would struggle (unless it was one of you guys.)

Not that the original was not well intentioned and state of the art at that time. Fast forward and there are better solutions FOR ME.

You know, I was looking for those chrome plates (engine hangers) for the ignition and petcock for my new to me 97 Valk and then it dawned on me, I don't have the factory petcock because I don't have that dial like the OEMs do.  Looked under my gas tank and sure enough, it already has a Pingel on it. Humorously, when I first used it (the petcock) after I bought the bike home last week, I thought it was some cheap ebay special despite it being super smooth to turn, but sure enough, it says Pingel right on the side of the nut.  From what I'm reading, I guess that's a good thing and just as good as the Honda OEM petcock? 

I had been pricing the additional hardware and that dial thingamajig on partzilla to return it back to stock if it was some cheapie but I think I'll keep it! 

[Unlaoised]

I've owned 5 Valkyries in total. For several seasons, all 5 were in the garage simultaneously.

Two were bought new (in '00 and '01). The rest trickled in several years later. Some were sold. Etc.

So a long story short: I have almost 50 years cumulative time (and many tens of thousands of miles) with the GL1500C line. I have had four OEM petcock failures in that time: One and two, a slow leak through the diaphragm and shut-off valve (fixed by a new petcock). These failures happened to both Interstates, and the failure mode/symptoms were identical in both cases.

The other two happened with my second ('99 CA-model) Tourer, One was a partial and the other was a complete diaphragm failure, within 2 years of each other. No gas could flow, and there was no leak. The fix for that bike was to mount a restrictor in the vacuum line to the #6 intake runner.

I/S #2 now has an OEM CBR600F3 petcock in place of the vacuum operated unit, and I'll probably install a Dan-Marc shutoff valve inline with it at some point. I have another CBR petcock to convert the Tourer when next I have the tank off.

FWIW, I always shut my gas off manually. 52-year habits are hard to break.

Any particular reason for using the CBR600F3 petcock?

[SCain]

I/S #2 now has an OEM CBR600F3 petcock in place of the vacuum operated unit,

I just installed the CBR600F3 petcock before my ride to Inzane, I think the unit was about $63, this was a great mod, thanks for the info Bagger John. The tube is about a 1/4" shorter so the reserve side is a little less, I could have lengthened the tube but it fine the way it is. Also got to remove the last vacuum line on the bike.
Steve

[Craig9409]

The Pingle petcock arrived. It was a bit over $120.00 I think. So obviously the Honda brand manual valve is a more affordable unit. I didn't know about that one.

I like the idea to turn the key off and then the petcock and I can train myself to do that from now on. Other than my Yamaha XT-250 dirt bike, my other bikes have no need since they are injected. But every other bike I've ever owned has had one. I guess I never really thought about why. So, I was hit and miss in using it. Makes total sense though. I'm a changed man. Do the key and then the valve every time.

I sort of like the dial look and it's flimsy knob but the Pingle isn't bad looking and more stealthy. Is it easy to get at the lever under there? That's my only question. It's a ways under the tank.

My Pingle is still in the packaging so I haven't played with it. My senses tell me this is how I'll go as I have read where several riders have been stranded by a failed vacuum diaphragm or vacuum line and no flow. 

The bottom line I'm getting, is that the valve must be turned off when done for the day either way to prevent the expensive hydro-locking. Got it.

Thanks for the help y'all.

Oh... as a retired 36 year retired city Firefighter/Paramedic running fires and medical/trauma calls on a very busy Medic Unit, If you get the lock, back her out of your garage before pulling the plugs and pumping her out. My garage has a gas hot water heater and pilot light that is always an open flame ignition source. Gasoline fumes are heavier than air and travel along the floor. LPG (propane, methane, ethane, butane, iso butane) is lighter than air.

In my life's line of work I got to benefit from the critical fails and mistakes of others. I still have all my fingers and toes despite all the power saws I own. You'd be really surprised at the absolute preventable careless stupidity I was handed on so many 911 calls during my career. I still shake my head. I can tell you stories if you want. I've got a million of them.

[Avanti]

I modify my OEM by removing the vacuum side and bore it out for more flow and use a AFC Multi-Purpose Shut-Off Safety Valve model 121.
https://centuryfuelproducts.com/afc-121-lockoff

[DeathWishBikerDude]

Have zero issues after installing the pingel.
After my first hydrology experience...ill never keep a stock peacock...its the very first mod on every valk  I buy.

[Grey wolf oz]

Hey Gang,

I dropped the big girl on a gravel road that I had no right to be on, ,
Subsequently developed a fuel leak from the petcock,

This is its second leak,

As. With the first, I emptied the tank, striped and cleaned the valve, set some fuel friendly gas kit goop about the place and locked it back up!

All good so far,

In the interim, I ordered the “all Ballz” repair kit,

Will install after it arrives!