Pingle with or without vac?

[melloyellow]

I have a 98 standard with 11,000 miles.  It runs great and I'm having no problems with the fuel petcock.  I also have a 03 shadow spirit for my wife.  I was starting the bikes yesterday since it finally got above freezing.  I noticed that the fuel petcock for her bike was leaking.  That model is not rebuildable.  After a bunch of research on this and another forum, I have decided to replace hers with a pingle.  I'm now thinking I'll just bite the bullet and do mine too.  The question is with or without vacuum?  My bike is mostly stock but I believe this is a better valve.  What are the advantages of replacing with a non-vacuum model?  I know price is about half.  Is it safer to have the vacuum model so that fuel will only flow if "on" and vacuum?  Is performance in any way changed?  It seems that most of the threads that I have researched go with the non vacuum model.  Why?  Thanks for your help.    Ernie

[sandy]

At 118K miles, I'm on my 2nd OEM petcock. If it goes out again, I'm installing a Vacuum Pingle. It's worth the extra $$$ for the convenience. If you go without the Vac feature, you have to shut the valve off just like any other bike. Pingles have a greater fuel flow than OEM's so don't worry about any difference in flow capacity.

[GOOSE]

melloyelow.....i use the non-vacuum model, probably most of these riders do to.  there is no performance lost with the non-vac model.  two things:  1.) you cut it on when you start, and 2.) you cut it off when you cut the engine off.  if you are trying to stave-off the hydroloc issue, the non-vac valve is better, cause when you cut the valve off there is no chance there's any gas going out.

[Mildew]

I know this subject has been beaten into the ground but where's the best place to get a pingle for the valk? Is it better to make a gasket for the petcock. I see everone has a different opinion on this subject. I called Honda and they act like I was crazy talking about a rebuilt kit for the petcock. They say good luck finding parts for those old bikes. My diaphram was pretty much dry rotted in my petcock. I called another dealer and they said most people jerry rig those things and never have problems.

[gordonv]

I have a 98 standard with 11,000 miles.  It runs great and I'm having no problems with the fuel petcock.  I also have a 03 shadow spirit for my wife.  I was starting the bikes yesterday since it finally got above freezing.  I noticed that the fuel petcock for her bike was leaking.  That model is not rebuildable.

You mentioned that the petcock is not rebuildable, so I take it that it is riveted together. Others on the HSATF (ACE T) have placed the petcock in a vise to compress the rivets some more, and others have drilled them out and replaced with a nut/bolt, both with success.

Since yours is leaking, you need to do something about that, replace it.

Doesn't the spirit have an electric fuel pump? So all would need is a shut off valve. My ACE T has an electric fuel pump, because the carbs are higher than the lowest point of the fuel tank, fuel needs to be pumped up.

[melloyellow]

gordonv,  You are correct about the spirit.  It does have a fuel pump and all it needs is a new petcock.  I will either replace with a pingle or oem.  Not sure which to use.  The oem lasted 8 years.  I don't believe that I will still have that bike 8 years from now.  I'll get a price on oem and then decide.  As for the Valk, it is NOT leaking.  I just thought that since I was doing one, I might as well do both.  After looking closely at the Valk, the inside of the tank looks perfect (what little I can see),  there is no evidence of any leaks ever at the petcock, the rubber hoses look good and the bike is running great.  I have decided to leave well enough alone!  I am just going to monitor for leaks and keep my eye out for any problems.  When it does begin leaking,  I think I'll go with the vac pingle.  Then it will be time to remove the air box and replace the hoses and add a fuel filter.  Thanks for the help.