Replacing OEM Petcock questions

[JaysGone]

Just curious and I know I can search this for hours.
But
For those of you who have replaced the OEM petcock with say a Pingle.
How in heck do you reach in under the tank to turn it to reserve while riding??
Being in the middle of the tank.
Id imagine its hard to reach.
And how much gas is left when you reach reserve on average, since the tubes pickup points would be different??

I ask because I just rebuilt my OEM.
Its really a POS.
Mine was modified to work with out vacuum.
I dont like the idea of a piece of rubber controling whether I go or no go.
Does the Pingle have a diaphram?
Or is it strickly mechanical.

Any other replacement that work besides Pingel??
Ive gone by the odometer since Ive had the bike.

[Hoser]

Once you remove the controls for the old petcock there is room to reach in with your left hand to manipulate the lever on the pingle.  It's easy if you have small hands, doable otherwise.  I have no problem, even when on the go.  A pingle is available with vacumn shut off, I prefer the manual only. Reserve is half a gallon.  Hoser

[BonS]

Golan is another option. Here are a couple of threads. There are more.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,34353.0.html

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,43120.0.html

[Westsider]

Once you remove the controls for the old petcock there is room to reach in with your left hand to manipulate the lever on the pingle.  It's easy if you have small hands, doable otherwise.  I have no problem, even when on the go.  A pingle is available with vacumn shut off, I prefer the manual only. Reserve is half a gallon.  Hoser

+1 Then had my upper engine hangers chromed to shine the area up a little..I agree , oem valve no good, read all the posts about carrying a rebuild kit around with you everywhere...

[valkyriemc]

Some related reading;

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,45897.msg435886.html#msg435886

[JaysGone]

Once you remove the controls for the old petcock there is room to reach in with your left hand to manipulate the lever on the pingle.  It's easy if you have small hands, doable otherwise.  I have no problem, even when on the go.  A pingle is available with vacumn shut off, I prefer the manual only. Reserve is half a gallon.  Hoser

I guess I should have just asked you directly.....................
I have fat arthritic hands.
Mine works fine the OEm that is.
It was a just a thought.
Id hate to get stuck someplece with it dependent on having vacuum.
Oem that is, but a 15 mile reserve or less isnt for me.
I had a bike back in the early 70s.
My 1st chopper actually 2.5 gallon tank no reserve.
Had to find a station every 75 miles.
I swore off that pretty fast after walking hours more then once looking for gas.

Too much reading guys and the Golan makes sense and then not so much.

Edit:
Maybe I should just ride around with a spare OEM??
Heck I carry a fuel line and clutch cable with my other bike........
Or just stay home and use a car..........
Decisions desicions.
Of course you will all kill me when I just get a newer wing for the trike and be done with it............

[fudgie]

I can switch mine over with winter gloves on just fine. Engine hangers? Eh, form or funtion. I just have one on the right side, no left side.

[UskCoastie]

I went to a pingle a couple of weeks ago. My valk acted as if it was out of gas with 2.5 gallons left in the tank.
When I changed it out I measured the difference between the stock riser tube and the pingle. The pingle was about 1" shorter. I removed the screens on both valves and cut 2" off the stock riser tube. Cleaned up the 2" piece and the inside of the pingle riser tube down about 1". Then silver soldered the 2" stock piece onto the pingle to get the stock riser height. Installed the stock screen on the pingle and put in the tank. I had to trim about 1/4" off the bottom plastic of the stock screen to get the clearance to start the threads on the pingle.
About 2 hours start to finish including R & R of the tank. haven't done a run to MT to check the reserve but it should be close to the stock amount.

[JaysGone]

Just thinking out loud here.
Would it have been possible to just add a piece of plastic tubing to get the same effect.
A longer tube then putting the stock filter filter over the added plastic tubing and installing the same.
Rather then silver soldering it??
My main concern with using the Pingle is the lack of a decient reserve.

[Westsider]

I can switch mine over with winter gloves on just fine. Engine hangers? Eh, form or funtion. I just have one on the right side, no left side.

No left side engine hanger??  you musta meant hanger cover..I chromed the hangers. (upper rear engine mounts)

[BonS]

Why not get a manual petcock or convert the OEM to manual and add an electric solenoid valve so you don't have to turn it on and off all the time? The solenoid valves are way more reliable than OEM as I've yet to hear of a failure. The only time you have to get your hands under there is to switch to reserve or when pulling the tank.

[fudgie]

I can switch mine over with winter gloves on just fine. Engine hangers? Eh, form or funtion. I just have one on the right side, no left side.

No left side engine hanger??  you musta meant hanger cover..I chromed the hangers. (upper rear engine mounts)

Opps yes! Sorry!

[fudgie]

Just thinking out loud here.
Would it have been possible to just add a piece of plastic tubing to get the same effect.
A longer tube then putting the stock filter filter over the added plastic tubing and installing the same.
Rather then silver soldering it??
My main concern with using the Pingle is the lack of a decient reserve.

But your main tank is longer so tech your not loosing any miles per tank. So technically you will fuel earlier with the oem then you will with the Pingel. If your use to that, if you get the pingel, fuel at the miles you did with the oem one. When I travel I fill around 100-120 even tho I know I can go about to 150.

[sugerbear]

yep, the oem's are pieces of crap. only last what 10 years or so.
they are meant to be left alone unless you NEED to switch to reserve.
if you tires are worn out what do you do, blame the tires for not lasting 20 years.
no you replace them. same with the rubber in the petcock. it's a maintenance thing pure and simple.
the old harley riders were always "blipping" the throttle to keep the carbs from loading up.
with fuel injection it's not needed, but they still do it.
with the vacuum petcock you don't NEED to turn it on and off every time to stop the fuel from flowing, but they do it anyway.
2 99's and one 2k over 50,000 on each never had a petcock failure.
the 2k is in need of a rebuild, BUT, it's 12 years old now. rubber wears out

but i'm sure the REAL mechanics here will jump in and tell how stupid i am (or childish)

[Valkpilot]

yep, the oem's are pieces of crap. only last what 10 years or so.
they are meant to be left alone unless you NEED to switch to reserve.
if you tires are worn out what do you do, blame the tires for not lasting 20 years.
no you replace them. same with the rubber in the petcock. it's a maintenance thing pure and simple.
the old harley riders were always "blipping" the throttle to keep the carbs from loading up.
with fuel injection it's not needed, but they still do it.
with the vacuum petcock you don't NEED to turn it on and off every time to stop the fuel from flowing, but they do it anyway.
2 99's and one 2k over 50,000 on each never had a petcock failure.
the 2k is in need of a rebuild, BUT, it's 12 years old now. rubber wears out

but i'm sure the REAL mechanics here will jump in and tell how stupid i am (or childish)

+1

[Chrisj CMA]

yep, the oem's are pieces of crap. only last what 10 years or so.
they are meant to be left alone unless you NEED to switch to reserve.
if you tires are worn out what do you do, blame the tires for not lasting 20 years.
no you replace them. same with the rubber in the petcock. it's a maintenance thing pure and simple.
the old harley riders were always "blipping" the throttle to keep the carbs from loading up.
with fuel injection it's not needed, but they still do it.
with the vacuum petcock you don't NEED to turn it on and off every time to stop the fuel from flowing, but they do it anyway.
2 99's and one 2k over 50,000 on each never had a petcock failure.
the 2k is in need of a rebuild, BUT, it's 12 years old now. rubber wears out

but i'm sure the REAL mechanics here will jump in and tell how stupid i am (or childish)

The OEM valve is not a poor piece because it wears out.  Its a poor piece because it is designed badly.  The detents for ON, RES, OFF are unreliable even on a new one and the max flow of a properly working one is too close to the minimum need so any degradation of vacuum or other performance of the valve creates a starvation problem. 

If your tires cupped all the time you would change brands.....same here.

Its just a overly complicated pot metal liabilitly.  If you happen to like it, then replace it with a new one when it wears out.  Good on ya, hope you arent stranded to far from home when that time comes.

Just like me liking Dunlops and others saying Im gonna die a firey death and they wouldnt run one if it was given free...........different strokes, its just good to know whats down the road so you can be proactive

[Chrisj CMA]

All the talk of the size of the reserve reminds me back to my scuba diving days.  Back in the day the average civillian scuba tank had a reserve but most industrial ones did not.  Why? Because professional divers dive with a pressure guage.  You dont need a reserve when you know how much air you have.

Same with a reserve on our fuel tanks.  If you know how much you have why do you need a valve to shut the motor off to remind you to get gas.  Just get the gas and dont have to go through the hassle.  The bottom line is the reserve doesnt give you more gas, it doesnt extend your range and it wont matter if you have reserve or not if you dont have enough fuel to make the next station youre screwed whether you have a big small or no reserve.

So on a standard you set the trip meter and you learn what milage is best for you to think about gas.  I look for it at 100 miles and make darned sure Im getting it by 140 or so. 

On the IS you challenge the guage so you know what them lights really mean

Pay attention to headwinds and speed and you should be able to judge accurately enough when to stop for gas with or without a reserve

[doubletee]

All the talk of the size of the reserve reminds me back to my scuba diving days.  Back in the day the average civillian scuba tank had a reserve but most industrial ones did not.  Why? Because professional divers dive with a pressure guage.  You dont need a reserve when you know how much air you have.

Same with a reserve on our fuel tanks.  If you know how much you have why do you need a valve to shut the motor off to remind you to get gas.  Just get the gas and dont have to go through the hassle.  The bottom line is the reserve doesnt give you more gas, it doesnt extend your range and it wont matter if you have reserve or not if you dont have enough fuel to make the next station youre screwed whether you have a big small or no reserve.

So on a standard you set the trip meter and you learn what milage is best for you to think about gas.  I look for it at 100 miles and make darned sure Im getting it by 140 or so. 

On the IS you challenge the guage so you know what them lights really mean

Pay attention to headwinds and speed and you should be able to judge accurately enough when to stop for gas with or without a reserve

+1   It really isn't that difficult, is it?

[KSDragonRider]

yep, the oem's are pieces of crap. only last what 10 years or so.
they are meant to be left alone unless you NEED to switch to reserve.
if you tires are worn out what do you do, blame the tires for not lasting 20 years.
no you replace them. same with the rubber in the petcock. it's a maintenance thing pure and simple.
the old harley riders were always "blipping" the throttle to keep the carbs from loading up.
with fuel injection it's not needed, but they still do it.
with the vacuum petcock you don't NEED to turn it on and off every time to stop the fuel from flowing, but they do it anyway.
2 99's and one 2k over 50,000 on each never had a petcock failure.
the 2k is in need of a rebuild, BUT, it's 12 years old now. rubber wears out

but i'm sure the REAL mechanics here will jump in and tell how stupid i am (or childish)

+1

+1 
I do carry a rebuild kit when away from home a ways, but im betting i could figure out how to turn it to manual to get me home from local.

I never mess with my petcock except for going to reserve.

To keep up with Chris, this is only the second bike i have had with a gauge, and while i love it, i dont always trust it. I have had it go from 3 bars to flashing in about 20 miles.

I use the trip meter most of the time to decide when to get gas, and usually start looking around 120. 
But have had those times when i hit reserve at 110 from the wind or sitting in the heat or just riding hard. Most of the time i hit reserve when just going to and from work. I will make less than normal mileage and dont get gas in time to avoid reserve. That being said, out of the last 10k miles, I would say I have hit reserve 5 times. It is not used every tank for sure. Only ran this bike out of gas one time, and was pulling into the gas station parking lot when it started to stumble. I just killed it and coasted in.

[ryord]

I replaced my OEM petcock with a Golan manual petcock, I have no problem reaching under while I am riding and turning the lever on the fuel valve. I wondered the same thing before I replaced it but it is not a problem. I also added a Pingel fuel filter very nice. The bike has been running with none of the problems associated with the OEM fuel valve. I am also careful to turn the petcock off when I park the bike. Works Great.

[RUDE DOG - Steelers]

Hey Jay,
I have the Golan petcock as well as the Golan Micro filter.  Never had a problem with the stock unit but just didnt trust it.  I also have engine hangers on mine and I dont have a problem reaching just below and pushing the lever.  I went with the Golan as opposed to the Pingel because the Golan has the detents when moving the lever to indicate where its at.  Both are excellent options though.  I estimate my reserve with the Golan is about 3/4 of a gallon.  But I always set the trip meter in addition to watching the gas gauge.  Doesnt bother me.

[Hoser]

All the talk of the size of the reserve reminds me back to my scuba diving days.  Back in the day the average civillian scuba tank had a reserve but most industrial ones did not.  Why? Because professional divers dive with a pressure guage.  You dont need a reserve when you know how much air you have.

Same with a reserve on our fuel tanks.  If you know how much you have why do you need a valve to shut the motor off to remind you to get gas.  Just get the gas and dont have to go through the hassle.  The bottom line is the reserve doesnt give you more gas, it doesnt extend your range and it wont matter if you have reserve or not if you dont have enough fuel to make the next station youre screwed whether you have a big small or no reserve.

So on a standard you set the trip meter and you learn what milage is best for you to think about gas.  I look for it at 100 miles and make darned sure Im getting it by 140 or so. 

On the IS you challenge the guage so you know what them lights really mean

Pay attention to headwinds and speed and you should be able to judge accurately enough when to stop for gas with or without a reserve

+1 Hoser 

[jimmytee]

I asked this question before but didn't get an answer I believe. I am going to order a new valve,probably a pingle. I didn' find the vavuum operated golan. Iam debating whether manual or vacuum operated. What are the reasons some are choosing to go to the manual valve? Is it just peace of mind, cost? Do you guys who have the manual shut it off every time you stop the bike like fueling or stretching the legs etc...?

[Westsider]

Same with a reserve on our fuel tanks.  If you know how much you have why do you need a valve to shut the motor off to remind you to get gas.  Just get the gas and dont have to go through the hassle.  The bottom line is the reserve doesnt give you more gas, it doesnt extend your range and it wont matter if you have reserve or not if you dont have enough fuel to make the next station youre screwed whether you have a big small or no reserve.


Amen..My comparison would be more like a automatic valve to keep your swimming pool at a specific level, thats nice , but would rather open the water valve myself when I wanted to put water in the pool...automatic,s nice, but to little water and pump cavitates and burns up sooner or later (no that the bike motor would burn up but  be starving for fuel),stays open to long , and you have a  flooded mess... I know this prob, only makes sense to me

[MP]

Why not get a manual petcock or convert the OEM to manual and add an electric solenoid valve so you don't have to turn it on and off all the time? The solenoid valves are way more reliable than OEM as I've yet to hear of a failure. The only time you have to get your hands under there is to switch to reserve or when pulling the tank.

That is what I did on my sidecar rig.  I also just put the Pingle on reserve, and leave it there.  All the new bikes with fuel injection do not even have a valve.  No reserve.

MP

[Bone]

jimmytee all of my bikes through the years have been manual petcocks except 2. The Goldwing Aspencade and the Valkyrie. I'm used to turning off the gas supply so I converted the OEM when it's diaphragm failed. You don't have to turn off the petcock every time you gas up or stretch your legs. I have to or I will forget it when it needs to be turned off. When you get off the bike many interruptions can start and the petcock is forgotten.

[CMA_Carl]

I've read all the post on this fuel petcock problem on our Valkyrie.. well lots of them anyway. 
My vacuum is leaking on my 1999 and it still runs just fine. I'm told it's the cause or my bad gas mileage and it runs hot. But, it runs! It doesn't leak gas all over the place. I run to reserve every time.
I have had it sputter early a few times indicating that i need to go to reserve. But, it runs. I never turn off the petcock. Only run and reserve. I know also that the vacuum is bad because the last time i took off the tank with the fuel petcock on, it ran all over the place until i got it turned to off.
My question that has not been mentioned is, doesn't the float and needle valve control the flow of fuel? and shut it off?
I'm going to rebuild my oem to preserve the looks of the selector an chrome cover around it.
I've got 148,000 on my 1999... i guess a fuel petcock rebuild is due.

[Chrisj CMA]

I've read all the post on this fuel petcock problem on our Valkyrie.. well lots of them anyway. 
My vacuum is leaking on my 1999 and it still runs just fine. I'm told it's the cause or my bad gas mileage and it runs hot. But, it runs! It doesn't leak gas all over the place. I run to reserve every time.
I have had it sputter early a few times indicating that i need to go to reserve. But, it runs. I never turn off the petcock. Only run and reserve. I know also that the vacuum is bad because the last time i took off the tank with the fuel petcock on, it ran all over the place until i got it turned to off.
My question that has not been mentioned is, doesn't the float and needle valve control the flow of fuel? and shut it off?
I'm going to rebuild my oem to preserve the looks of the selector an chrome cover around it.
I've got 148,000 on my 1999... i guess a fuel petcock rebuild is due.

To your question....YES the float and needle valve does halt the flow of gas when working properly.  But, that is the second of two failures (you already having one) that is needed to score a hydrolock.  Im glad its "working" for you.  I guess its down to what one expects and what one can accept.  I could not accept that condition you describe. 

When my OEM valve did what yours did........I did what you want to do........rebuilt it..........then a few months later it almost left me stranded.........didnt just faulter like it was going on reserve early it flat out cut out and almost wouldnt run until I stoppped on the side of the road and let the float bowls fill..........this happened every 5 minutes

I ordered a Pingel

[kyllini]

Just bought a 2003 Valkyrie Standard last Sunday.
I registered it this Saturday and proceeded to try to start it up.
It stalled.
No gas - so I turned on reserve and guess what?
It started leaking so much fuel for a minute I thought the radiator hose had exploded.
I quickly put it (OEM petcock) on OFF and the leak stopped.

Did a lot of reading about this over the weekend and ordered the replacement OEM fix, a 12V electric solenoid and a Golan 76-312F-CL with in line filter.
Overkill yes, but WTF it's got to get fixed soon.
Probably going to install the Golan and solenoid - get rid of the OEM and vacuum lines.
the Golan isn't cheap - but I like the solid detents.
I also don't like the thought of blowing a starter or motor because i forgot to shut the fuel off.
I would say it's a poor design from the get go on the OEM petcock.
Everything else on the bike seems pretty solid.
Fix it - and enjoy the ride.

[mmurffy03]

ok this might sound stupid BUT several times on ebay pinwall the bike salvage place has listings for fuel pump relays for sale does a interstate use it for the fuel tank level gauge or what unless it has a belly tank or blower there isn't a fuel pump that I know of 

[Hoser]

All the talk of the size of the reserve reminds me back to my scuba diving days.  Back in the day the average civillian scuba tank had a reserve but most industrial ones did not.  Why? Because professional divers dive with a pressure guage.  You dont need a reserve when you know how much air you have.

Same with a reserve on our fuel tanks.  If you know how much you have why do you need a valve to shut the motor off to remind you to get gas.  Just get the gas and dont have to go through the hassle.  The bottom line is the reserve doesnt give you more gas, it doesnt extend your range and it wont matter if you have reserve or not if you dont have enough fuel to make the next station youre screwed whether you have a big small or no reserve.

So on a standard you set the trip meter and you learn what milage is best for you to think about gas.  I look for it at 100 miles and make darned sure Im getting it by 140 or so. 

On the IS you challenge the guage so you know what them lights really mean

Pay attention to headwinds and speed and you should be able to judge accurately enough when to stop for gas with or without a reserve

Very good advice, your odometer is the most dependable and accurate fuel gauge you can get.  Hoser

[Crazyhorse]

I have 128000 miles on my 99 I/S. Never have had an issue with the petcock. I did install the electric shut off valve on one Valkyrie that I had (Greenzila). I would go with the electric shut off valve if I changed over to manual because I would forget to turn it off.