I'm having doubts...

[Valkpilot]

...about the K&L petcock rebuild kits.

In addition to the throttle cable debacle on our recent trip, I ended up rebuilding the petcock during the second re-repair in the mountains around Flagstaff.

Here's a picture of the K&L diaphragm I removed.  It has the characteristic wear around the nipple, and if you hold it up to the light, the light shines through.



The problem is, it's less than a year old and has less than 5000 miles on it.

Theory on why I had to replace it then:  At higher altitudes it's naturally harder to generate vacuum (manifold pressure differential) and a marginal petcock that might seem to be working OK closer to sea level will become ineffective at maintaining enough fuel flow.

[HayHauler]

Well........  Thanks for the heads up VP.  I will store that away in the bank.  Wonder if that is the same problem Disco had at IZ?  I believe he said he rebuilt his with one of the K&L kits....  Things that make me go hmmm......

Hay 
Jimmyt

[Westsider]

Should put in a quality pingle fuel delivery valve and save some yourself some headaches

[Valkpilot]

Should put in a quality pingle fuel delivery valve and save some yourself some headaches

I don't consider that a risk-free solution either, but don't believe I wasn't contemplating it!

[R J]

Over the years, I have rebuilt the petcock on MGM several times.

3 years ago, I stuck a manual Pingle in and a Dan Marc electric shutoff.

Guess what, no problem since then.     Prior, I was rebuilding the petcock about twice to three times a year.

I'll only muck with something a short time and if I can't get it fixed, it goes in the garbage can.    

[RainMaker]

I'm on year 3 with my cheap "innards only" set from Old Bike Barn.

http://www.oldbikebarn.com/Honda-Petcock-Kit-GL1500-Valkyrie

[Daniel Meyer]

The K&L kit does not include the cover plate (hence the name "cover set" of the OEM part).

You need to replace the cover plate every time. There is a dampener valve in there that can clog or break, and if it's broken the diaphragm will not last very long due to the intake pulse tearing/shaking it apart.

[Disco]

Wonder if that is the same problem Disco had at IZ?

No, mine was not diaphragm-related.  Mine started leaking from the riveted / o-ringed side.  I suspect it was just age-related.  It was the OEM petcock on a bike built in May of '99.  I rebuilt the petcock with a Honda Cover Set on 9 December 2009 at 19,933 miles (no problems, just old), and then again right before the trip on 22 June 2013 at 71,946 miles (again, no problems - just 'cuz).  New screen sets at the same time both times. 

I'm still running WamegoRob's oem take-off loaner and will replace it with another oem petcock.   

[Serk]

So... if I've never done anything to my petcock in 13+ years and 110,000 miles, should I be concerned, or just leave well enough alone?

[Jess from VA]

So... if I've never done anything to my petcock in 13+ years and 110,000 miles, should I be concerned, or just leave well enough alone?

Leave it alone, but get an HDL coverset to have on hand.

When Big BF worked on my bikes last year (including full desmogs), he tested both, and found both to be defective, and showed me ..... yet I was not having any adverse symptoms of any kind..... yet.

[WDAN]

So... if I've never done anything to my petcock in 13+ years and 110,000 miles, should I be concerned, or just leave well enough alone?

Serk,
Just curious. When you are through riding for the day, do you turn off petcock or leave it be?

[Daniel Meyer]

So... if I've never done anything to my petcock in 13+ years and 110,000 miles, should I be concerned, or just leave well enough alone?

I would do a vacuum test on it...quickly id's or excludes about 90% of any possible problems.

[Disco]

So... if I've never done anything to my petcock in 13+ years and 110,000 miles, should I be concerned, or just leave well enough alone?

13 years of well enough alone is pretty good!      I would at least rebuild it. 

[Serk]

Serk,
Just curious. When you are through riding for the day, do you turn off petcock or leave it be?

(Yeah, I know, risk of hydrolock) I leave it be. The only time I touch the petcock is on the rare occasion that I need to go to reserve, and I generally watch my mileage closely enough and find fuel before that happens, so the petcock hasn't been switched much at all in these last 13 years.

I would do a vacuum test on it...quickly id's or excludes about 90% of any possible problems.

Er... When's the next wrench party that you plan on being at and have the equipment for a vacuum test?

[WDAN]

I never touch mine either . I never shut off the petcock on my previous bike either and no problems but I will admit that I have not put mega miles on my Valk.
I did have Valkpilot switch out my petcock innards at a recent wrench party for precautionary reasons only and my original parts looked as good as new.
I will continue leaving mine on expecting the same results.

[Valkpilot]

The black bike experienced a failure of a K&L diaphragm today.  This one was installed within a week of the one that failed on the Jet bike on the trip.  Less than a year, and less than 5000 miles.

This diaphragm wasn't as bad as the one I pulled off the Jet bike.  You can't see light all the way around the center nipple.  I suspect that this is why I was able to get home without changing it on the side of the road.

I'm definitely going back to the OEM cover sets.  I know that some are experiencing success with the K&L, but caveat emptor.