Hey guys,
I am new to the site and looking forward to push all of your knowledge a little.
I have a 1986 FJ1200 and the fuel petcock seems to always be letting allot of fuel through even when the bike is off. If I remove the tank, it still lets allot of fuel through. I opened up the petcock and the seals all look good and it seems to default as closed (Spring operated) until the solenoid opens it (On/Reserve).
Can anyone help me as to why allot of gas is getting through? Is this a common problem?
I'm not sure if I understand how the electronics work with it? Am I missing something?
Thanks!
Dean
Northern Chicago, Ill
I'm not sure I understand your problem. The petcock is vacuum operated, the electrics is for the simulated reserve. If fuel dribbles out of the petcock when the engine off, the problem is in the petcock. There are petcock rebuild kits available, but I let someone who had one apart guide you the rest of the way. Oh, and if that spigot thingie moves, it shouldn't, fix it! FJ's have gone up in flames because of it.
Hey Fred,
Thanks for the info! I understand the idea around the vacuum activated petcock, but I don't understand the electronic reserve function?
I looked and could not seem to find a rebuild kit for the petcock, do you have any ideas were I can get one?
Thanks!
Dean
Good luck finding a rebuild kit for the 86/87 petcock. :dash2:
Didn't some one have info on using kawasaki parts? Speak up please!
Quote from: europe50 on September 27, 2009, 06:47:51 PM
Hey Fred,
Thanks for the info! I understand the idea around the vacuum activated petcock, but I don't understand the electronic reserve function?
Its not really a true reserve. I can't speak technical but here goes. There's a sensor (meant in the broadest sense of the word) in the tank, when the fuel drops below it cuts the ignition, flipping the reserve switch turns it back on.
OK, great that actually does make sence. It's a notification method.
Thanks!
Anyone got an idea around where to get a rebuild kit?
Replace the shutoff o-ring with a 5mm ID X 2mm cross section o-rings and replace the spring with a slightly strogner one. Take the spring to your local hardware store for comparison.
DavidR.
Thanks Fred and Slowguy!
Quote from: europe50 on September 28, 2009, 07:44:23 AM
Thanks Fred and Slowguy!
Hey, that's SlowOLDguy... :rofl2:
Randy T
Indy
You are only "OLD", if you think your old, LOL!
Thanks for the help guys!
David,
I have gone to 4 different "Ace Hardwares" or "True values" that seem to have a good selection of o-rings with no good results to find a "5mm ID X 2mm cross section o-ring" for the fuel petcock.
Does anyone (Or their local hardware store) have one of these 5mm ID X 2mm cross section o-ring that they can send me that I can buy?
Thanks!
Dean
Northern Chicago, Ill.
Maybe you'd be better off trying an auto parts...
Most likely it it leaking thru from the vacuum side not the electric reserve O ring. The vacuum bellows (two layers are very thin and over time will get tiny breaks in them which allows fuel into the carbs or back into cyl. 1 thru the vac line. The fuel can flood the crankcase or even lock up a cylinder - possibly even break or bend a rod on start-up. Also, if the fuel tap on petcock is able to pivot it can make a small leak which might burn up you cycle. The alternator brushes might spark ignite the fuel while you are riding.
Fitting a fuel cock from a FJ1100 1984 was my solution and also bypasses the pesky electric reserve 'shut off' problem.
Good luck
DanielW
Thanks Dan,
I finally found a metric o-ring at a hydrolic shop locally.
Do they make a rebuild kit for these petcocks?
Dean
Dean, I looked for several weeks but could not find any of the vacuum bellows repair parts. As I said in a post a in the "modifications" section- I found that the 84 FJ1100 petcock was still available and was not quite so expensive as the 86-87 one which had that electric simulated reserve feature.
The 84 petcock no electric cut off built into it. In the original 86f-87 one the fuel was cut off at the same time as the dash light came on and if you didn't notice it and instantly select the reserve button your bike would loose power and might leave you in a dangerous situation. If you were passing or being closely followed by a vehicle whose driver was not real attentive you were in trouble. (you would slow down dramatically without touching your brake lights, which might get you run over and killed).
DanielW
Daniel,
Thanks for looking into this for me; I didn't realize that the fuel cuts off right when the light comes on! Are the light and the fuel switch on the same circuit, or is it coincidence on your bike that the fuel shuts off when the light comes on? Can I just unplug the electronic shut-off, so it will not shut-off at a bad time?
I guess I may have to look for an '84 fuel petcock.
Dean
Quote from: europe50 on October 03, 2009, 09:19:12 AM
Thanks Dan,
I finally found a metric o-ring at a hydrolic shop locally.
Do they make a rebuild kit for these petcocks?
Dean
No
If anyone's still having petcock troubles, HTH...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NOS-Yamaha-XS650-FJ1100-XJ650-XJ900-Fuel-Cock-Seals_W0QQitemZ370281987285QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotorcycles_Parts_Accessories?hash=item563686bcd5 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NOS-Yamaha-XS650-FJ1100-XJ650-XJ900-Fuel-Cock-Seals_W0QQitemZ370281987285QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotorcycles_Parts_Accessories?hash=item563686bcd5)
FWIW, I'm posting this link because it's a SAFETY issue...