Petcock info please

[TOaksFJ]

I would put all this in a project rebuild posting but I fear this project will take longer than a reader's patience will allow so I hope to get info question by question and today is petcocks. I just got a 1987 with no petcock at all in the tank, and in reading previous posts I'm left with uncertainty about the best options. Pingel or OEM. The vacuum dialog confused me so can someone explain if I must use the $125 petcock or if the P has proven to be a better option due to some unknown-to-me Achilles heel of the Yamaha petcock design. Is the reserve electric only? I'd appreciate some clarity. And a treat, here is a pic of the paint...I am taking opinions on if it's hip or yuk. I'm not sure. I hope the pic is big enough for you to see the custom paint.

[FJmonkey]

The OEM petcock uses the vacuum as a safety feature. While the engine is running it allows fuel to flow. If you crash or have a leak from a fuel line or carb with the engine off, only the fuel in the carbs can leak. An open petcock and leaking carb can (and has) filled up the crank case. So aside from a fire danger it could also cause mechanical damage. You don't need an OEM petcock, just one with safety in mind. The one on my '86 lasted almost 30 years, at today's prices $125 is $4.16 a year for the next 30 years. I replaced with mine with an '84/'85 petcock. It has a prime position (to fill empty carbs during service) and no elect reserve function. It is also just a little less $.

An that color does not belong on an FJ, just my opinion... But its your bike, you need to like it.

FJmonkey AKA The Red Power Ranger.

[fjbiker84]

I had to replace my 84s OEM petcock after 30 years of service after discovering fuel all over the garage floor one afternoon.  Replaced it with another Yamaha petcock which lasted two years before the exact same thing happened again.  The second time I was advised about changing the oil as gas can find its way into the engine - so another Yamaha OE petcock installed at a cost of $180 and oil change to be safe.  Didn't know about RPMs less expensive petcock but now I do.... and certainly it has to be of equal quality at a better price - maybe better quality too - since a lot of the OE stuff you order has been on the shelf for 30+ years.  Get a new one from RPM that has already been safety wired and drive on.  Oh, as for the paint..... agree with Monkey on that.

[PaulG]

And a treat, here is a pic of the paint...I am taking opinions on if it's hip or yuk. I'm not sure. I hope the pic is big enough for you to see the custom paint.

Paint =  IMO  But if you like it, so what?  If you have doubts, well.....   

That's what our cop cars look like now.

[red]

And a treat, here is a pic of the paint...I am taking opinions on if it's hip or yuk. I'm not sure. I hope the pic is big enough for you to see the custom paint.

TOaksFJ,

In the picture, it looks like the bike has been mud-splattered by a dusty sprinkle of desert rain.  Maybe it needs to be out in the sunshine.  The color is unique, for sure, so if you like it, enjoy it.

I'd get Randy's RPM petcock, if it were my bike.  The OEM petcock looks like junk by comparison.

[Pat Conlon]

FYI Randy's petcocks ARE oem Yamaha parts.
4 options
1) new oem petcock (safety wired) this is what I recommend.
2) manual Pingel petcock. You will have to remove the screen on the side panel intake to get your fingers in there to move the lever to shut off the fuel. You must remember do this every time you shut off the bike.
3) try and rebuild your old petcock. Several folks have tried this over the years and they always end up with a leaking petcock.
4) convert your gravity flow over to a fuel pump. (Lots of work) that way you don't need a vacuum petcock.

Re: Color, I like gray, just not metal flake or monotone

[TOaksFJ]

Ah! Thanks so much for the quick turn around on the intel. I now have clarity.

And thanks for the thoughts on the paint. I am not in love with it I am still wondering what to do because it's a dated paint job, but it's a really good paint job and perhaps it's just ugly enough to be cool...?  In daylight it does look better. I just bought the bike from an estate sale so I'm not married to the paint. BTW the bike has 11,000 miles and hasn't run since 2008 as far as I can tell.

And, since I will have more questions, is it best to just post them here as they come up? Or start a thread under the project rebuilds section? Do those threads get read as vigorously as this section? Curious...

[rlucas]

And, since I will have more questions, is it best to just post them here as they come up? Or start a thread under the project rebuilds section? Do those threads get read as vigorously as this section? Curious...

Do as you like. This is a pretty active forum - I can't speak for others, but I tend to log in and go directly to "Most Recent Posts", just so I don't miss anything (unless I'm absent for a few days). OTOH, I'm not exactly a wealth of FJ info; I leave that to others, but you will get answers. There are very few questions that haven't been addressed.

And the color? Not a fan. The FJ is, in my opinion, too bulky to pull off a monochrome paint job. It needs something to break it up.

[racerrad8]

...Didn't know about RPMs less expensive petcock but now I do.... and certainly it has to be of equal quality at a better price - maybe better quality too - since a lot of the OE stuff you order has been on the shelf for 30+ years.  Get a new one from RPM that has already been safety wired and drive on.

FYI Randy's petcocks ARE oem Yamaha parts.

As Pat has already mentioned, and frankly the only option since there are no aftermarket options, I only sell Yamaha petcocks. Now as far as RPM and selling of Yamaha parts, I do not buy NOS (new old stock) parts. I buy from Yamaha directly from Japan twice a year. I order petcocks on every order and they are made new when the order is placed.

Now as fjbiker84 mentioned, when buying from a local dealer, you might be getting a petcock that has been sitting on the shelf for "years". But I doubt that happens much anymore either since most dealers will take back slow moving or unsold inventory.

The last order was held up for more than a month while Yamaha waited for the supplier to build the petcocks I had ordered. They wanted to send the order without them included, but since the shipping of parts is so expensive, I told them to wait for them to arrive.

When you buy from RPM, you are getting the "freshest" parts available as I buy direct from Yamaha Japan.

BTW, I am just waiting on the mounting plate from Pingle and I will have that manual petcock back in stock.

Randy - RPM

[Harvy]

I would put all this in a project rebuild posting but I fear this project will take longer than a reader's patience will allow so I hope to get info question by question and today is petcocks. I just got a 1987 with no petcock at all in the tank, and in reading previous posts I'm left with uncertainty about the best options. Pingel or OEM. The vacuum dialog confused me so can someone explain if I must use the $125 petcock or if the P has proven to be a better option due to some unknown-to-me Achilles heel of the Yamaha petcock design. Is the reserve electric only? I'd appreciate some clarity. And a treat, here is a pic of the paint...I am taking opinions on if it's hip or yuk. I'm not sure. I hope the pic is big enough for you to see the custom paint.

Off topic....... what are those wheels?

Cheers
Harvy

[Firehawk068]

Off topic....... what are those wheels?

Cheers
Harvy

I was going to mention those.

Love those wheels. They appear to be vintage "Performance Machine" wheels.

Not a fan of the paint, but it's the owner's preference. If he likes it, that's what matters.

[FJmonkey]

I don't remember the name but they are super light and polish up real good. http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=16378.0

[TOaksFJ]

Off topic....... what are those wheels?

Yeah it came with PM wheels. They are aluminum and called "Chicane"

They were pricey in the day.