Fuel Petcock on 86' fj1200...

[europe50]

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

[Fred]

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.

[europe50]

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

[Ratchet_72]

Good luck finding a rebuild kit for the 86/87 petcock.

[Fred]

Didn't some one have info on using kawasaki parts? Speak up please!

[Fred]

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.

[europe50]

OK, great that actually does make sence. It's a notification method.
Thanks!

Anyone got an idea around where to get a rebuild kit?

[SlowOldGuy]

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.

[europe50]

Thanks Fred and Slowguy!

[rktmanfj]

Thanks Fred and Slowguy!

Hey, that's SlowOLDguy...       

Randy T
Indy

[europe50]

You are only "OLD", if you think your old, LOL!

[europe50]

Thanks for the help guys!

[europe50]

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.

[threejagsteve]

Maybe you'd be better off trying an auto parts...

[DanielW]

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