Getting ready for the first desert race of the season, couple of weeks to go. I stored the bike a few months ago, ran the fuel bowl dry, petcock off of course, stabilized full fuel tank. Stored indoors with battery tender.

I got the bike out, fuel to on, it started right up. I noticed that the petcock was turning roughly. Maybe gritty but not as smooth as I thought it should.

There is fuel leaking from the face of the petcock in all positions except for the "off" position which is helpful.

So I took the petcock apart and there is a single O-ring in there. under the face of the petcock there is a wavy washer that looks to hold tension against the O-ring so my theory is that it just got squished. I cleaned and even lubed the area and reassembled with no change.

I plan to buy a new O-ring and put it in. Do you have any other suggestions? Ever seen this before? I'm still using the OEM tank and petcock.

By the way, with a full fuel tank you can lay the bike over for petcock service and the tank won't leak much.

 

Has anybody taken their petcock apart? I found an extra piece in mine that was not on the parts diagram. A thin, wave washer between the dial and the face that looks to put tension on the dial.

New petcock assembly is 60$. New O-ring is 10$.

 

Interesting. I just removed my petcock altogether, those things weigh ounces!!!

 

Did you also remove that useless butterfly valve from the carb?

 

Maybe try to buy from a seal & o-ring shop; should be cheaper from them. Let them know you're sealing gasoline they should sell you a Viton o-ring.

 

leaky **** face... that's funny.

 

Mine did the same thing....just get a new o-ring and bend the wave washer a little to put more tension on it....hasn't leaked in a year.

 

Yes... thread title of the year right here.

 

For a little while but the bike just ran wide open.
Leaky **** face….there are pills for that.

 

This is good. So yours had the wave washer that isn't in the parts diagram that's great. Mine only had a single "wave" in it.

I worked the petcock back and forth today and after letting it set I am down to nearly no leakage so I went for a ride thinking that maybe some flow and heat might stop the leak altogether. It has seemed to stop completely after a nice 15 mile road ride.

So I think I'll order the O-ring and then keep it on hand. If needed, I'll put it in and reuse the wave washer.

With my luck, the dang thing will be leaking tomorrow and making a huge puddle. See, the leak sometimes was happening in the "off" position which could drain the tank.

I'll admit to having a little fun with the thread title. Couldn't resist.

Man that little 15 mile ride was nice. Cold and some rain but the new-to-me Q4 and proper jetting make this bike much peppier.