Topic: Petcock Bolt Washers

[heyitsrama]

Howdy,
I'm making progress on this bike! yahoo! However found another pickle that I'm in, I needed to rebuild the petcock because it was all nasty and jammed up. I've gotten it through the soda blaster and am about to put it back on. When I put everything back together, I found that the outlet on it leaks when in the off position. I was reading online and saw that the bolt washers (fiber?) needs to be snug like a bug to avoid this issue.

so.

Now I mailed the guy that i bought the kit from, he was like "yeah just thread it on" I'm over here like godzilla trying to thread a needle..
I've tried to get the bolts super cold (does it shrink?) and then get the washer on, no luck.
Should i attempt to boil the washers and then try to get them on? Anyone have a secret?
I've searched around with no luck. :0

________________________________________________________________________________________________
EDIT for Answer...

Figured out how to get them on, work the tip of the bolt onto the washer till its stuck, use some teethless pliers to get it on farther, then work it back off, and back on. Repeat until finished. Takes (5-10) min each.

[IndyFour]

I don't think the washers need to necessarily be tight around the screws....just that the screws need to be tightened down with the fiber washers under them.  When I rebuilt mine, I couldn't find any fiber washers locally and used nylon (its supposedly gas safe?).  Anyway, they've been in there for a couple of years now with no issues.

I think the fiber type do plump up a bit in fuel.  You might try soaking them first?  Or maybe run a drill bit through them to enlarge the hole.  Ideally you could go find the correct size or try another material like I did....nylon or copper.

Good luck.

[Old Scrambler]

I grab the edge with a pliers and carefully thread the screw in far enough to get started on the tank.........then finish the job letting the tank push the washer on as you screw it in............don't forget the petcock.  As an alternate..........I slice a small rubber grommet like a bagel and use that instead of the fiber washer.

[heyitsrama]

I'll try soaking one of them to see if it makes a difference. with the other ill try to use the plier technique..
Indy, I was reading on some other posts that people do this, how does it even leak if all it needs is this washer?
Old, I found a 6m nut, and was going to use a wrench to move it down once the treading was far down enough! hahaha good call.

[IndyFour]

When fuel leaks through the screw holes, it basically just bypasses the off position of the peacock....fuel can leak directly from the tank into the bowl.   In my instance, I had the peacock off for about a month while the tank was being painted.  In that time, the original washers dried up and would no longer seal....hence the nylon replacements.  You may be able to find some suitable fiber washers at a plumbing supply place.

[heyitsrama]

It's done!
Indy ill keep that in mind when I'm going to paint the tank this winter.
I was able to use the plier method, as well as moving it back and forth on the screw (5-10 min) until finally it was able to be screwed into place. Last thing is getting the carb bowl drain bolts undone...... any hints on this? I've tried ATF, boiling water with no cigar.

[IndyFour]

Good...all back together.   

On the carb bowl drains.....not sure.  Maybe try some PB blaster and give it time.  Make sure you use the appropriate size bladed screwdriver as the heads will strip/break with too much force (know from experience  ).  If they are really stuck, it's probably because the orings under there are no good and someone has really cranked them down to keep them from leaking.

[heyitsrama]

All the bowls seem to have this issue, ill let them soak for 2 days, i have finals tomorrow and Wed. I did not even know that there was an o-ring there, i actually realized it when i had to look up why there was a spare o-ring in the sets that I ordered. Oh man and to source some fuel lines.... the rubber that goes from carbs 1-2 3-4 is that just a super short fuel line? OH MAN WHEN THIS THING STARTS TO RUN im going to let out the single tear..

[Rookster]

Or you could throw those fiber washers in the trash and use real honest to goodness sealing washers. 

http://www.mcmaster.com/#cadinlnord/93786a125/=m1otfi

2 of those and you will never have petcock leaks again.  A lot of people just ignore the gas leaking into the float bowls and trust the float needle to stop it.  If you keep the bike on the sidestand with those leaking washers, gas will eventually overflow the bowl and find its way into your airbox.  Then it can cause problems with your airfilter or the seal between the 2 airbox halves.

Scott

[heyitsrama]

Thanks Rookster, ill consider them for when I'm going to disassemble everything for the paint during winter. I've yet to see it leak, but will have to check once everything is set up. But ill def. consider those if these ones dry up during the painting process.
I was reading that in the Brian Barnes Carb Rebuild guide, that there should never be any leak at all at the petcock because it can junk up the carbs too, which was actually why I did not use the Red Washers that were originally in there, they caused it to drip leak when it was in the off position.