Topic: Do new fuel valves have to soak before working properly?

[KB02]

My bike with the '72 750 tank recently decided to pee gas all over the garage floor. This meant two things: 1.) The new float valves weren't working, and 2.) The Fuel valve wasn't working (I had left the fuel turned off). As the fuel valve has given me problems before, I decided to just replace it. The new one came today and I installed it. On position works. Reserve position works. Off position... drip... drip... drip...

Did I just get a bum valve, or might I be okay once the seals soak up with gas? (wishful thinking?)
The new valve came with lock washers for the screws. Might that be part of the problem? Shouldn't the screws have some kind of fibrous sealing washer (or at least a flat washer) instead of lock washers?

[scottly]

The new valve came with lock washers for the screws. Might that be part of the problem?

Yes

[Don R]

 Agreed, they can't seal without the fiber washers, a lesson I also learned the hard way.

[KB02]

You know, the funny part is that question was just something that popped into my head as I was typing out this post. Sometimes it takes saying something out loud to figure it out, you know?

Okay, where do find new fiber washers? Would a regular hardware store carry them? I would not recommend the washers from the old valve for reuse. 

[scottly]

I don't know where to get new ones, but the old ones would be better than the lock washers. (Actually, I detest those split lock washers, and don't use them anywhere. )

[Alan F.]

17993-250-000 they're for 6mm screws.

A web search for fiber washer brings up home depot, but I don't recall ever seeing them there in passing while looking for other hardware.

Are copper washers an option here?

[Don R]

https://www.partzilla.com/product/honda/17993-250-000?ref=e8b1fa49070a2b5f00070046726e03b1b457ced9

 Holy wow.

[dave500]

ive used copper washers on a few and no leaks at all.

[bryanj]

I have used copper and dowty type also generic fibre but sometimes nothing but the Honda ones work and yesthey a damned expensive

[Kevin D]

I removed the petcock when the tank was cleaned and painted. I reassembled it with orings and it leaked. I had saved the original fiber washers and put them back in place and no leaks.

[newday777]

You know, the funny part is that question was just something that popped into my head as I was typing out this post. Sometimes it takes saying something out loud to figure it out, you know?

Okay, where do find new fiber washers? Would a regular hardware store carry them? I would not recommend the washers from the old valve for reuse. 

Did you buy an aftermarket fuel valve?

[KB02]

https://www.partzilla.com/product/honda/17993-250-000?ref=e8b1fa49070a2b5f00070046726e03b1b457ced9

 Holy wow.

Yeah, wow. If I bought three of those, they would cost more than the fuel valve I just bought! Which should answer newday777's question of "was it aftermarket?" Yes, It was.

As a first step, I guess I'll try cleaning up the old stockers as a first step.

[Kevnz]

On a related matter, despite having all new washers, o rings and disc, my tap kept weeping from the joint between the bowl and the body. Turns out the filter disc was slightly dished when viewed from the side, so the centre bottomed out before the outer rim. This prevented the disc and the Oring from seating against the body of the petcock,no matter how tightly you did up the bowl. Of course, with the tank on the bike you have no chance of seeing what's happening, only when it or the petcock are on the bench can you see what the cause is. Just flatten the filter disc and ensure both the centre and the rim seat properly.

[ekpent]

 Hopefully they supplied the rubber seal for the removable bowl.

[Stev-o]

Off position... drip... drip... drip...
Did I just get a bum valve...

Yes, aftermarket petcocks are typically cheap crap, I will no longer buy one.
Spend the money and get the correct Honda part and be done with it. 
Now, the cheap part actually cost more as you have to replace it.

[KB02]

Well, I cleaned up the old fiber washers with some easy circles on some 120 grit sand paper. They actually clean up pretty well (and I was honestly expecting them to fall apart). They seem to be working and not allowing gas to flow with the valve in the off position, so I'll call that a win for now.

Now I'm just wishing I had gotten the inspiration to work on this beast just before winter sets in... Always the way, huh?

[Kevnz]

Never mind, a win is a win. I agree wholeheartedly with Steve-O, and avoid aftermarket stuff like the plague. If compare aftermarket side-by-side with genuine, you can see what you're paying for, and why it's worth paying! Take aftermarket indicators; cheap ones look the same externally, but lack the cushions inside for the bulbs and general quality. As they say, you get what you pay for.

[KB02]

As they say, you get what you pay for.

I hear what you are saying. I acknowledge your position. And I will even concede the point. But at the moment, I have gas in my gas tank and not on my garage floor. This fuel valve may not be the permanent solution, but even if it turns out to be just a temporary fix, I'm happy.