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Gas petcock 1980 GS550L

Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 6:38 pm
by pchast
How do I know which way the slot in the gas petcock should be? There is no handle just a screwdriver slot and no markings on this vacuum operated valve on my gas tank. I'm curious. Is there a reserve setting or a prime? I looked in my Chilton and on Bike Bandit and found no markings. Anyone remember?

It restarted after 4 months off. Cranked for maybe 30 sec with the choke and fired right up. Burbled a little for a minute with a poor idle. Now it seems just fine....

Thanks
Pete

Re: Gas petcock 1980 GS550L

Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 8:04 pm
by Wrider
Then it seems you have it in the right position. If you hadn't, the gas would have dried in the carbs and become a very gooey mess that smells and acts a lot like lacquer thinner and the bike wouldn't have run. Now I'd suggest running through all the gas in that tank ASAP and refilling it with fresh gas, and watching for gas leaks, as chances are the float needles are starting to get worn from it being set to on for so long.