Leaky petcock, possible to fix?

MutantsForNukes · 04-30-2008, 05:26 PM

I flipped the fuel on this morning, and by the time I was ready to start, I noticed a small pool of gas, and saw the petcock leaking in the on position, :(

I had to get to work so didn't look closely, but I noticed a few screws on the petcock. Is it possible to replace a seal on one of these things, or should I just get a new one?

It's an 07 Lifan 200-GY5. Thanks.

red2003 · 04-30-2008, 06:09 PM

Sure, yank it apart. My guese is that there is an o-ring in there that needs replacing. Its just a valve, can't be too complicated.

kens97sto171 · 04-30-2008, 08:28 PM

Before you take it apart.. wipe it clean, and be SURE where it is leaking from...

Mine started leaking at 200 miles but was leaking at the welded area where the petcock meets the tank... The petcock was screwed into long tube that then went into a small metalic disk that was then spot welded into place in the tank. it was leaking at the seam.

I fixed it using some High strength, gas and oil proof epoxy to fill the crack between the metal surfaces, THEN I used JB Weld to reinforce the area.. building up a "mounded " area around the petcock tube, this way any side to side force would be spread out, and not put to the small welded area.

Good luck with it.

Ken

Bart · 05-01-2008, 05:30 AM

Just curious, does everyone turn their gas off when sitting overnight? I use mine everyday and therefore don't turn off the gas. Will I be hurting something by not turning it off? I have heard that you should always turn it off especially when it sits for a while.

TeamCheap · 05-01-2008, 05:50 AM

We always try to remember to turn off the fuel on ours ecspecially when we trailer them, 200 miles of wiggling around can let a bit of fuel past the float needle.
I've even pulled over and ran back to double check because its so important.
It can happen with it just standing still in a garage if the float needle is worn or sticks a bit.

What can happen if left on is the fuel can slowly leak past the float needle and into the engine which is not a very good thing to have happen.

The fuel (even a small amount) in the oil will break down/thin out the oil and you wont get the proper lubrication needed for the engine and damage can result.

A good thing to do when checking the oil is the smell for gas in the oil, just remove the dipstick, wipe it, reinsert, pull out, make sure it has enough oil and if it looks runny and/or smells like gas change the oil.(people still check their oil right-not just using the sight glass)

red2003 · 05-01-2008, 07:48 AM

2000 miles on my Roketa. I haven't turned off the gas yet. Fuel stabilizer over the winter (about 5 months) and it fired right up this Spring. The needle valve in the carb keeps excess fuel from running through. That's what the float is for. Now if I were gonna trailer the thing around, I WOULD kill the gas.

katoranger · 05-01-2008, 08:52 AM

I have gotton into the habit of turning the gas off everytime I park it for more than a few hours.

I have had crankcases full of gas before.

Allen

SpeedSouth · 05-01-2008, 12:29 PM

I always turn mine off. Cut the key and switch off the gas. It's a normal part of the routine. It's a little safer, IMO, and it's quick and easy.

Why not? I can't see a reason to leave it on, myself. (Unless you have that fancy remote start 8O )

fatboy250 · 05-01-2008, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpeedSouth

Why not? I can't see a reason to leave it on, myself. (Unless you have that fancy remote start 8O )

Have you ever had a leaky petcock that was just worn out from being turned on and off everyday?

TeamCheap · 05-01-2008, 05:05 PM

Count yourself lucky red2003.

I never used to shut ours off much years back but now it seems like its more of a problem.We just turn it off to save us from the possible headache its not like its difficult turn a tiny little fuel valve.

fatboy250 I'd rather have to deal with a leaky fuel petcock than to have to drain the oil out and replace or worse just ride it until I notice something is wrong with the engine.

Not using the fuel petcock because you dont want to wear it out is about the same as saying not to use your blinkers because the bulbs will burn out.

Oh well to each his own.

SpeedSouth · 05-01-2008, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatboy250

Have you ever had a leaky petcock that was just worn out from being turned on and off everyday?

Not on any of my motorcycles, no.

I guess I can understand them wearing out, but I'd still rather replace or rebuild a petcock than have fuel run out because it was left on. Chances are, it would start leaking when I'm turning it on or off, so I'd be there to stop it, hopefully.

Granted, I'm not speaking from practical experience. Perhaps one day, if I eventually encounter a worn, leaking petcock, I'll change my mind.

I have dealt with issues resulting from a rusty tank. Everything had to pulled and cleaned and the tank recoated. I'm glad plastic doesn't rust.

IronFist · 05-01-2008, 05:35 PM

Never did with the chinabike. The honda had a bad petcock that leaked through the tubes, Res,On, and off. I changed oil a lot and constantly was sniffing the dipstick for gas. Now with the shiny new petcock, it's just nice to turn it off and I know it's off.

knothead · 05-01-2008, 07:29 PM

I just "rebuilt" the petcock in my Yamaha. 1 o-ring for $1. Less than 5 min. to fix.

And I always shut off the fuel when shut off the engine.

stixx3969 · 05-02-2008, 12:56 PM

Speaking of petcocks, I have a Roketa DB-07A. I cant remember in terms of the lever which position is on and which is reserve. Can anyone "point" me in the right direction?
Thanx

katoranger · 05-02-2008, 12:59 PM

The lever on mine is ON-lever down, OFF-lever horizontal, RES-lever up.

Allen

04-30-2008, 05:26 PM	#1
MutantsForNukes Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 16	Leaky petcock, possible to fix? I flipped the fuel on this morning, and by the time I was ready to start, I noticed a small pool of gas, and saw the petcock leaking in the on position, :( I had to get to work so didn't look closely, but I noticed a few screws on the petcock. Is it possible to replace a seal on one of these things, or should I just get a new one? It's an 07 Lifan 200-GY5. Thanks.
	0

04-30-2008, 06:09 PM	#2
red2003 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Northern Vermont, USA Posts: 1,222	Sure, yank it apart. My guese is that there is an o-ring in there that needs replacing. Its just a valve, can't be too complicated. __________________ First Chinabike: 2006 Roketa RSX200E Current Chinabikes: 2023 Titan DLX & 2021 Lifan KP Mini w/ 210cc BRT kit, 22 HP!
	0

05-01-2008, 07:48 AM	#6
red2003 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Northern Vermont, USA Posts: 1,222	2000 miles on my Roketa. I haven't turned off the gas yet. Fuel stabilizer over the winter (about 5 months) and it fired right up this Spring. The needle valve in the carb keeps excess fuel from running through. That's what the float is for. Now if I were gonna trailer the thing around, I WOULD kill the gas. __________________ First Chinabike: 2006 Roketa RSX200E Current Chinabikes: 2023 Titan DLX & 2021 Lifan KP Mini w/ 210cc BRT kit, 22 HP!
	0

05-01-2008, 08:52 AM	#7
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	I have gotton into the habit of turning the gas off everytime I park it for more than a few hours. I have had crankcases full of gas before. Allen __________________ You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone.
	0

05-01-2008, 12:29 PM	#8
SpeedSouth Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Atlanta, Ga Posts: 710	I always turn mine off. Cut the key and switch off the gas. It's a normal part of the routine. It's a little safer, IMO, and it's quick and easy. Why not? I can't see a reason to leave it on, myself. (Unless you have that fancy remote start 8O ) __________________ 2008 American Lifan LF200 GY-5 (930 km) - Sold 2007 Kawasaki EX250 - Sold 2006 Kawasaki EX650R - My new ride! 2005 Kawasaki EX250 - A new project
	0

04-30-2008, 08:28 PM	#3
kens97sto171 Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 193	Before you take it apart.. wipe it clean, and be SURE where it is leaking from... Mine started leaking at 200 miles but was leaking at the welded area where the petcock meets the tank... The petcock was screwed into long tube that then went into a small metalic disk that was then spot welded into place in the tank. it was leaking at the seam. I fixed it using some High strength, gas and oil proof epoxy to fill the crack between the metal surfaces, THEN I used JB Weld to reinforce the area.. building up a "mounded " area around the petcock tube, this way any side to side force would be spread out, and not put to the small welded area. Good luck with it. Ken
	0

05-01-2008, 05:30 AM	#4
Bart Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg, NC Posts: 65	Just curious, does everyone turn their gas off when sitting overnight? I use mine everyday and therefore don't turn off the gas. Will I be hurting something by not turning it off? I have heard that you should always turn it off especially when it sits for a while.
	0

05-01-2008, 05:50 AM	#5
TeamCheap Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: directly under the earths sun............NOW Posts: 2,302	We always try to remember to turn off the fuel on ours ecspecially when we trailer them, 200 miles of wiggling around can let a bit of fuel past the float needle. I've even pulled over and ran back to double check because its so important. It can happen with it just standing still in a garage if the float needle is worn or sticks a bit. What can happen if left on is the fuel can slowly leak past the float needle and into the engine which is not a very good thing to have happen. The fuel (even a small amount) in the oil will break down/thin out the oil and you wont get the proper lubrication needed for the engine and damage can result. A good thing to do when checking the oil is the smell for gas in the oil, just remove the dipstick, wipe it, reinsert, pull out, make sure it has enough oil and if it looks runny and/or smells like gas change the oil.(people still check their oil right-not just using the sight glass)
	0

05-01-2008, 05:05 PM	#10
TeamCheap Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: directly under the earths sun............NOW Posts: 2,302	Count yourself lucky red2003. I never used to shut ours off much years back but now it seems like its more of a problem.We just turn it off to save us from the possible headache its not like its difficult turn a tiny little fuel valve. fatboy250 I'd rather have to deal with a leaky fuel petcock than to have to drain the oil out and replace or worse just ride it until I notice something is wrong with the engine. Not using the fuel petcock because you dont want to wear it out is about the same as saying not to use your blinkers because the bulbs will burn out. Oh well to each his own.
	0

05-01-2008, 05:35 PM	#12
IronFist Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Toronto Ontario Canada Posts: 2,585	Never did with the chinabike. The honda had a bad petcock that leaked through the tubes, Res,On, and off. I changed oil a lot and constantly was sniffing the dipstick for gas. Now with the shiny new petcock, it's just nice to turn it off and I know it's off.
	0

05-01-2008, 07:29 PM	#13
knothead Join Date: May 2007 Location: In the land of the busted up ricebowl Posts: 815	I just "rebuilt" the petcock in my Yamaha. 1 o-ring for $1. Less than 5 min. to fix. And I always shut off the fuel when shut off the engine.
	0

05-02-2008, 12:56 PM	#14
stixx3969 Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 146	Speaking of petcocks, I have a Roketa DB-07A. I cant remember in terms of the lever which position is on and which is reserve. Can anyone "point" me in the right direction? Thanx
	0

05-02-2008, 12:59 PM	#15
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	The lever on mine is ON-lever down, OFF-lever horizontal, RES-lever up. Allen __________________ You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone.
	0