Petcock position????

Have a 78 KZ1000 with vacuum petcock. Does the long end of the handle point to the correct position or the other way?

Not sure if it's the same, but on my 650 the long end if the handle used to move it and the other end it the pointer. Do you have a vacuum petcock? Does it have three settings (On, Prime, Reserve)? If so, easy way to tell would be to see if you can get both sides of the handle to point at the Prime position. If it's like mine, you won't and so it's easy then to tell which end if the pointer.

I've got the same bike. Use the handle as the pointer. Example, handle points down for 'ON', point it up for 'RES'. It's the most trouble free petcock I've ever had.

If so, easy way to tell would be to see if you can get both sides of the handle to point at the Prime position. If it's like mine, you won't and so it's easy then to tell which end if the pointer.


Don't know why I didn't think of that HERR. The long end "IS" the pointer. Thanks

"long end "IS" the pointer"

Whoa, going to leave that one alone for it will start a whole slew of non Bike related replies... :laugh:

OMR

Old Man Rock wrote:

"long end "IS" the pointer"

Whoa, going to leave that one alone for it will start a whole slew of non Bike related replies... :laugh:

OMR

SAYS WHO???????

OK, I figured out the petcock, but it is either bad or I have my fuel lines routed wrong. It is a 3 port vacuum petcock: 1 out the bottom and 2 out the sides. I have the small port hooked to the vacuum port on #3 carb. Do each of the other ports go to 1/2 and 3/4?

On my '78 the one out the bottom is fuel to 1&2. The lowest one out the side is fuel to 3&4. The highest one out the side is vacumm.

1978KZ wrote:

OK, I figured out the petcock, but it is either bad or I have my fuel lines routed wrong. It is a 3 port vacuum petcock: 1 out the bottom and 2 out the sides. I have the small port hooked to the vacuum port on #3 carb. Do each of the other ports go to 1/2 and 3/4?

Do each of the other ports go to 1/2 and 3/4? YES; and doesn't matter which petcock out goes to which carb fuel intake nipple.

With all three lines disconnected, fuel should pour from petcock in PRI position.

Could attach a clean spare hose to the vacuum port. Then suck on it to create vacuum while petcock's in ON or RES position, and fuel should pour from petcock.

Sometimes the diaphrams fail whereby the vacuum doesn't allow fuel flow in the ON or RES position. But the PRI position should always flow fuel.

Be sure there's enough fuel in the tank for the ON position.

Re-test with fuel tank CAP ajar (to test for possible clogged vent which could disallow fuel flow).

Good Luck!

For those special viewers, hope it's recognized that this response manages to get "nipple", "suck", and "diaphram" in the same post. :laugh:

OK, now I feel pretty stupid. After taking the tank off several times, I realized that there was not enough gas to run in the on position. I guess thats what I get for playing with my petcock.
:laugh: