$10 Chinese vacuum petcock review

The Chinese could make acceptible stuff, if they just tried a little harder. But I guess they just don't care.
I bought this petcock for my KZ400. It actually works well, now that I have it figured out.
It is listed as a ON-RES-PRI petcock, but is actually ON-OFF-PRI
The face plate is labled wrong. The position marked "RES" Is to the left, where the selector lever can't even go, and pushed to the right the petcock is off.
By grounding off the word "RES", I now really like the function of this petcock.
Down is on (when vacuum is applied), horizontal to the left is "OFF", and up serves as both "PRI" and "RES".

 

I guess if it passes fuel and doesn't leak you can't expect much more for the price

Check out this Chinese master cylinder. It works fine for the last 4 years. We have 2, one on each GS 1100E.
They just can't get the labeling correct.

Kelly E wrote:

Check out this Chinese master cylinder. It works fine for the last 4 years. We have 2, one on each GS 1100E.
They just can't get the labeling correct.

 

What do you mean? All you need to do is keep the fluid level between the lower mark and the other lower mark.

"Hi, I'm Larry..."

Nerdy wrote:

Kelly E wrote:

Check out this Chinese master cylinder. It works fine for the last 4 years. We have 2, one on each GS 1100E.
They just can't get the labeling correct.

 

What do you mean? All you need to do is keep the fluid level between the lower mark and the other lower mark.

"Hi, I'm Larry..."

"this is my brother, Darryl, and this is my other brother, Darryl," 

Mikaw wrote:

Nerdy wrote:

Kelly E wrote:

Check out this Chinese master cylinder. It works fine for the last 4 years. We have 2, one on each GS 1100E.
They just can't get the labeling correct.

 

What do you mean? All you need to do is keep the fluid level between the lower mark and the other lower mark.

"Hi, I'm Larry..."

"this is my brother, Darryl, and this is my other brother, Darryl," 

 

By Kelly E:  Check out this Chinese master cylinder. It works fine for the last 4 years. We have 2, one on each GS 1100E.
They just can't get the labeling correct. 

For next time you might be able to find a good used Japanese master cylinder. I installed one from a late model Honda CBR500.

ps: someone here on KZR reported that their made in china mc broke, either at the lever or at the handlebar mount, I forget. I've heard of other chinese parts breaking as well.  

 

Friends don't let friends buy chinese parts!  

I must admit that I bought a petcock made of chineseium this spring for my Gpz900, as i failed to restore any of my old oem taps to a good working condition. I bought one that was 30USD from the ebay seller "ursuper".

it both looks and works like the oem, even though I keep a close eye on it, I certainly prefer a vacuum tap to a fully manual, considering how fast modern fuel gungk up the carbs.
/A
 

Like so many things quality can't be judged purely on origin of manufacture, let's not forget "Dyna" ignitions are made in China (and the components of many more things not advertised as "of Chinese origin") I suspect the copy Dyna-S ignitions all over Ebay for a third of the price of the originals are probably coming out of the same factory without the "blue sticker"
I don't dispute a lot of the really cheap stuff is garbage but I have bought some things without issue. Some of the "odd size" taps and dies that I will use once in my project and probably never again (m20x1.5 for the hub on my speed sensor conversion) don't warrant the price for "quality" alternatives £12 vs £60

If it weren't for Harbor Freight and other Chinese tool suppliers, I would have little more than basic hand tools. But now with tools at 1/4 the price, I have a collection that can take on most projects. These cheap tools give the DIY guys the ability to get it done.
On the other hand, when I have a job that needs to be turned over to the professionals, and I see they use Harbor Freight tools, I turn and run.
 

ckahleer wrote:

If it weren't for Harbor Freight and other Chinese tool suppliers, I would have little more than basic hand tools. But now with tools at 1/4 the price, I have a collection that can take on most projects. These cheap tools give the DIY guys the ability to get it done.
On the other hand, when I have a job that needs to be turned over to the professionals, and I see they use Harbor Freight tools, I turn and run.

 

Agreed, the tools I earned my living with are all Snap-On but for occasional use it doesn't justify the price (most of the time)