1500 SE PETCOCK REMOVAL

[JDEWALRUS]

After returning from a ride my bike smells of gas, usually after refueling before. I've replaced the gas cap which didn't help. I've found if I open the gas tank there is a small burst of pressure released. I thought about rebuilding fuel petcock but can't see how to remove from the plastic enclosure. Has someone else experienced this problem?

[virgilmobile]

Mine had a pinhole and would drip out the bottom.I removed the top shelter to get it out,seat first.

[furnacedoc]

Hello, I just rebuilt mine, picked up a rebuild kit off the internet, Honda only sells new petcocks. have to remove the right side fairing pieces and top housing . also replaced the fuel filter while I had it open. all went well with no leaks, I recommend watching the video for the rebuild, it is easy to do. see ya on the road

[gordonv]

I don't know much about the GW, but if you have a pressurized gas tank, then the vent is not working.

But if that is not working, allowing the tank to be at atmospheric pressure, then where is the smell of fuel coming from?

[ct1500]

Perfectly normal for the tank to hold a slight pressure.

Holding the pressure is a good sign and we can conclude tank, cap, filter and lines going to fuel valve are not the problem. A weak point of the carbs are sometimes the bowl gaskets will leak fuel and can be noticed by a visual look for accumulated dirt in the area. The other most likely area would be your CA charcoal canister system.

[bjatwood]

My 98 will pressure up a bit too. When unscrewing the gas cap, it vents a bit. Has always done this the 2 years I've owned it...

[bellboy40]

All the Goldwing models I have owned (all except the 1800) have had a hiss when removing the fuel cap after riding for a while. That is normal operation.

[ETNTHEMADCHINAMAN]

Ok so I have a question along the lines of this subject. Since the GW has an electric fuel pump is it ok to run it without the petcock. Recently I had to pay a hefty wrecker bill to have mine towed because the petcock stuck closed at a red light. Fuel delivery is good vacuum is good but will not pass through the petcock. I.bypassed it to test and make sure there wasn't a blockage elsewhere. So other than fuel shutoff in an accident does it serve any other major purpose? Can a run a manual petcock or none at all? My logic being is if the engine isn't running no fuel is being supplied to the carbs anyway. So is it just a redundant component?

[gordonv]

I'm not the best to answer that question, but my feelings are the same, it's not needed on an electric fuel pump bike, that especially needs to pump fuel up.

I currently ride a 1500 Valkyrie, and our fuel is gravity feed. Many have altered their diaphragms to eliminate the vacuum shut off. The cover is bolted on, disassemble, and reassemble with the spring on the other side, which instead of holding the fuel closed, it's now held open, and the vacuum does nothing.

A trick I always keep in mind in case I have a failure while on the road.

[ETNTHEMADCHINAMAN]

gordonv Thanks. I just took the whole thing out and connected the fuel filter directly to the feed line.

[DenverWinger]

Goldwing 1500 can gravity-feed fuel it the tank is over half-full.

Generally not a problem. But at some point when you park the bike if you have a fuel seepage past a carburetor float valve - stuck or piece of crud in it - the gravity feed can flood that carb and hydrolock the engine. A Hydrolocked 1500 can bend connecting rods.

The primary purpose of the petcock valve is to prevent this possibility, rather than fuel shutoff in an accident. That's handled by the BAS killing power to the pump.

[WingAdmin]

Exactly what DenverWinger said.

Hydrolocking an engine due to fuel seepage can destroy your engine.

Petcock rebuild kits are cheap and available, and you can rebuild yours to like-new condition in less than an hour.

[ETNTHEMADCHINAMAN]

Ok Valid points that I wholeheartedly agree on however again my logic is this. If it requires an electric fuel pump to actually put gas to the carb when it's not running how is gravity going to suck fuel from the fuel pump? Am I wrong in the Idea that if the bike is parked and not running that fuel can't escape the line? Even if the gas line was let's say cracked somewhere beyond the fuel filter is that even enough gas to hydrolock the engine and at the point wouldn't you see gas leaking? I'm not being a smart ass or arguing I'm simply trying to figure out the logic. I have a manual petcock in the way btw I'm just curious if it's actually needed

[Rambozo]

With a full tank, I believe the fuel level is higher than the carbs.

[ETNTHEMADCHINAMAN]

Ok but it's not a gravity fed system can the fuel bypass the electric fuel pump?

[Rambozo]

Yes. There are check valves so it can syphon right through as long as the level is high enough. Maybe not fast, but even a slow drip adds up overnight.

[ETNTHEMADCHINAMAN]

Ok so that is what I needed to know that helps alot. I did not know that was possible so with that in mind I know what to do. Thank you for clearing that up. I have had it happen on a gravity fed bike before and the needle valve stuck. It didn't flood the engine with gas but it leaked out the overflow and drained a whole tank of gas onto my garage floor. Thanks to.all who answered.

[gordonv]

Now as I said, I don't have my GW GL1500 any more, but I would say no, even a full tank will not feed fuel from the tank. The vacuum petcock is the highest point of the fuel delivery system. It comes out of the top of the tank, and up to the filler cap, then down to the dual carbs. Can it siphon fuel? I don't know. I would check to see if the non working pump allows fuel to pass through it. Otherwise there is only that fuel in the line, and it would need to flow to start siphoning action.

I've a VT1100T fuel pump I was going to add to my Valk so I have a fuel cut off, and never need to worry about fuel delivery issues.

As for a hydro lock, there is no worry of one, as long as you know what it is, and what the sound of one is ("THUNK"), and not hit that starter switch again. I have a Valkyrie, 6 carbs, 6 floats, 3x the possibility of a hydro lock, we worry all the time. But I've driven for 2 years with a non functioning petcock.

[ETNTHEMADCHINAMAN]

gordonv Thanks that was my thought too. I can easily test this theory but at this point with the manual petcock already ordered I don't see a point in arguing further I mean to test this I'd have to take it all back apart anyway. I think our logic is pretty sound on this one but to error on the side of caution I'll go ahead and install it for the extra what if situation that could possibly maybe hypothetically occur

[ETNTHEMADCHINAMAN]

WingAdmin I took the petcock apart to see why it malfunctioned and there were no pinholes and the rubber actually felt fine. I'm pretty sure it had been replaced or rebuilt before there was no grit or trash in it and for the age of the bike no discoloration so I'm a bit stimied as to why it stopped working. I'm just going to go low tech on this and put in a manual one that way the only error in lack of fuel delivery will by rider error. I actually had looked at the rebuild kits before I posted. I really just kinda wanted more info before I proceeded but with all the info provided for my piece of mind the manual petcock is the right choice for my personal needs.

[WingAdmin]

WingAdmin I took the petcock apart to see why it malfunctioned and there were no pinholes and the rubber actually felt fine. I'm pretty sure it had been replaced or rebuilt before there was no grit or trash in it and for the age of the bike no discoloration so I'm a bit stimied as to why it stopped working. I'm just going to go low tech on this and put in a manual one that way the only error in lack of fuel delivery will by rider error. I actually had looked at the rebuild kits before I posted. I really just kinda wanted more info before I proceeded but with all the info provided for my piece of mind the manual petcock is the right choice for my personal needs.

I would double check the vacuum - make sure you are seeing sufficient vacuum to operate it.

Another alternative is an electric petcock that opens up when you switch the ignition on. Some people have replaced their vacuum petcock with one of those.

https://www.amazon.com/HFS-Electric-Sol ... /ref=sr_1_