800 FUEL LEAK

greenbarn · June 01, 2016, 20:33:43 PM

Nice, Trall.

Trall · May 11, 2016, 10:35:19 AM

Another installed pic

Trall · May 11, 2016, 10:11:56 AM

Update I got my new petcock yesterday and just installed it with 5/16 fuel line that had the same inner fuel hole diameter as the line on the bike. Found some new bike matching hose clamps that work perfect with the 5/16 new fuel line. Also added for prevention a new inline see through fuel filter. Left tank on bike and installed new petcock with lines in 15 min. Quick and easy. I did not need to order the Oring since the new petcock comes with one pre-installed. Small rubber vacuum cap for old vacuum line. Looks perfect.......Now with a manual petcock less internal parts to go bad and have a fuel leak/mess from the old vacuum controlled petcock. Don't forget to change oil and filter and when parking and turning the key off switch petcock to off. When you do one then do the other and minimize future fuel leaks.

Hopefully my pics load, been having issues posting pics lately on here. The reserve tubes basically same height and simply bolts on.

Note- The new fuel line tighten down fine with new colored fuel clamps and for the old 1/4 fuel line coming from the carb. you just add electrical tape to increase diameter of hose for new clamp to secure. In the future when I am into that area of the carb. I will change out that old line with new again for prevention because of age.

Old vacuum petcock on left and new petcock on right

Quote from: Trall on May 04, 2016, 14:33:06 PM
OK THX., your right on. I went back to the partzilla.com and checked the 51023-1330 petcock # and it's for Nomad's and Classic 's like you stated are both carb. bikes like the 800 Drifter. That 51023-1330 is the manual Kaw. petcock from those bikes that has the same "O RING" gasket size that should of course fit the 800 Drifter. I also called and asked their tech. dept and the guy said it would fit my bike. The only differences of course is it is a Manaual petcock and not vacuumed control like the 800 petcock and the fuel line nipple comes out 90 degree to the left of the petcock. Won't be a problem since I am adding a inline fuel filter for extra measure of clean gas going to the carb. and have to add and route new fuel line.

I'll confirm and post a update when the parts come.

Also IMPORANT to note that like GB said to make sure to change your engine oil and filter after fixing the fuel leak issue. He said "Don't forget to check your oil real well too. Leaking fuel can end up seeping past the rings, and end up in the crank case. Thin oil is not good..." I am just changing it for good measure/just in case. Same reason for adding a inline fuel filter for carb. bikes to eliminate fuel issues down the road.

Like Ben said An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

greenbarn · May 05, 2016, 20:36:33 PM

Yes - the 1500 petcock I was previously looking at had to be a 1500 classic model. I don't remember what years I was looking at. I ended up just staying with the stock vac. petcock.

Trall · May 04, 2016, 14:33:06 PM

OK THX., your right on. I went back to the partzilla.com and checked the 51023-1330 petcock # and it's for Nomad's and Classic 's like you stated are both carb. bikes like the 800 Drifter. That 51023-1330 is the manual Kaw. petcock from those bikes that has the same "O RING" gasket size that should of course fit the 800 Drifter. I also called and asked their tech. dept and the guy said it would fit my bike. The only differences of course is it is a Manaual petcock and not vacuumed control like the 800 petcock and the fuel line nipple comes out 90 degree to the left of the petcock. Won't be a problem since I am adding a inline fuel filter for extra measure of clean gas going to the carb. and have to add and route new fuel line.

I'll confirm and post a update when the parts come.

Also IMPORANT to note that like GB said to make sure to change your engine oil and filter after fixing the fuel leak issue. He said "Don't forget to check your oil real well too. Leaking fuel can end up seeping past the rings, and end up in the crank case. Thin oil is not good..." I am just changing it for good measure/just in case. Same reason for adding a inline fuel filter for carb. bikes to eliminate fuel issues down the road.

Like Ben said An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Troll · May 04, 2016, 11:01:23 AM

Quote from: Trall on May 04, 2016, 09:15:02 AM
HI TROLL. Please elaborate- So will the 1500 Petcock Will OR Will not fit on the 800 and work as a manual petcock??? The 1500 petcock has an ON/OFF/RES making it a manual petcock. Right? Compared to the 800 vacuum controlled petcock.

1500 Drifters are injected, and have NO fuel valve. Carbed models are the only ones with a valve....

Trall · May 04, 2016, 09:15:02 AM

Quote from: Troll on May 04, 2016, 07:57:00 AM
The 1500 Drifter is Fuel Injected, and has NO FUEL VALVE at all....1500 Classic/Nomad with a carb would have one, however

HI TROLL. Please elaborate- So will the 1500 Petcock Will OR Will not fit on the 800 and work as a manual petcock??? The 1500 petcock has an ON/OFF/RES making it a manual petcock. Right? Compared to the 800 vacuum controlled petcock.

gdrudd13 · May 04, 2016, 08:01:54 AM

My tank had some surface rust in it, and after I cleaned it out I put another inline filter right after the petcock. It was a clear one so I could see what was going on. It was also a smaller diameter one so it didn't look as bad. I only left it one for a little bit to make sure it was trapping anything in the filter. The "filter" on the petcock is really just a single layer of mesh and doesn't seem like it would be overly effective so an inline filter wouldn't be that bad of an idea to run.

Troll · May 04, 2016, 07:57:00 AM

The 1500 Drifter is Fuel Injected, and has NO FUEL VALVE at all....1500 Classic/Nomad with a carb would have one, however

Old Drifter · May 03, 2016, 21:23:18 PM

Sounds like your on the right track and have it figured out! Let us know how it works out.

Trall · May 03, 2016, 19:00:08 PM

I took my drifter out last week and parked it in the garage. Hours later my wife comes home from work and says she smells gas in the garage. I keep my mower and all gas cans in a shed to went to check my Drifter. I found a small puddle spot under my bike. Got out flashlight trying to find the source and it lead back to the right side up to the carb behind the air cleaner.

I am thinking Oh great........

I got on the forum search and found a old post by GB and his 800 fuel leak. Read it and first checked to see if selector was on pro (prime), it wasn't. If it was then that could of been my reason for a fuel leak. I then pulled the fuel line off my petcock on the left hand side under the tank. Had a small bucket in hand. My petcock was in the On position and dripping.

So from GB post I had a bad petcock since it should not leak in the On position since the 800 is a vacuum controlled petcock. Since GB had issues trying to use a rebuild kit on his 800 petcock and bought a new 800 petcock and that fixed his issue but on his thread brings up a Excellent idea of using a Manual Petcock and since the Drifter 1500 is manual petcock and not a vacuumed control petcock like the 800 posted that question. On his old post there was not a definitive reply if the 1500 manual petcock would fit the 800 tank. So he just replaced with a new 800 Petcock. Since the petcock gasket for both the 800 and 1500 petcock are the same part number which should mean the 1500 petcock will fit the 800. The reserve fuel tube might change and worth comparing but just take a mental note if if does.

I for one like the idea of never having a fuel leak again caused from a vacuum controlled petcock and had manual controlled petcock on past motorcycles and never had this fuel leak mess to deal with. So I am using GB idea and ordered the 1500 petcock and new gasket from 51023-1330 TAP-ASSY,FUEL (PETCOCK) AND GASKET- 92055-112 "0" RING,53.5MM, from http://www.partzilla.com/parts/search/parts.html best price out there at $63.99. Also comes with a 30 day return policy. Just don't open and compare to the 800 petcock to make sure it's basically the same. Remember by switching to a manual petcock to cap off the vacuum line no longer being used. Also remember to turn the selector to off when you park. I rather to that and never have a fuel leak mess again with a manual petcock. There are also a few Youtube videos do the same thing on youtube on other bikes.

Here are my questions-

Has anyone actually did this yet on a 800? I won't know since my parts are pending shipping.

The 800 and 1500 petcock has the tank gas filter covering the fuel tubes, so is it overkill to add an external fuel filter to the fuel line while I am at it just for added protection since the 800 has a carburetor to make sure nothing gets to the carb and fouls up the jet/needle?

To remove 800 Petcock- It was simple to take out. 1st- I added a extra 5/16 fuel to the petcock and turn the selector to pri (prime) and drained the fuel tank in a 5 gallon bucket and put gas in my car outside. 2nd- Left tank in place on bike and removed the two screws holding petcock and removed. 3rd- Place a piece of tape covering tank petcock hole for bugs don't get in there.
GB old post-

http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/forum/index.php?topic=20936.msg41546#msg41546