TOPIC:

I want to replace the stock petcock on an 81' KZ1000 with a simple ON/OFF one. What would you guys recommend? Looking for something cheap.

Fuel valve. If the bolt hole spacing is 34 mm, here's a topic: KZRider --- Manual fuel valve option

Get a 3/8 npt adapter; got mine for $7 from canada, and a $15 on/off/reserve petcock off ebay or amazon.

That's what I am running for now, but I did make the standpipe ID a lot bigger, stock they are a bit bigger than 1/16" friggin tiny, i made new 3/16" standpipes for it

When going the adapter plate route, the tank hole may need to be widened a tad. On my 81 650-CSR I was going to have to open it up 2mm per side, so I nixed the idea & just repaired the stock petcock.

I'd look into the last year a 1000 came with a manual petcock and see if it bolts up???
That's how I' have fixed my 1978KZ650"s by using the manual petcocks from the 1977 650 models, bolt right to the tank. I personally wouldn't run one of those vacuum/diaphragm petcocks on a minibike
Just a thought, don't know as much about the 1000's and changes/years etc

The 70s models have a wider bolt hole spacing & most if not all w a manual fuel valve have a different bung. Some guys prefer the stock vacuum petcock. I wouldn't insult a guy for choosing to stay stock. Either type works.

Either repair the stock petcock w a genuine oem diaphragm or K&L part made in Japan, or install some cheap chinese junk. I bought a new Made in USA crescent wrench last week. And I bought a good used made in Japan bicycle part last week as well --- instead of brand new cheap chinese parts in both cases. It's pert near impossible to avoid buying chinese junk. rant mode off.

You're right about Chinese stuff being junk. Even when a reputable company moves production to China the quality drops - and not by accident. Example - in the past K&N 401 oil filters were made in Thailand (not particularly well known for top quality stuff), and the height of each filter was exactly the same, and each filter had 61 pleats. Now The K&N 401 filters are made in China. The height varies by as much as 1/4" and they reduced the number of pleats from 61 to 57. That may not seem like much, but why should a filter that now has 7% less filter material and be of questionable height cost the consumer the same as the good filters? Answer - because they're made in China and K&N does not insist that the Chinese maintain the same level of quality as filters made anyplace else in the world! (end of my rant) Ed

Deeeep cleansing breaths, Ed...In with the good air, out with the bad! LOL!