1976 kz400 petcock...the impossible part?

I'm building a bike and I'm stuck using a 76 petcock.The problem is that I can't find a replacement for the shot bowl gasket.

Any ideas on where to find one or alternatives would be great.

Thanks.

have you tried kz400.com?

gmokage wrote:

I'm building a bike and I'm stuck using a 76 petcock.The problem is that I can't find a replacement for the shot bowl gasket.

Any ideas on where to find one or alternatives would be great.

Thanks.

I have bought one before - I can't remember if it was from eBay or BikeBandit.com, it's been a while...

I think I've seen them recently on eBay called "Petcock rebuild kit", though it's really only the gasket...

Jeff @ z1 not have???????
If not.....maybe he can point ya in the right direction.

Post edited by: indykaw77, at: 2006/05/01 22:23

I'm still digging around.

I didn't find anything off of kz400.com, and the web sites I have contacted thus far, including bikebandit, have the item as discontinued.

Thanks for the ideas so far, guys.

Bowl gasket? The one between the petcock switch & the fuel bowl?!?!? If that's the one you're talking about, you can replace it with a plain ol' nitrile o-ring. I was thinking a flat nitrile washer might work better, but the o-ring is holding up fine so far. Hardware store, plumbing section, buy 3 each of 3 different sizes just in case & walk out with change from your 5...

If you're talking about the gasket under the switch, AKA the rubber disk with 4 holes in it, you have 2 choices: make one, or call Z1. If you want to make it, you'll need some nitrile rubber & a good hole punch. If you don't want to make it, call Jeff at Z1 & ask if he has 'em in stock yet. He quoted me about $10 with a delay of a few days to get 'em from his supplier.

HTH,
-Kit

Post edited by: KitNYC, at: 2006/05/02 03:20

KitNYC wrote:

...you can replace it with a plain ol' nitrile o-ring. I was thinking a flat nitrile washer might work better, but the o-ring is holding up fine so far...

You know, I did the same thing when I first got my 400. It had some sort of a paper gasket in there when I got it, and was about as gas-tight as a coffee filter.
:huh:
Anyway, I tried the round o-ring first, and I couldn't get it to seal tight. As I tightened the bowl, it would flex out-of-round on me. Now in hindsight, I wonder if it was too big. Oh well, I ended up getting a flat one and it never leaked again...

If you cant find the parts (o-rings or gaskets) replace the petcock.I had to replace mine because the aluminum was wore out from almost 30yrs of use and it only cost me $30 with adapter plate and about 30min.time.

rammy wrote:

If you cant find the parts (o-rings or gaskets) replace the petcock.I had to replace mine because the aluminum was wore out from almost 30yrs of use and it only cost me $30 with adapter plate and about 30min.time.

You did this with an early 400? These have very rare shapes, I've not heard that an adapter exists...

Biquetoast wrote:

rammy wrote:

If you cant find the parts (o-rings or gaskets) replace the petcock.I had to replace mine because the aluminum was wore out from almost 30yrs of use and it only cost me $30 with adapter plate and about 30min.time.

You did this with an early 400? These have very rare shapes, I've not heard that an adapter exists...

I may be building a rat-bike, but I'd gladly spend thirty bucks on a new petcock.

Do you remember where you got it?

I had the same problem with O-rings flexing under pressure in the bowl.But digging about the plumbing store couldn't hurt, either...

FWIW, I bought a large assortment of o-rings for $15 or so at Pep Boys when I realized the carb rebuild kits I had didn't come with 'em. I used a bunch of the small ones for the KZ400 carbs, I'm about to use a bunch more small ones on the Trident's carbs, & I used a big one for the KZ400 petcock. It may be worth noting that the one I ended up using in the petcock is smaller than the first one I tried. It may also be worth noting that the only reason I didn't go with a flat washer is that it doesn't leak with the o-ring in.

Cheers,
-Kit

How far apart are the mounting holes?? They do offer adapter plates with different mounting hole dimentions.So you can install a screw in type petcock.Let me know the dimentions and I will check with the guy I get all my parts.He has all kinds of odd ball shit in stock to bad he doesnt have an on line store.