A tricky petcock question...

Hey guys. I just bought an '80 KZ250. The bike runs great and had little damage. One thing that is damaged is the petcock. The handle has been broken off, so to turn it I have to use a pair of pliers. My question is that I have a reserve setting, but do I actually have a reserve with a 2.1 gal gas tank? And if so, without the handle, how the heck do I know where I have it set?

Thanks,

Clutch

Not familier with the 250 but I'll bet it uses the same petcock as everyone else. If so, the "handle" would have pointed at the spot. You should have on, prime and reserve. On should be at 6 o'clock, prime at 3 o'clock and reserve at 12 o'clock. Yes you should have a reserve. My reserve is about .7 gallon, your 250 should be able to go about 40-50 miles on that? Keep checking ebay for a used petcock and rebuil it or just swap the handle.

I am sort of familiar with the 250's and IIRC they use the same type of petcock as the 305's. It is a manual petcock and the positions are as follows with the handle pointed at 6 o'clock you are in the on position 9 o'clock is off and 12 o'clock is reserve.

I checked the buykawasaki.com site and your petcock was shared with the KH125, and the KZ200. You might find some on ebay, good luck!

Ok. After looking at it again, I have TWO off positions at 3 and 9 o'clock. The reserve is at twelve and on is at 6. Now, if anyone has a 250 or a petcock like mine, if you could tell me when its in the off position turning it clockwise as far as it will go, when i turn it counterclockwise from that position, does it hit the reserve or on position first? If I know that, then I don't even need to worry about the handle!

Thanks!

Clutch

Basic question...

Do you have a holder for you Operator's Manual under your seat like my KZ650 does? :dry:

If so, is your Operator's Manual still there so that you can read about your petcock positions?

If not, you really need to get one... maybe of eBay. :whistle:

While you're at it, check for a Maintenance Manual for your specific bike? It will save you tons of money, increase confidence in your bike and add to your riding pleasure... IMHO.

Best of success.

Curious that there seem to be so few KZ250 riders out there. Consider yourself lucky to be riding such a rare bike... very cool.

PS
How about a manual like this:

www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/forum/accesso...ice-manual-sale.html

Or this on eBay:

search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocu...=&fsop=32%26fsoo%3D2

DUH! Ok, I must seem like a total idiot now....I have a manual on disk that the previous owner gave me when I bought the bike. Maybe I should take a look in there. (Yes I am blonde...lol! jk)

Is it really that rare of a bike, or is it just that few 25o riders are here on the forums?

Forget about it!

100 posts from now you will be THE KZ250 go-to-man.

BTW once you solve this or any other problem post back so that all the community can learn... this is real important IMHO!

Best of success!

Definitely will post the solution!

The petcock on my '80 250 is up=reserve middle=off down=on. It leaked when i first got it so I bought a new (not NOS) petcock from Kawi for it. I still have the original if you need parts

The part itself works fine other than missing the handle which indicates whether im in the on or reserve position. If I can figure that out without running out of gas I will be ok. Though, just out of curiosity, what would be your asking price for the parts?

Pay shipping and it's yours