Petcock Problem?

Does anyone know what could cause my fuel to not flow quickly into my line? I have a clear filter and when I put petcock on prime to fill the line it takes forever for it to completely fill up. It is a new petcock and the hose is new also.

Try opening gas cap to see if tank is venting

wireman wrote: Try opening gas cap to see if tank is venting

+ 1

That's not necessarily a problem. Often the fuel filters don't fill quickly or don't ever fill completely even though fuel flow is sufficient. It may have to do with the air in the filter not being able to percolate up the fuel line into the tank very easily because of the fuel flowing down through the fuel line. As long as the engine isn't starving for fuel at wide open throttle you're probably ok. One way to check if the fuel is flowing at full rate is to pull the fuel line off the bottom of the filter and direct the flow into a can while you open the petcock. It should flow plenty fast. No smoking during this test! Ed

It's not the ventilation of the cap as I opened the gas cap and no noticeable difference.

Id try Eds trick then,if it still just trickles Id check the petcock.

Is it a regular 1980 ltd style tank or is it a vacuam petcock?

It's a newer vacuum petcock. It is quite small and is a tight fit so I am thinking maybe that is one of the problems. The nipple comes out toward the rear and is fairly close to the down tube so my fuel line/hose is in a pretty tight spot.

maybe there is some dirt jimmyjammed in the screen inside the gas tank, I would look on the online to see if there is some sea-foam carburetor cleaner that you could put in there.

I got a pet-cat problem, they took my computer chair. I have noticed on my own vacuum petcock that the float needle things have a spring loaded button thing on there, not sure if that is standard??? when I put it to prime, as a regular petcock would have as reserve the engine gets too much fuel and I have to blow some of it out the exhaust. this is where the reed valves are handy, flame thrower style.