350 GTO may run soon

[deisher6]

I posted some updated flicks on my members web site.  If the latest attempt at making a petcock gasket doesn't leak, I should be able to set the carburetors, oil injection,stick on the fuel tank and exhaust systems and crank it over tomorrow.  I am glad that I am retired and can spend some time on the bike, we had some freak snow last week and I am running out of biking weather.  If it runs, I will have the tank and battery repainted (gold) and do some minor detailed work this winter.  The right side battery cover is obviously homemade, I have not found an original.
regards charlie

[reed]

Deisher6
You can get that fuel tap kit from Richard and there is another kit coming out soon from the UK as well!
Thanks.
Reed.

[deisher6]

Reed:  Richard only sent the gasket for the petcock bowl and the one between the petcock and the tank....granted both of these were leaking but so was the one behind the selector lever.  That is a tough, for me, gasket to cut.  Finding the right thickness was the major problem.  I am not sure that I have solved the problem yet.  Gas is setting in the tank as I write.  On the upside, I have developed a skill at cutting the right shape.  The kit from the UK contains all three gaskets, but at $60 the Harley solution seem more likely.

[reed]

Desisher6
The kit from the UK will be a lot cheaper i sent him mine and he is making the kits now!
I will post when there are ready.
Thanks.
Reed.

[Dave K]

The thickness is a problem. We found some cork gasket material. It was a little to thick but using a sander thinned it to the right amount. My brother did mine and his 175 and mine have been working great for the past 1 1/2 yrs. Seals tight and yet the handle turns with the right amount of friction.

[deisher6]

Dave, you are absolutely right about the thickness.  I finally gave up...see the last entry on the running GTO.  I think that about 1/8 to 5/32 would be about right.  Unfortunately that exceeds the best of the auto parts stores in Glendive.

[reed]

Deisher6
I think i have some of that rubber in the workshop i will check for you!
Thanks.
Reed.
PS i have cork as well.

[OldSwartout]

I made one for mine out of 1/8 rubber and it wasn't quite thick enough, it would leak a little.  However, after exposure to gas for a while, it swelled enough to seal most of the time.  I had it apart once and had to let the rubber dry out so it would shrink enough to reinstall, then had to wait for a couple of days before it swelled enough to seal completely again. 

The original has a bead on the faces at the OD and around each of the small holes to make it seal, yet not apply too much pressure on the lever, so it's hard to duplicate. 5/32 sheet rubber stock might just work better than the 1/8 I used.

There is a kit for the 450 Honda petcock available from Honda that is very close, but just not quite right and won't work, so don't waste your money on it.

[deisher6]

Thanks for the scoop Karl.  I am very happy with the Harley part and an inline filter.  I have hung onto the old petcock and will wait for Reed and Richard's gasket set.

My early model GTR had a throttle set screw that would hold the throttle in one place just forward of the handgrip.  I see that my GTO has a place for one that has not been drilled or tapped, was that option removed on later bikes?  I used to use it to set the carbs and on long trips on the interstate.
charlie