What is a petcock used for?
A petcock is a small shut-off valve used to control the flow of liquid or gas.
What is a petcock on a car?
The petcock is a small bolt right under the radiator and easy to spot as modern radiators do not have any other holes underneath them that would require bolts. Usually, the underside of a car radiator is covered by a plastic panel which can be easily removed to reveal the radiator drain petcock.
Why is it called a petcock?
None of the various word tracers has attempted to explain why the small shut-off valve was named petcock. Though a cock, it is distinctly no one’s pet. Until someone turns up with a better explanation, we suggest that pet was merely a contraction of petty or petit, meaning “small, minor, inferior.”
Do you need a petcock?
The petcocks purpose is to prevent fuel flow from the fuel tank to the motorcycles carburetors. They have this in part because motorcycles spend a large chunk of their lives parked on a sidestand. And the petcocks prevent the fuel from overloading the float seals on the “downhill” side of the bike.
How does a petcock work?
How does a petcock work? A petcock, or sometimes referred to as a fuel tap or fuel valve, is a 2 or 3 way valve on the bottom of your fuel tank. It works by directing fuel from your tank to the carburetors or fuel injectors. Fuel is pulled by either gravity or vacuum from the fuel system.
How does the petcock work?
Can I leave my petcock on?
No, there is no legal requirement that you should turn the petcock to “OFF” when you shut your bike down at the end of your ride.
How does a petcock work on a motorcycle?
But sure enough, that’s the actual name of a very important part of every motorcycle fuel system. How does a petcock work? A petcock, or sometimes referred to as a fuel tap or fuel valve, is a 2 or 3 way valve on the bottom of your fuel tank. It works by directing fuel from your tank to the carburetors or fuel injectors.
Where does a petcock go in a fuel tank?
The type of valve and the valve design differ per application. Some types of valves install within a fuel system to control the flow of gas between a fuel tank and a carburetor. Another type of petcock installs in a tank or radiator to allow a drain point for a vehicle’s coolant system.
What kind of fuel line does a BMW petcock use?
Later, BMW used a Karcoma that had an angled fuel line connection, and they are harder to hook up with the fuel line. This is the “off” position. It would also be “off” if the arm were pointed to the left, as both positions are the same. This petcock is the older type with the “straight down” connector.
What to do if you have a petcock leak?
Once open, it can be cleaned up, and that will usually fix any actual petcock leak. Just remove the plastic cover and then unscrew the cover plate to get it apart. Be very careful. Some use a bit of Vaseline on the black rubber piece to allow tightening of the cover and still allow the hand lever easy movement.