Leaky fuel shut off petcock Tear Down

This cheap Chinese Petcock was leaking so I did a tear down to find out why. Many cheap Home Depot/harbor Freight generators have this leaky fuel petcock problem.
My Amazon Store:
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[@sunbeam8866]

My first Chinese generator, bought from Big Lots 20 years ago, developed this problem the first time I used it - but the drip was very, very slow. As I was running it outside, I put a drain-pan below the valve. Over many hours, it leaked a few ounces. Then the drip stopped. I think the gas must've swelled up the rubber, and its never leaked again. But any time I use it, I'll be checking!

[@waynedavis1950]

I was just given a Predator 4000 generator by a friend who had a 3-day outage and the Predator refused to start. Turns out that the petcock was not passing fuel because the gasket had disintegrated and lost it's shape blocking the ports. The generator was only a few years old and totally useless. It's too bad that products are no longer built to last.

[@mikebolton2388]

That's not really a engineering fail as old seals just dry out and crumble. I know because I am working on a bike and its fuel petcock is completely clogged by the gasket.

[@clintoncook6082]

@@mikebolton2388 I can vouge for that. We got out Predator 4000 sometime before 2013. It was working last year. However, when we needed it most recently, it wouldn't work. Come to find out the fuel tank ended up getting leaves in it somehow. I know I'll leave the fuel cap on when I'm not adding fuel. Plus, we got it a tarp to keep it covered if it had to be out in the rain. So, we don't know how it happened. However, everything else still works because the spark plug still gives off a spark. We just had to clean out the fuel tank of leaves with some dish soap, water, and a brush and get a new petcock. On that note, do most male fitting petcocks have the same threading? I found a cheap one for $6 on Amazon. But, I don't want to have to buy one after another in case it doesn't fit.

[@lucasmelching346]

This helped me a lot thank you so much!

[@arlenhanson7428]

That petcock looks very similar to my '75 Yamahas. Same 4 hole pattern on the o-ring seal.

[@samcodys9205]

Thank you

[@richk6827]

My Briggs and Stratton EXL 8000 has this type petcock. I was able to fix it by flipping the gasket over and reassembling the valve. I confirmed the fix by blowing into the outlet port. I was very happy until I screwed it back into the gas tank and it broke when I tightened the lock nut. Mybe i overtightened but I bet it was metal fatigue from vibration. So ultimately the same conclusion: buy a new one!

[@paulcnc4041]

Thank u good video

[@MilesOnBikePK]

I have an issue in my bike petcock. Reserve fuel is used without turning on the reserve valve.

[@Radiowild]

I'd take a piece of rubber and try making one. Either that or just get a American made one that will fit or can be adapted up.

[@lardy70s]

Hi there. Thanks for your video. I have a similar generator and there seems to be a problem with the petcock valve. No fuel seems to be coming out of it when turned on?. I have removed it from the tank and poured petrol down it but nothing seems to come out. Unlike your valve, my valve doesn't have screws. Do you have any ideas?. Thanks.

[@SevenFortyOne]

You might have to replace it with a new one

[@jacklowe3788]

Flip it over use good side

[@LUNARIAproject]

I have a leaking petcock in my moped, it leaks fuel to the carburetor even though it is set to the off position. I opened it up and removed the gasket that looked similar to yours, and made a new gasket out of cork material, however it still leaks, what else could be wrong? I noticed at the bottom underneat where the "sink" net is, there is a small gap between the net and the middle pole, do you think that could cause the constant leakage? I figured it might be a filter net so in my opinion it shouldn't cause such an effect but I am not sure. I even tried to block the hole on the right (I have three positions, on, off, reserve, but then it didn't give any fuel no matter what position I turned it.

[@SevenFortyOne]

The needle valve in your carb is sticking open most likely

[@LUNARIAproject]

@@SevenFortyOne thanks for the reply, so don't think the petcock is the problem? Because this happens when the bike isn't on, regarding the needle, is there something I can do to investigate it? I've looked at it but can't see any damage to the needle. By the way, when filling gas in an empty tank, should gas run down to the carb even with the petcock closed? Because that is what happenee today when I tried it after reassembling it and just filling with a little gas.

[@SevenFortyOne]

@LUNARIAproject if gas is leaking from your petcock, then it's probably bad or not sealed to the tank properly. If it's leaking at the carb, check the needle valve and float level setting

[@LUNARIAproject]

@@SevenFortyOne it's only leaking down from the petcock to the carb, I have a transparent hose so I can see gas going directly from the tank as I pour it in and through the petcock even though it should be turned off and down the hose to the carb. I've checked the tank nut and it's not leaking at there or anywhere outside, what I mean is that the petcock doesn't seem to do anythinh the gas just pass through it. Perhaps leaking isn't the right term since it isn't leaking out gas on the outside, sorry I am not a native English speaker.

[@LUNARIAproject]

@@SevenFortyOne By the way do you think it would be possible to block off one of the lines, let's say the reserve? Since I noticed when I had the tank empty and put in fuel it flows straight through the petcock down to the carb, so I figured if I could block that valve off it maybe would work? Just wondering what I could use to block it off with.

[@raczyk]

Can you use a petcock as the top of a stand pipe for a diesel small tank? I.e. replace the filter with a nylon line to the bottom o the tank.

[@SevenFortyOne]

I have no idea

[@c-qc-q2021]

Super Vid that pointed me to why my 11 year old, 3x used, 4 hour runtime, UST 3500 generator was stinky and leaking. I know that a tube of sealant costs about the same as a new petcock, but anybody try actually fixing/replacing the seals? Gawd, anybody source a "forever" petcock?

[@SevenFortyOne]

The one I put in this video is still holding but I store this without gas in the tank

[@MilesOnBikePK]

Is there a reserve tube in fuel tank??

[@SevenFortyOne]

I don't know, every machine is a little different...you'll have to look and see

[@MilesOnBikePK]

@@SevenFortyOne I have an issue in my bike petcock. Reserve fuel is used without turning on the reserve valve. Someone told me that may be your petcock reserve tube is damaged.

[@MilesOnBikePK]

@@SevenFortyOne Thank you sir for reply.

[@davebean2886]

.... So where would you recommend getting a new petcock

[@SevenFortyOne]

That depends on what kind of quality you want. For best quality, check your local power equipment dealer. Otherwise, Amazon or eBay may have them

[@buzzsah]

time to modify lol.

[@droppoint495]

What material would be comparable to the four hole gasket fyi leather doesnt work it wicks.im wondering if maybe you could filet a peice from a rubber fuel line since it would be gas resistant i like to use whats available any time i can i just heard a guy say you could bake a bad coil from a chainsaw in the oven at 200 and it would start working again so thats going in the bank lol good luck with your junk👍

[@SevenFortyOne]

Any fuel resistant rubber should work. Fuel line may be hard to work with due to the curvature of it but maybe there is gasket material you can find that is flat

[@lundyracing]

Either viton or nitrile rubber sheet of the same thickness is suitable. Use a shell casing from the proper sized bullet to punch the holes.

[@JNC1973]

I got the same type of petcock on my mini bike that is leaking but i clicked on this video assuming you were gonna tell us how to stop the leak and fix the problem lol. Guess not. I was gonna spead some Flex Glue around the petcock in hopes wherever the gas was escaping from on the petcock that it would block it from dripping out but mine was dripping from the bottom so i wasn't sure exactly where it was coming from on it. If it's coming out of the actual lever then obviously i can't glue that unless i plan on never turning the gas off ever again. What a cheap piece of crap these petcocks are. Mine was hardly even used just got it a couple Months ago and only used it a handful of times and it's already leaking. What brand of petcock is universal that will work on a universal peanut style motorcycle gas tank ? I can't have fuel dripping directly on a hot engine while i'm riding.

[@shankarsolanki576]

Please speak in Hindi your very good very good video you are good video

[@timmybui6062]

Good luck find a American make valve

[@donmoore7785]

lol I have one exactly like this, off a Troy Bilt in ROC genny. How about that.

[@SevenFortyOne]

I have a "real" troy bilt rototiller from the 60's...they sure don't make them like they used to...

[@trashman1694]

You didn't even fix it with bailing wire and duct tape.. smh.. dislike