1984 Petcock Operation

[Pridanc]

Hate to display my ignorance but I am waiving that flag.

I've once again searched all my papers and have tried online but have yet to find a definitive answer. Probably poor word choice. And I do not have an owners manual so I am asking...

Having just tested the vacuum operation of the fuel petcock it seems odd but I have no idea how it is supposed to work. With the arrow pointing to the sky (UP) fuel comes out only when vacuum is present. In either of the remaining two positions, fuel comes out without vacuum.

But first what are the two other positions? Is one "prime" and the other "reserve"? If so, which is which.

Thanks again for your infinite help. With luck this thing will fire off before too long. It has been slumbering for a while now....

[Darrell]

Prime is the horizontal position, reserve is the vertical position pointing down, on is vertical pointing up.

The petcock should not flow fuel without vacuum EXCEPT in the PRIME position. On and Reserve are the same thing except one is fed from a longer (higher) feed inside the tank.

[silverstrom]

With the arrow pointing to the sky (UP) fuel comes out only when vacuum is present. In either of the remaining two positions, fuel comes out without vacuum.

But first what are the two other positions? Is one "prime" and the other "reserve"? If so, which is which.

The three positions should be clearly indicated on the petcock. When you rotate the knob it will show you the position it is in.

If fuel is coming out when in reserve with no vacuum applied, that would be unusual.

[Pridanc]

Darrell and Silverstrom,
Many thanks. I had a feeling this was the case but as there are no markings anywhere on the petcock, I was not sure.
I will now rebuild it as the doggone thing does flow in the reserve position without vacuum present.
All the best to everyone,
Price

[Redline Junkie]

In my case, I just got a new petcock when I found that my was not working correctly. Problem solved!