In-line fuel taps?

The Z650, I've discovered, has a vacuum tap fitted that has no vacuum
connection. I've yet to check to see if there's a blanked off vacuum
point on the carbs. Early Z650s had ordinary fuel taps; later ones had
vacuums, and I don't know whether the tap belongs to the bike.

Discovered this when I removed the tank the other day, and petrol pissed
everywhere, and no immediate means of turning off the flow.

One option - a genuine Kawasaki manual tap from Z-Power. £50 plus VAT.

Another - finding out if there's a vacuum point, buying a diaphragm
repair kit, and sorting it out that way. Cost about £25.

Simplest and cheapest option: an in-line fuel tap that I can just splice
into the fuel line like this one:

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/products/ProductDetail.asp?cls=ROAD&pcode=
LMA348

Though I'd prefer something easier to operate. Any suggestions.

Question - the Demon Tweeks one offers 10mm, 8mm and 6mm sizes. That'll
be what? External pipe diameter?

From that, I suppose I'll want a 6mm, right? I mean, 10mm is
massive.....

 

The Older Gentleman says...

I bought something similar[1] with 6mm fittings that's easy to operate
from a lawn mower repair shop locally, it cost me a fiver.

[1] I'm using it in the fuel line attached to the bottom of a 1 litre
mini-moto fuel mixing bottle that I'll be using as a substitute fuel
tank when I balance carbs.

 

Nice idea on both counts. Ta.

 

don't be a pikey - buy a pingel fuel tap

 

A what?

 

snip>

Pipe sizes are usually measured in the bore because that's the bit
that matters, the outside of the pipe only changes according to the
pressure the pipe is being put under or where it's being used.

 

If you have to ask, you can't/won't afford it. They are a piece of art,
sculpted from purest Costalottium. Firend has one on his old Z1100, and to
operate it is almost a sexual experience.(1)

JB

(1) Ok, I'll admit it. I must get out more.

 

The Older Gentleman says...

I had to buy a brass spigot to fit to the bottom of the fuel mixing
bottle, I got that from a Kart shop. They use them on the fuel tanks so
they can mount the fuel feed anywhere they like when mounting the tank
in different positions. That cost me 3 quid and came with a Viton O-ring
to seal it. All told the whole set-up cost me about a tenner, but it'll
save me so much bother when i'm doing the balancing.

 

JB says...

Something like this:

http://www.bellacorse.com/bce020.htm

 

Yup. With a 3/8" bore ffs! Because he once paid a visit (and *shedloads* of
cash) to a certain Mr Ray Debben of Zed drag racing fame. The _only_ way to
blow your £4k redundancy payout, or so he said at the time.

JB

 

Except it's not an in-line tap....

 

The Older Gentleman wrote

Mole grips. Although a more elegant solution is locking arterial
forceps.

 

But it _replaces_ the standard one, so where's the problem? (apart from the
cost of course)

JB

 

JB wrote:

No, it doesn't. Not on the Z650, anyway, which doesn't have that type
of spigot but a double-bolt arrangement.

 

<TOG@Toil>; <>; <>
wrote in message

There are adaptors supplied specific to each model. The basic fuel tap
attaches into this plate. For the Z1100 it was as you say, an ali plate with
two mounting bolts and a viton sealing 'ring' inset into the mating surface.
If you are planning to keep the Zed, I'd spend the cash. You won't need
another.
JB

 

*SPLUTTER*

You don't know TIG very well, do you?

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3 (slightly broken, currently missing)
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10
`\|/`
`

 

Or TOG, for that matter.
--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3 (slightly broken, currently missing)
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10
`\|/`
`

 

Ah, right. That's useful. Wonder where I can get them in the UK?
Although, for that money, I might as well get a new OE Kawasaki
non-vacuum tap.

 

Why not just buy some dry-break (aka Quick Release) connectors
for the fuel line? I think I may have some spare in the garage so
if you let me know what the fuel hose i/d is then I'll check if they
are suitable.

 

<TOG@Toil>; <>; <>
wrote in message

http://www.debben.co.uk/acatalog/More_Info.html

JB