Harley Davidson Forums

Shovelhead A place to talk about Shovelheads.

West Coast gas eats petcock rubber?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 03-15-2015, 07:48 PM
2's Avatar
2
2 is offline
Cruiser
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: What used to be called the USA
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default West Coast gas eats petcock rubber?
My 78 FXE is stock, since ive been using the Westcoast gasoline blend, the rubber gasket on my petcock, and most of the enternals have eaten away. I`ve talked to several local bike shops and they say yep, the gas eats the rubber on the older bikes.

Anybody else heard of this? Where do you get a petcock and fuel filter this crap wont eat?

2
 
Reply Like
  #2  
Old 03-15-2015, 07:54 PM
Racepres's Avatar
Racepres
Racepres is offline
Seasoned HDF Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Cental, MI
Posts: 6,942
Received 2,054 Likes on 1,510 Posts
Default
Never seen any gasoline Affect the intank fuel strainer.
Betting the gasoline or foul additives won't bother a Pingel Petcock, and if it ever does...They will fix or replace...Free [As in Beer]
 
Reply Like
  #3  
Old 03-15-2015, 11:07 PM
FilthyLucre's Avatar
FilthyLucre
FilthyLucre is offline
Road Master
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: NW Florida
Posts: 1,075
Likes: 0
Received 34 Likes on 30 Posts
Default
I know the ethanol additive they put in Florida gas eats up my lawn equipment. I've had to replace the fuel lines in my chainsaw, weed eater and leaf blower. They dissolve into goo. I now buy the premix that's alcohol free.
 
Reply Like
  #4  
Old 03-16-2015, 02:08 AM
Ron750's Avatar
Ron750
Ron750 is offline
Seasoned HDF Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 28,842
Received 16,515 Likes on 6,271 Posts
Default
In WI, I can usually buy ethanol free premium. The fuel line on my weed wacker melted, and was replaced with a new one. But I use ethanol free in all my small engines now.
 
Reply Like
  #5  
Old 03-16-2015, 09:31 AM
panz4ever's Avatar
panz4ever
panz4ever is offline
Seasoned HDF Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Santa Klaus County, Cali
Posts: 7,274
Received 3,222 Likes on 1,483 Posts
Default
What brand of gas are you using. Both my Shovels are stock and I have never had that problem. I use Union 76 or Chevron (premium both).
 
Reply Like
  #6  
Old 03-16-2015, 09:35 AM
Uncle Larry's Avatar
Uncle Larry
Uncle Larry is offline
Seasoned HDF Member

Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southeast Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
Posts: 147,601
Received 47,786 Likes on 18,560 Posts
Default
Ethanol ... Yes sir ree ... Ethanol is the scourge of our fuels ... As was mentioned earlier it really goes after the smaller lawn equipment ( that sits with fuel in it ) and if the/our E.P.A. has it's way the 10% will go to 15% ... and that will be catastrophic to any engine that is not designed with the "latest technology" ... 15% will/can even devour some fuel lines that aren't "flexible"

http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/...s_engines.aspx
 
Reply Like
  #7  
Old 03-17-2015, 08:30 AM
AJSHOVEL's Avatar
AJSHOVEL
AJSHOVEL is online now
Seasoned HDF Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Pa.
Posts: 9,385
Received 10,433 Likes on 4,131 Posts
Default
Originally Posted by Uncle Larry
Ethanol ... Yes sir ree ... Ethanol is the scourge of our fuels ... As was mentioned earlier it really goes after the smaller lawn equipment ( that sits with fuel in it ) and if the/our E.P.A. has it's way the 10% will go to 15% ... and that will be catastrophic to any engine that is not designed with the "latest technology" ... 15% will/can even devour some fuel lines that aren't "flexible"

http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/...s_engines.aspx

Yep....one of the worst tricks ever played on us.
 
Reply Like

Trending Topics

  #8  
Old 03-17-2015, 11:47 PM
goatfarmer's Avatar
goatfarmer
goatfarmer is offline
Advanced
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: NW Florida
Posts: 96
Received 19 Likes on 10 Posts
Default
I was so happy when the gas station close to my house went to selling ethanol free gas. All my small engine stuff has had problems with the alcohol crap. Alcohol is made for drinking. Gasoline is made for running engines to get you to the drinking alcohol store!
 
Reply Like
  #9  
Old 03-18-2015, 06:45 PM
ftwflh's Avatar
ftwflh
ftwflh is offline
Advanced
Join Date: May 2007
Location: so. IL
Posts: 68
Received 13 Likes on 8 Posts
Default
Havent had the Ethanol stuff mess up my petcock but it sure plays hell with the accelerator pump on my Bendix carb.Try to run Shell Vforce but the Shell station here closed.Now I just carry a spare fuel pump
 
Reply Like
  #10  
Old 03-20-2015, 07:44 AM
mjrfd99's Avatar
mjrfd99
mjrfd99 is offline
Grand HDF Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: NJ Shore and IRB Fla
Posts: 4,766
Received 2,377 Likes on 987 Posts
Default
The ethanol slop did a job on my old 75 H1 carbs rubber parts. I try to only use ethanol free now.
 
Reply Like



Advanced Search
Quick Reply: West Coast gas eats petcock rubber?


Reply Closed Thread Share
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:02 AM.