I'm installing a new petcock on my FXDX. This video at 5:25 makes it appear like the little fuel filter slides right out. Mine pulls about halfway and won't budge. Im yanking hard with two hands and nothing.

Am I missing something here? Is it connected to something else inside?

 

The petcock filter isn't connected to anything inside the tank, it typically just slides right out. I did have one where the filter screen had unraveled itself and needed a few tugs to pull it out of the tank.

Did you disconnect the fuel hose and the vacuum hose running from the carb to the petcock body? The vacuum hose runs from the carb to the petcock to open the diaphragm in the OEM petcock. I can't imagine what else could be preventing the petcock filter from sliding out of the fuel tank...

 

Lil f-ker was waaay stuck up in there. Some needlenose did the trick. Black Pingel arrives tomorrow.

 

Yeppers; looks pretty much like the one I had to get a bit wrathy with to get it out of the tank; good thing you are swapping out that petcock and the screen filter; that screen crap eventually ends up in the carb bowl. Nice job on going with the Pingel; I know they're a bit spendy, but the quality is so worth the price you pay

 

Oh yeah. Pingel for the win. You won't regret it the first time you flip that smooth little lever.

 

Damn, those things are not just pricey, they are "are you serious" crazy priced...I can get quality generic aviation petcocks cheaper than that! Hell, the OEM list price for the one on my 2001 SG is just $90! I ain't saying that they are not good, but I do think they are way overkill...but, hey, if you have money to burn, go for it...but I would rather go with another brand and use the $$$ I save for gas.

 

Mine was like $100. I think it's worth the extra $10-20.

 

Lol yeah mine was $99....I'll pay $9 for a non-aviation piece on a motorcycle, thanks.

 

It probably would surprise you to learn that a number of small parts like this are the exact same part used on a number of different small airplanes...but these same airplane parts typically cost more.

And, $100+ for a standard three position fuel petcock is not too much if you really believe that it is worth the extra cost...but when it comes down to cost and function, it ain't gonna look any purdier or make your hog run any faster than a good one at half the price...

The OEM one for my SG goes for less than $75 all over the interweb. The original petcock was 16 years old with over 50K miles before the diaphragm started leaking vacuum. I did not want to wait to get one shipped in and the local dealer did not have a replacement part so I went to a local indy and replaced it with a $36 standard three-position petcock. It was easy to install, it doesn't leak, gas gets to my carb just fine, and it looks remarkably similar to a Pingel. I will be sure to let you know if and when it fails.

 

Sounds like a win to me, Skin. I have absolutely no knowledge of aircraft repair so I wouldn't even think to go that direction for parts. My BIL is a aircraft mechanic, though, and I've hung out at the hanger a little. The small air cooled piston engines he works on do look remarkably similar to Harley engines with more cylinders.