Petcock/sediment bowl conundrum

[w30bob]

Hi Guys,

Ever have one of those days when you're pretty sure you ARE going nuts? So I noticed the little "L" shaped handle on the fuel petcock was leaking. Nothing to that..........just pull it off and replace it with another one from my parts pile. 5 minutes tops. Well........when I pulled it off I saw the threads were all messed up on the pot metal petcock, so of course it leaked. Now I got to pull off the whole petcock/sediment bowl and replace that. Again, no biggie, I'm sure I've got one or five in the parts pile. 10 minutes tops. So I go grab one, take it all apart, blow air thru all the openings, check all the threads and put it back together. Install it on the tractor, connect the fuel line, put some gas in the tank and open the spigot "L" handle. Drip....drip.....nothing. Hmmmmm.......that's not right. Look in the tank to make sure I'm covering the hole with fuel......yup. Ok, maybe I didn't blow it out completely and there's still some crap in one of the internal passages. Off it all comes, back on the bench, take it apart, blow it out. Find nothing. Start overthinking it, as usual. I know there's no vent hole anywhere.....and I didn't get within 5 feet of the carb at any point except to disconnect the fuel line........and it ran great before all this. So back on the assembly goes and in goes the fuel.....and I turn the spigot again. Drip...drip....nothing. Lots of cussing at this point, but luckily the dog passed on last week so there was no kicking the pooch. I loosened up the little glass cup and fuel ran everywhere. Close the spigot, empty the bowl and reinstall. Open the spigot.......drip....drip....nothing.

I seem to have a vague memory of this happening once before, but I could just be hallucinating. I've got a feeling some of you folks have been down this path......so when you get done laughing at me..........please tell me what I'm missing here.

thanks,
bob

[tst]

the fuel is air locked when empty, just loosen the bale on the bowl to vent it, that is normal

[w30bob]

Oh come on TST.....that's way too easy. I'm pretty sure I'll need to take it apart at least 4 or 5 more times and kill at least half a day.......

Interesting note........I bought 4 or 5 new rubber gaskets for the sediment bowl from someone on eBay a few months back....I'll find out exactly who later......and had installed one on the sediment bowl I was replacing. I figured I'd re-use that gasket and screen on another petcock, but when I popped the gasket off the petcock (and it fit just fine) it literally expanded right in front of my eyes. It grew so large it wouldn't fit in the second petcock (or the first one anymore). I've never seen rubber do that so quickly. I ended up having to install another new black rubber gasket. Next time I'm buying cork.

Thanks TST for trying to save my sanity!!

regards,
bob

[tst]

I do not use the rubber ones, have good luck with the cork style

[IHCFan1950]

Went through two brand new ones that did nothing but leak. Finally threw them away and ran straight out of the tank with a quarter turn shut off valve, and further down installed a slip on fuel filter. Problem solved.

[staninlowerAL]

[quote="w30bob"]...... but when I popped the gasket off the petcock (and it fit just fine) it literally expanded right in front of my eyes. It grew so large it wouldn't fit in the second petcock (or the first one anymore). I've never seen rubber do that so quickly. I ended up having to install another new black rubber gasket. Next time I'm buying cork.......quote]

I've had similar experience with rubber exposed to gasoline. Try Nitrile gaskets, it's rated for petroleum products use.

[jsfarmall]

Start your tractor. It will fix the problem.

[Glen]

Hi,
If gas leaks from the shaft for the shutoff valve on the gas strainer, slightly tighten the special nut on the strainer, where the shaft goes through. There is packing inside, if it the style with packing, and tightening the nut should stop the leaking. Don't overtighten it, it makes the handle hard to turn.
You don't need to replace the strainer because it leaks at the shutoff valve handle, if it is the style with packing.
There is a style with no packing, Jim B. wrote below.

It is easier to get to the strainer if you move the Touch Control arms to the rear position before beginning work on the strainer.

[w30bob]

Hi guys,

Stan......I hear ya about the nitrile.....but you'd think a gasket made specifically for a fuel sediment bowl wouldn't react to fuel. More Chinese junk.

Glen......I did tighten it down, but I guess the little rubber gasket under the fitting was worn out......and it can't be replaced.

I also bought a new petcock last year and it just didn't work......it would not fully shut off the fuel no matter how hard you closed it. Had to send it back.

Regards,
Bob

[staninlowerAL]

Bob, Waxed Dental Floss is an acceptable packing material. About 3 or 4 wraps around the shaft is usually enough to seal it. As Glen stated, just snug the nut enough to stop the leak.

[Rick Spivey]

I also fixed one with a length of graphite packing found in the plumbing section. Wasn't sure it would work with gas, but it's been there 10 years now....

[w30bob]

Hi Guys,

Yes.......great idea on repacking. I thought about it, but the only packing I've seen at the hardware store was the rope packing for water spigots and such.....way too thick for this application. But dental floss is brilliant! I'll also look for the graphite packing when I hit the local hardware store today. Thanks much!!

regards,
bob

[Jim Becker]

Hi,
If gas leaks from the shaft for the shutoff valve on the gas strainer, slightly tighten the special nut on the strainer, where the shaft goes through. There is packing inside, and tightening the nut should stop the leaking. . . .

Everyone should be aware that this isn't always true. Most of the replacements use a stem packing. However, many of the originals had a back seating valve and no packing. They will leak if you don't completely open the valve, normal behavior.

[k hutchins]

FWIW l've always cut my own cork gaskets. Never had a failure.
If you open the petcock a 1/4 turn, then tighten the nut, it will fully seat. Then turn the petcock back off.