Wilsons Sandbox

> > This is a quick follow-up on the JB-Weld on fuel systems. > > As some of you may know, I recently finished my 1979 CB-750 restoration project. When I received the bike, it had been taken apart for years and the petcock was missing from the tank. I was able to find a petcock that fit the tank, but the rubber seal inside was cracked. New petcocks cost a bunch and a needed a temporary solution until I could locate one for a decent price. > > What I ended up doing was drilling out the rivets and removing the petcock handle, gasket and rubber seal, leaving the body of the petcock hollow: essentially just an open tube. I then cut a gasket out of the liner from the cap of a "Monster" energy drink can, placed it over the open front of the opening and tapped a couple of screw holes where the rivets used to be. > > This held gas, but any pressure on the opening of the gasket caused fuel to drip around the sides. I then decided to place something over the opening to keep anything from pressing on the gasket. I reached in my pocket and grabbed a nickel and it fit perfectly. I mixed up some JB-Weld and began building up around the edges of the nickel. By the time I was done I had essentially encased the front of the petcock and about 1/8" of the sides in JB, with Thomas Jefferson's bust emblazoned on the side. It actually ended up looking fairly nice. > > Since the immediate need was solved, it was out of my mind. I went on to other parts of the project and still haven't gotten around to finding a petcock. It's been 8 months and it's still holding fuel... > > -Jeff Khoury >