petcock question

I just got my new petcocks from OldBritts. With the exception that one says reserve on it they are the same. :?
But, my real question is: They both came with a little filter on them with a piece of clear plastic tubing over it. Is this just to protect them in shipping or should I leave it on there. The stock main petcock appears to have a metal tube on it (when I look into the tank). I'm guessing the reserve does not.

Captain B said:

But, my real question is: They both came with a little filter on them with a piece of clear plastic tubing over it. Is this just to protect them in shipping or should I leave it on there.

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Yes, the plastic tubing must be removed, as it's only there to protect the filter mesh during handling and shipping etc..

Captain B said:

The stock main petcock appears to have a metal tube on it (when I look into the tank). I'm guessing the reserve does not.

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Yes, "Main" will have the stand pipe, so the fuel supply is interrupted when the level of fuel in the tank drops to just below the level of the standpipe, and "Reserve" has no stand pipe so will drain the tank until it is empty, although a small amount of fuel can be trapped on the "main" side, because of the frame tunnel in the underside of the tank, and that can allow you an extra "emergency" reserve, which you can use by stopping and leaning the bike right over until the fuel spills over from the main side into the reserve side.

The old reserve on reserve trick! (said Maxwell Smart style of course)

:lol: Jean

Yes, I run mine with one tap on and one off, allowing a big reserve on the tap with the reserve...so when I run out I turn the tap on,,, then onto reserve....now we are desperate!! Quite impressed with the miles in a Roadster tank though...After my experience with an Iron Head Sportster (70 miles top) I thought it would be similar, but I reckon I can get 120 miles on one tank..this sound right?
Stu

Quite impressed with the miles in a Roadster tank though...After my experience with an Iron Head Sportster (70 miles top) I thought it would be similar, but I reckon I can get 120 miles on one tank..this sound right?

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You should be safe with 120 before the reserve comes in. For years even when carbs were new I went on reserve at 135 and got another 12-15 miles before I ran out (yep done that a few times!). Put new carb bodies with chromed brass slides on early April and consistently getting 160 + before reserve. 5 tankfuls now on a mix of 40-60 A/B road and 75+ M-Way work. I'm staggered but put it down to a combination of hard running in (new rings) and the new parts. It's a std 750 with 32mm Mk1's, ported Combat head, 030" base spacer plate for about 9.3:1. Needles in lowest position with no sign of overheating (the exhaust blueing was from running in a new cam 6 years ago). Other Commando owners raise their eyebrows when I tell them but last w/end it did 160 and hasn't gone on reserve yet.