Need advice Petcock leaking

[Jet86]

Today i ran out of gas for the first time in over a year and had to switch to reserve while going down the road and got a wet hand, it only leaked when i turned the leaver but it freaked me out and i pulled off the road and jumped off the bike to see where it was leaking from and it had stopped so i guess it was the gasket.

i bought the entire petcock from murph about 4 years ago, do i need to replace it or is it normal for it to leak a bit when since i haven't moved it in a while. how long do they normally last?

i really dont want to buy a new one and im low on cash, however i dont want to rebuild it either, it just leaked a split second when i turned the leaver and i put in $10 or 2.5 gal of gas and put it back to the on position and its not leaking any now so im kind of stumped.

[DC Concours]

It should not leak at all and they should easily last more than 4 years. Mine is as old as the bike. With all my bikes, every few weeks to a month I intentionally ran down my tank and turn the petcock on reserve till fill-up. I wish I had done that with my shutoff valves in my old house now they are crudded over and stuck. When I break them loose there is always some leaking.

For the next few days, especially when passing by the bike in your garage just switch the petcock back and forth between reserve and on. See what happens...

I would still take it apart and inspect. You cannot ride with a possible leaking petcock.

[Jim __]

My '80 CB900 started to do the same thing after 30 years.  I disassembled and cleaned it, reassembled (without replacing any parts) and it never leaked again.  Although it was a manual valve so it was exercised after each ride.

[MAN OF BLUES]

The seal that leaks tends to bond to the face of the rotating lever back, or the body... most folks never rotate them for years... me being a mjor offender also..it will reseal after you excercise it,but still take it apart and disassemble and clean n grease the seal... it'll be good for another decade then

[Jet86]

The seal that leaks tends to bond to the face of the rotating lever back, or the body... most folks never rotate them for years... me being a mjor offender also..it will reseal after you excercise it,but still take it apart and disassemble and clean n grease the seal... it'll be good for another decade then

yeah i think it already sealed back up but your right i need to just suck it up and take apart, that will be a good thing cause i can see if there is any trash in the screen, i just dont like smelling and getting gas on my hands but i gotta do what needs done.
Thanks