Fuel Petcock question

I recently overhauled my gas tank (cleaned, lined, debadged, painted) and I'm extremely happy with the results. The question I have has to do with the petcock. I went to put the petcock back in the tank today and I noticed that the little "stick filter" goes in and out of the petcock quite freely. Almost as if it would fall out if I were to accidently hit a big bump or knocked a bit. Is this normal? Is there some sort of o-ring or sealant that I'm missing?

 

Loose is not Normal.
Tap it back-in around the Base.

 

Not sure if I'm able to "tap it back in." It seems as if the base of the filter is too small for the hole it needs to go into. It just slides in and out with ease. Is there anywhere to get a new "filter?" Does chacol have these in stock?

 

I've seen this a few times. The plastic filter sock shrinks if it is allowed to dry out. You can try to spike it back into place with a punch but some shrink too much for that to work.
Chacal has the parts, shoot him a line.

 

You might be able to place a piece of Shrink Wrap on the Stub-end.

 

Could you discard the filter and go with a inline filter? I would just like to know.

 

Hi, If it is the same setup as my xj650, the in tank filter 'stick" is aso part of your reserve change over , that is the filter has two fuel "inlet "positions,and where the pet cock is set determins which position it draws from. Top pos. for normal,bottom for reserve. So yes you can replace the filtering function ,but not the reserve part of it.

cheers, Murray

 

I wouldn't run without it.
My Maxim has no Fuel Gauge.
I need the Petcock Tower in place to enable the Reserve Function.

I still run an Inline Filter, though.
Inline Filter is your last line of defense.

 

Everything you need to know about the Yamaha vacuum fuel valve, even a tip on installing your new "tower screen:" http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=25058.html