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Discussion Honda Spada Fuel Tap

Discussion in 'Honda 250cc Twins' started by Gizziracer, May 14, 2018.

  1. Gizziracer

    Gizziracer Well-Known Member Contributing Member

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    The mighty Honda Spada, as we know, is one of the most indestructible 250cc motorcycles ever built.
    Sadly, the fuel taps and dirty cam chain adjusters seem to be their Achilles heels after many years of use.
    Honda no longer supply fuel taps and they are a very specific fit. I have rebuilt them using rebuild kits with some success but some have been just too badly corroded/worn to repair. Does anyone know of another fuel tap that may fit and is a little less fragile. One line of thought I'm about to experiment with is to dodgy up a plate that fits the bottom of the spada tank where the fuel tap connects and connect a piece of threaded rod that will accept a more modern petcock. Possibly allowing a vtr 250 or some such tap to be fitted.
    Rob
     
  2. Andych

    Andych Moderator Staff Member Premium Member Contributing Member Dirty Wheel Club

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    Details of the fitment to the Spada tank might help others come up with alternatives..
    The VTR250 is an M22 thread and a vacuum operated tap... If you are changing it I would steer away from vacuum operated... just less hassle overall but you have to remember to shut them off :)
     
  3. GreyImport

    GreyImport Administrator Staff Member The Chief Contributing Member

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  4. GreyImport

    GreyImport Administrator Staff Member The Chief Contributing Member

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  5. Gizziracer

    Gizziracer Well-Known Member Contributing Member

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    Yep, the Spada is vacuum operated as well. I also spend way too much time playing with Moto Guzzis so I am familiar with on off fuel taps. The thing that worries me about removing the vaccume tap on Spadas is that even after replacing the fuel cut off needle and seats in the carbs they will still happily overflow and fill the front combustion chamber with fuel with quite unpleasant results. I can leave a guzzi fuel tap on for days with no apparent overflow issues but spada carbs just cant cope with a constant supply of fuel while engine is off.
     
  6. Gizziracer

    Gizziracer Well-Known Member Contributing Member

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    Oh, sorry, thanks Andy. That's very helpful. I have a brand new 1985 GSXR 750 petcock sitting in the cupboard but I've been a bit hesitant to sacrifice it on the Spada
    Rob
     
  7. Andych

    Andych Moderator Staff Member Premium Member Contributing Member Dirty Wheel Club

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    Looking at the info @GreyImport has put up above you could make up a plate with the same bolt centres as the Spada and add any fitting you want underneath to accept pretty much any petcock.. vacuum or not... to keep these old bikes running you have to do things like that.
     
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  8. my67xr

    my67xr Bike Enthusiast Staff Member Premium Member Contributing Member

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  9. Andych

    Andych Moderator Staff Member Premium Member Contributing Member Dirty Wheel Club

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    It will still need to have a mount of some sort made up.. should be easy enough though... only problem is those are all M22 so it depends on the size of the original place as to what tube can be welded to a new mounting plate..
    Then at least you still use the factory filter screens... although the reserve level will be lower.
     
  10. Gizziracer

    Gizziracer Well-Known Member Contributing Member

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    Thanks everyone, especially for the links. If VTR fuel taps are M22 thread I'm thinking that sourcing a m22 cap screw or bolt and cutting an 18mm hole through the middle of it , deftly inserting it through the spada petcock hole via the fuel filler hole, packing the gap between fuel tank and 22mm bolt with JB weld or fuel tank repair product, then bolting it in place with a 22mm washer and bolt, may just create the necessary fitting so modern vtr taps will fit. I'm a little reluctant to weld or use heat on fuel tanks.
    The only other issue is the VTR fuel tap handle is substantially shorter than the spada one but this is a fairly simply issue to resolve. Can anyone envisage any issues with this solution.
    rob
     
  11. Andych

    Andych Moderator Staff Member Premium Member Contributing Member Dirty Wheel Club

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    Now if I am reading that picture above of the standard fuel tap it has a flat plate that bolts to the tank. So why wouldn’t you get a new plate made up with the M22 pipe welded to it.
    Then you can use the VTR petcock as well as go back to stock, if you even feel the need.
    No need to bodge the tank with fillers etc.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
     
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  12. song tran

    song tran Member Premium Member

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    Just re-opening this thread because i am going through looking for a backup plan just in case my petcock assembly has kick the bucket. I found a potential replacement but it is pretty expensive
    https://xcitebikes.com.au/product/16950-mr8-073/
     

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