After having one too many scares from my bike dying while being on the freeway, I did some research and determined that I should change my stock petcock for the Raptor petcock.  I didn't really know what the advantages were, and honestly I still don't.  I know that it took away the vacuum hose which I had to plug up on my stock carb, so now it is a straight gravity flow of fuel.  Is that simply the only thing that make this petcock so helpful?  Having an "off" position for my petcock is very nice I must admit, but once again, what are all the benefits?

Do you plan to do any changes to the bike that involve the stock air filter?   If so, you need to do a Raptor petcock because any changes to that air filter / air box will affect your stock vacuum levels and cause the vac petcock to malfunction.

In America, vac petcocks have failed as early as 5 years, with one failing inside 3 months on a new bike (but that was exceptional, I think).

The only notable "always there" advantage to the Raptor is that it provides a FULL flow of gasoline at all throttle conditions.   It has the advantage of having a reserve function over just putting your petcock in prime and blocking off the tubes.

If you are going after engine mods that increase HP then you need to Raptor before you start (attempting tuning on a carb with a vac petcock on the bike will drive you to drink it is so erratic and changeable)

The Raptor also has a smoother mechanism, making turning it easier...
... and, It's smaller size makes tank removal much, much easier...

Much, much... ...

With the vacuum you run the risk of damaging the hose, not that its a hard fix but the raptor petcock just has less going on, therefore less chance somethings gonna go wrong. I'd make rhe swtrch just for the convenient tank removal.

A normal or "Old school"  fuel petcock has three positions: on, off and reserve and uses gravity for the flow of fuel into the carb.

The stock Suzuki Savage vacuum petcock has no "OFF" position.

The engine vacuum is used open a rubber diaphragm in the petcock allowing fuel to flow into the carb ..... a vacuum operated on/off valve with the default position being  "Off" for safety.

This is the EPA's way of protecting us from ourselves again...if the engine stops running for whatever reason fuel supply to the carb is cut off.

This is still a gravity fuel flow system however, and engine vacuum is not used to "Pull" fuel from the tank.

The problems arise with these types of petcocks when the rubber diaphragm leaks due to deterioration from the  corrosive alcohol in the fuel , age or physical damage.

A leaking diaphragm may allow excess fuel into the carb or shut off the fuel supply altogether.

Vacuum petcock problems can be hard starting, engine stops running entirely or runs rough running to name just a few.

Switching to the "Old school" manual petcock eliminates all this crap.

If it leaks you can see it...replace it's seal and gasket and it is as good as new again.. If it is plugged by crap, you get no fuel...take it apart and clean it....simple and easy. NO worries mate!

I have tried the 2005 Yamaha "Raptor" petcock with the correct size 5/16" fuel outlet and they work just great.

I have also tried a cheap Chinese eBay knock-off Raptor petcock with the smaller 1/4" fuel outlet and it works just fine as well.

There are differences in quality and price  however.

Genuine Raptor petcock.....cast aluminum body with brass fuel tubes....cost - $24.95 and up.

Chinese knock-off.....cast aluminum body with plastic fuel tubes....cost $9.95 and up.

I have over 2000 miles on my Chinese knock-off raptor with NO problems at all.

I don't argue, if it fails it fails. But so long it's ok it's ok.
Was lucky to night, shot a 230lb wildboar at less then 20 yards with my Rolling Block made 1872, old stuff is still good  

swedishbiker wrote on 10/13/13 at 10:06:02:

It isn't that a stock pet can't be turned,... but, with age they do become resistant to turning...
Old things that become hard to turn, are prone to breaking...

A Raptor is a smoother operating system... Things that work smoothly last a long time...

swedishbiker wrote on 10/13/13 at 09:05:59:

Assigning blame doesn't Solve any problems. Knowing that modifications will affect vacuum, which the stock petcock relies on is not Blaming the petcock. It's just being aware that the stock petcock is not going to play nicely after modifications are made.