Stuck on fuel filler cap! : (

[julianf]

One of these -

Its been in use all of 18 months!

Original ebay listing - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170897367209


Ive never bothered locking it, as its not publicly accessible, but the key does nothing either (indeed the key just spins around and around with no sensible change in resistance)

The filler cap just spins around also.


I cant remember how the lock on them works. I dont know if its a bar that reaches under the filler neck rim, or if it dis-engages the cap to let it just spin (like its doing at present)

Does anyone know? Im wondering how to go about getting it off.

I bought a branded one ( Fahler ) to try and avoid this sort of thing.

 

[julianf]

Another ebay listing shows this to be the underside -

I think this would imply that the outer section is possibly now dis-engaged from the bit that i actually need to be turning.

 

[Bornfree]

Could you just drill through it and turn it with the drill bit still in.

 

[julianf]

Could you just drill through it and turn it with the drill bit still in.

Thats my current best plan. I hope that, if i go easy, i may not get a load of swarf in the tank.

 

[Erie Fred]

Thats my current best plan. I hope that, if i go easy, i may not get a load of swarf in the tank.

Put a block on the drill bit so you don't drill all the way thru both parts.

Maybe a simple stack of flat washers.
drill with a full stack, test with pin, if not enough, subtract a few washers, and drill a bit deeper.

lather, rinse, repeat.

 

[voipio]

Could that blue protective plastic have something to do with it? It may be stopping the lock "tumblers" from engaging. If it's removed, will the key turn and stop the cap spinning? Try and ease it out gently, so none of it remains in the gap around the lock.

 

[Nomad]

Apologies if I'm reading this wrong, hope this helps

Are you holding the cap so it can't spin when you turn the key? On mine I need to hold the outer or the whole lot just turns freely when I turn the key.
The last few I had, turn key anti-clockwise to unlock - when unlocked you can turn the cap to remove it, turn key clockwise to lock.
When locked the outer just spins, yours in now "locked" and needs to get "unlocked"

Older ones I had would put a bar in place so the cap couldn't turn (but could be forced with stilsons etc), for many years "locked" means the cap spins freely but does nothing.


Edit: the blue film does nothing as it's on the outside of the keyhole, new caps work regardless if you leave the blue on or remove it.

 

[julianf]

Apologies if I'm reading this wrong, hope this helps

Are you holding the cap so it can't spin when you turn the key? On mine I need to hold the outer or the whole lot just turns freely when I turn the key.
The last few I had, turn key anti-clockwise to unlock - when unlocked you can turn the cap to remove it, turn key clockwise to lock.
When locked the outer just spins, yours in now "locked" and needs to get "unlocked"

Older ones I had would put a bar in place so the cap couldn't turn (but could be forced with stilsons etc), for many years "locked" means the cap spins freely but does nothing.


Edit: the blue film does nothing as it's on the outside of the keyhole, new caps work regardless if you leave the blue on or remove it.

So -

Ive never used the lock. So it wasnt left locked. And never has been prior.

The only reason the keys are in the photo was in an attempt to resolve it.

With or without the keys the black plastic spins around, with some resistance, but it spins, with no noticable change in friction. But there is friction.

Same with the keys. They will turn the barrel around and arround. With friction, but with no stop point. Can just endlessly go in either direction.

There is not enough friction between the barrel and the black plastic to turn the plastic.

I have also tried rotating the key with the plastic, both clock wise and counter clock wise (basically every combination i can think of!) with no good result.


I think that the connection between the bit that i can touch and the bit that locks onto the lip of the filler has been lost, and no combination of anything i have tried so far has made a difference.

Again, the part was left in the unlocked (which, in this case, would mean engaged) position, as it always has been. The keys have just been a failed attempt at change.

 

[voipio]

A few drops of 3-in-1 oil or lock lube into the keyhole, and wiggle the key in and out a few times?

 

[julianf]

Its resolved -

A hole close to the lock barrel let me see that the bit that i could hold (the black plastic outer) was spinning independently of the bit that the lock was mounted in.

I tried to wedge / lock it with a screwdriver to no avail, but a wood screw driven in bound up the two sections, allowing the inner to turn with the outer.


Simple enough, just irritating. Again, about 18 months old.


I need a new cap - im wondering if this sort of arrangement may be less prone to incident -

 

[Erie Fred]

How quietly & fast can you do this job ?
Make good money in London.....only at night though.....

 

[julianf]

How quietly & fast can you do this job ?
Make good money in London.....only at night though.....

If you're drilling, you may as well just drill the tank and save yourself needing to syphon!

 

[julianf]

Just bought one of these. Looks less fussy.

Pardon our interruption...