boltonranger
ArboristSite Guru
I've read posts about the flip cap issues; particularly the gas cap.
I'll preface by saying this is regarding the gas flip cap.
I find they swell and get tight from the ethanol in the gas.
The cap is pretty simple the way it works. All it does is press the o-ring against the fuel tank opening. Here's how:
There are three little cleats on the bottom of the cap that fit only one way into the tank. They accomplish the one way fit by making the cleats different widths.
Once you put the cleats into the correct grooves in the tank; you turn clockwise. The cleats are supposed to go to the right until they reach the stops in the grooves in the tank wall. As you turn the cap at this point, the cap itself begins to contract in height. This squishes the o-ring against the lip of the tank opening. Continuing to turn the cap to the right locks it down and makes the seal. At least that's how it's supposed to work.
Like I said above; the E-10 swells the cap.
What goes wrong from here can vary; but in my case the cleats stop turning before they reach there stops in the tank groove.
When that happens; you continue turning the cap and it wants to squish the o-ring but nothing is properly seated.
You can't always tell it because:
A) Unless you look real close the cap looks locked on.
B) The cleats keep the cap from falling out; but it's not sealed right.
I'll say here that I prefer the old caps.
I'll also say that I've replaced my cap and had the problem return.
So after much looking at the cap; I came up with what I think is an answer.
I took a flat file (you can use a hone stone too) to the outer edge of the cleats on the cap; and filed their edges down a little at a time.
This worked fine. A year later the cap got sticky again.
This time I did the cleats and the circular part (flange) on the cap right below the o-ring. I removed the 0-ring first to keep it from being damaged. This has worked well enough that I put my old cap back on the saw that it originally came with. I took a picture to show it. I highlighted the filed surfaces with white so you can see where I mean.
When the cap is working properly it will go straight in the tank with no resistance before you turn it. It will also turn easily. That's how I know I've filed enough material from the cleats and flange part. If the cap doesn't come out easily and you have to pull hard, wiggle it, etc; it's not right and about to give you problems.
I can't speak exactly to the oil cap but I know it works identically. There's no E-10 in there so I don't know if it's swelling problems or debris. I can say that if anything interferes with the right hand rotation of the cap once it's in the tank it won't act right.
Also if for any reason the cap tries seat and doesn't- you need to pull it out and unrotate the mechanism, which then expands the height of the cap so you can try again.
Like I say - I do prefer the old caps; but...this seems to cure the problem for me.
Note: If you take a stone or file to the cap; wipe it clean afterward so you don't get the plastic filings in your fuel tank.)
Anyway; that's it.
Hope this can help somebody.
-br
I'll preface by saying this is regarding the gas flip cap.
I find they swell and get tight from the ethanol in the gas.
The cap is pretty simple the way it works. All it does is press the o-ring against the fuel tank opening. Here's how:
There are three little cleats on the bottom of the cap that fit only one way into the tank. They accomplish the one way fit by making the cleats different widths.
Once you put the cleats into the correct grooves in the tank; you turn clockwise. The cleats are supposed to go to the right until they reach the stops in the grooves in the tank wall. As you turn the cap at this point, the cap itself begins to contract in height. This squishes the o-ring against the lip of the tank opening. Continuing to turn the cap to the right locks it down and makes the seal. At least that's how it's supposed to work.
Like I said above; the E-10 swells the cap.
What goes wrong from here can vary; but in my case the cleats stop turning before they reach there stops in the tank groove.
When that happens; you continue turning the cap and it wants to squish the o-ring but nothing is properly seated.
You can't always tell it because:
A) Unless you look real close the cap looks locked on.
B) The cleats keep the cap from falling out; but it's not sealed right.
I'll say here that I prefer the old caps.
I'll also say that I've replaced my cap and had the problem return.
So after much looking at the cap; I came up with what I think is an answer.
I took a flat file (you can use a hone stone too) to the outer edge of the cleats on the cap; and filed their edges down a little at a time.
This worked fine. A year later the cap got sticky again.
This time I did the cleats and the circular part (flange) on the cap right below the o-ring. I removed the 0-ring first to keep it from being damaged. This has worked well enough that I put my old cap back on the saw that it originally came with. I took a picture to show it. I highlighted the filed surfaces with white so you can see where I mean.
When the cap is working properly it will go straight in the tank with no resistance before you turn it. It will also turn easily. That's how I know I've filed enough material from the cleats and flange part. If the cap doesn't come out easily and you have to pull hard, wiggle it, etc; it's not right and about to give you problems.
I can't speak exactly to the oil cap but I know it works identically. There's no E-10 in there so I don't know if it's swelling problems or debris. I can say that if anything interferes with the right hand rotation of the cap once it's in the tank it won't act right.
Also if for any reason the cap tries seat and doesn't- you need to pull it out and unrotate the mechanism, which then expands the height of the cap so you can try again.
Like I say - I do prefer the old caps; but...this seems to cure the problem for me.
Note: If you take a stone or file to the cap; wipe it clean afterward so you don't get the plastic filings in your fuel tank.)
Anyway; that's it.
Hope this can help somebody.
-br
opcorn:
