Are Stihl Flippy Caps Supposed to Squeak and Leak?

[HansFranz]

Because the flippy cap on my Stihl MS361 just started squeaking and leaking. I blew off both sides of the cap with compressed air, and the rubber o-ring is unbroken and seems fine, but still she leaks! It kinda almost feels like it got degreased with some hardcore solvent somewhere along the way but to my knowledge that has never happened, and it's never even seen gasohol.

Is there any way to fix it (assuming it's not supposed to leak when you turn it with its left side downward)? Or do I just need to buy a new flippy cap?

Thanks for any clues.

 

[holeycow]

Bloody stupid idea, those caps. An answer to a question nobody asked. Ridiculous over-thinking of a cap. Anyway, those caps were 13.00 in Canada about 10 years ago when I bought one.



Sorry, I don't have any clues.

 

[PapaWhitebeard]

uh of course they aren't supposed to leak...

I'd check to see if the o-ring at the top of the flippy cap is still there... or if its it the process of breaking...

If that's the problem... replace o-ring. O-rings are inexpensive and if you buy a giant bag of them they're pennies each...

if you try to by one or two people charge a lot of money for the trouble of sending you a couple o-rings

maybe see if your dealer or local small engine repair place can give you a couple new o-rings for a few bucks.

Re the squeaking... there is so much oil on the oil cap idk how you could get it to squeak... unless you'd soaked it in degreaser and had no oil in the tank...

but if its not the o-rings i've heard people needing to replace those flippy caps after *years* but i've always done just fine throwing new o-rings on there.

good luck!

 

[arto_wa]

Because the flippy cap on my Stihl MS361 just started squeaking and leaking. I blew off both sides of the cap with compressed air, and the rubber o-ring is unbroken and seems fine, but still she leaks! It kinda almost feels like it got degreased with some hardcore solvent somewhere along the way but to my knowledge that has never happened, and it's never even seen gasohol.

Is there any way to fix it (assuming it's not supposed to leak when you turn it with its left side downward)? Or do I just need to buy a new flippy cap?

Thanks for any clues.

Have not had trouble with these and the price is right ($1.82/each + shipping) even with the postage added, if you buy few of them!

Fuel Cap - "Flippy"

 

[RedneckChainsawRepair]

What I put on locals saws that cant stand them. Aftermarket no flip replacements.

2 on left design. One on right was a neat design but the seller went under and closed up shop.

 

[Chevboy0167]

 

[bwalker]

I've never had problems with flippy caps. If the look grungy I give them a blast of break cleaner and blow off.with compressed air.

 

[pioneerguy600]

I have not encountered the problems others have using flippy caps, they came on my first MS 440 and I now have 4 of those, a MS360,361 ,362, 460X2 and several MS260`s. I liked the flippy caps as they were easier to take off and replace in the winter months when wearing gloves, I do most of my saw cutting during the late fall and through the winter months.

 

[bwalker]

I have not encountered the problems others have using flippy caps, they came on my first MS 440 and I now have 4 of those, a MS360,361 ,362, 460X2 and several MS260`s. I liked the flippy caps as they were easier to take off and replace in the winter months when wearing gloves, I do most of my saw cutting during the late fall and through the winter months.

There are guys that can eff up a crow bar.
Flippy caps have always worked for me without issue.

 

[HansFranz]

I've never had problems with flippy caps.

Me neither in the 18 or 23 years I've used them...until now.

 

[pioneerguy600]

There are guys that can eff up a crow bar.
Flippy caps have always worked for me without issue.

I worked with guys like that,could break a solid steel anvil with an 8 ounce hammer. One needs to be as smart as a flippy cap or smarter to operate them correctly.

 

[coffeebrk]

Yes, buy a new cap

 

[trains]

I usually come across worn o rings, and just replace them, clean flippy cap mech with air, and a squirt of lanotec to lubricate the cap and they work fine.
Keep the area clean where the o ring seats, helps prevent leaks too, have had them leak and a clean stopped the leak.

 

[RedneckChainsawRepair]

Husky got the flippy cap design right. Screw in duh.

Slot for scrench if ever broke one.

How the over engineered stihls should have been IMO. I dont have any problems with the stihls either. I run them on 3 saws.

But boy sure is nice on on huskys having a choice with screw in cap design you can run old school or flippy.

 

[PJwoodcutter]

No they should not leak. I am going to "assume" (hate using that word) that you got faulty o rings if a newer saw. I do think over time contact with fuel, oils, sawdust and other debris will also deform the o rings no matter what materials they are made from. I agree with others that the Stihl caps are a solution to a problem that didnt exist.

 

[bucketofguts]

I seldom have an issue. MS 200 bar oil cap will from time to time be fussy.

 

[GMB74]

Don't overthink this.
Anything mechanical can and will wear out.
Replace the o-ring, if that doesn't work you need a new cap.
FWIW, I have had good luck with the aftermarket caps off ebay if you want to go cheap. YMMV.

 

[GMB74]

I had a gas cap on an old MS290 that seemed to fit and work properly, but would leak, but only when you revved the engine.
Wierd things happen sometimes. A new cap fixed it.

 

[StihlsawuserMS361]

Me neither in the 18 or 23 years I've used them...until now.

I've had a couple leak in the years I've had them. I'd just cut my losses and aggravation and replace them with OEM.

 

[stihltech]

Replace the cap.