Locking gas cap

My two cents worth about the S/W locking gas cap.
After taking a few 3k-4k mile trips each summer I got tired of on locking and locking the gas cap and made it a non locking cap.Remove the two screws on the bottom and remove the metal cylinder. Slide out the dog(locking device)and replace the cylinder.It is now converted to non locking cap and can be converted back again easily.I carry the part in one of the glove boxes. Howard

FWIW, Helix and Elite gas caps are non-locking and fit perfectly.

Thanks for the tip Howard. Will probably do the same.

I was getting tired of that gas cap!!!!!!
Thanks Dave

Not many pieces and parts to deal with ......

All three of my scooters have locking gas caps, largest tank size ~4 gal.

Neither of my cars does, smallest tank size ~13 gal.

What a world!

 Mine no longer has a locking gas cap....

 Thanks

Using a Helix cap on mine.

Why use a different cap.Even if you have it or get it for nothing, remember the S/W cap is not vented and you have to use a non vented cap as a replacement.Save your money.   Howard

Howard, Don't take this personally, but does it really make a rat's *ss of a difference whether your gas cap is vented or not? After all, the Evap emissions system is passive, and unless your local emissions police are sniffing away at your tail pipe then who cares?

Tim

YMMV. Need not be present to win. Offer may not apply in California

Tim,I think you missed my point,you do not have to replace the gas cap.Second vented or not the gas cap will not change what is coming out of the tail pipe.Most engines, stationary or mobile with carburetors will have a vented cap,usually back to the intake system.Most fuel injection systems will have a non vented cap (i.e.S/W) and will draw back to a system and into the intake process.The real purpose of all this is to minimize evaporation(it amounts to thousands of gal.) to the atmosphere.This is why most gas pumps now have a system to return the fumes back to the holding tanks.It is not just the economy but we are at a ten year low on importing oil and I am aware that we are producing more oil here.The wrest case scenario on gas caps,the wrong cap can collapses the tank. I've seen this many times. Howard

How can you get tired unlocking and locking the gas cap? It only takes a few seconds to do, it's hardly strength sapping and you'd use the time saved by removing the lock to do what exactly?  

I bet no one gets tired unlocking and locking the doors, windows, and garages in their homes or has removed the locks altogether to relieve themselves that tiresome task.  

When I fill up two or three times a day on tour I usually have to remove and refit a tunnel bag as well as a gas/filler cap and that only takes seconds too. I didn't even think about it until now.

This topic reminds me of that one a while ago about disabling the side stand cut out switch, that was also too much bother for some.   

Howard: Thanks for your explanation. However I thought that the fuel tank vented into the Evap canister and then to the atmosphere via those two little hoses exiting the canister at the bottom of the scoot. I guess that I'll have to review my FSM regarding that stuff.

Meldrew: While I understand your point, never the less I still find it very annoying to remove the key from the ignition, unlock the gas cap...re-lock the gas cap and return the key to the ignition. In my personal experience all those additional steps amount to a genuine PITA

Thanks for your comments guys

Tim

Cosmic_Jumper wrote:

Meldrew: While I understand your point, never the less I still find it very annoying to remove the key from the ignition, unlock the gas cap...re-lock the gas cap and return the key to the ignition. In my personal experience all those additional steps amount to a genuine PITA.

I had to do the same procedure with my previous car just like the tens of thousands of other owners of the same model, it wasn't annoying or a PITA it was simply filling the tank.

Meldrew wrote:

How can you get tired unlocking and locking the gas cap? It only takes a few seconds to do, it's hardly strength sapping and you'd use the time saved by removing the lock to do what exactly?  

This topic reminds me of that one a while ago about disabling the side stand cut out switch, that was also too much bother for some.   

Both good points, Meldrew.

I'm not sure either why one would not want a locking gas cap.
As for the side stand cutout switch, I thought the value of warming a cold engine while on the side stand would outweigh the protection of riding away with a lowered side stand. Safety trumped convenience for me.

If I recall correctly a thread was started earlier in the year by a member who thought something had been added to his petrol-tank without his knowledge, causing problems.

Whilst not worrying too much that petrol could be siphoned out of the tank - could be difficult because of the baffle at the top - I am concerned about sugar or some other foreign material being added for a laugh. Of course, this can't happen if the cap is locked on.  

Good point, Mike. Having had long term subscription to "Scootering" magazine I've noticed that you folks in the UK seem to have a bit of a problem with nefarious miscreants & scooters.

However here in the US scooters aren't taken seriously, and being in the leafy suburbs mine is garage kept. I wouldn't be at all comfortable if it were street-parked in an urban area though.

Tim

Perhaps it's the Oath Keepers and NRA stickers on the back of my Jeep and bikes keep people looking for a softer target.

exavid wrote:

Perhaps it's the Oath Keepers and NRA stickers on the back of my Jeep and bikes keep people looking for a softer target.

Perhaps it's more to do with the fact that urinating into the unlocked fuel tank of a K series BMW motorcycle is more difficult than doing it into the unlocked fuel tank of a maxi scooter.

You'd need stand back and get the elevation right and then fire for effect, and you'd still leave a tell tale mess. You could stand on the foot pegs and fire a a salvo straight into the tank, but then there's embarrassing and incriminating splash back onto the clothing of the jolly prankster.

It's an interesting design that Oath Keepers sticker you mentioned , it looks to me as if it's been deliberately designed to look like a Ranger tab.

Thanks Howard, now my gas cap is non-locking. Very easy to do.

No problem,glad to be of service. Howard

I think the best thing to do is toss the pesky gas cap under the seat. That solves all the PITA problems and shortens the refueling time.  (Surely nobody will take this seriously.)