Backwards gas cap

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aaw4512

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Could any one tell me if you by a new steel gas tank the cap will be backwards? I have a new gas tank and the cap is backwards, the supplier told me that is the way they come for safty. It does not open all the way so filling the tank is not to safe. Has any one heard of this. Thanks, Alan
 
aaw4512 said:
Could any one tell me if you by a new steel gas tank the cap will be backwards? I have a new gas tank and the cap is backwards, the supplier told me that is the way they come for safty. It does not open all the way so filling the tank is not to safe. Has any one heard of this.
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The cap was hinged the opposite way on the steel Commando tanks (so the hinge was toward the rider) apparently for safety reasons, however, that should not prevent the cap from opening to a reasonable angle of around 100 degrees from the closed position?

Backwards gas cap
 
All original steel tanks open in the opposite direction as the 'glass tanks. As to the reason, who knows? I doubt that safety had anything to do with it.
 
Think of sliding forward over the tank in an accident. Which way would you prefer it to be hinged?
 
batrider said:
Think of sliding forward over the tank in an accident. Which way would you prefer it to be hinged?
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I think I'd rather have it flush mounted! :lol:
 
Ron L said:
As to the reason, who knows? I doubt that safety had anything to do with it.
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I'm sure safety was the reason.
With the cap hinged on the side away from the rider, in the event of a frontal impact, if the cap sprang open, the rider's gental area could collide with what would be a reasonably immoveable object as the rider was thrown forward by the impact..

I believe it eventually became legislation during the 70's that the fuel cap should not be designed or positioned so that it could cause injury to the rider from a frontal collision.
 
L.A.B. said:
Ron L said:
As to the reason, who knows? I doubt that safety had anything to do with it.
Click to expand...

I'm sure safety was the reason.
With the cap hinged on the side away from the rider, in the event of a frontal impact, if the cap sprang open, the rider's gental area could collide with what would be a reasonably immoveable object as the rider was thrown forward by the impact..

I believe it eventually became legislation during the 70's that the fuel cap should not be designed or positioned so that it could cause injury to the rider from a frontal collision.
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In an accident I think the last thing I'm worried about is a gas cap.
 
swooshdave said:
In an accident I think the last thing I'm worried about is a gas cap.
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I think you would-afterwards!

I believe the Triumph tank top parcel grid was also phased out for the same reasons. Whether it had actually been the cause of a serious a injury to a rider or not there was the fear that US riders would sue the company.
 
I've been up / over / through a Roadster and I don't think that the fuel filler makes much difference. First of all, your lower thighs hit the underside of the handlebars and then the top fork yoke grabs your goolies as surely as an English wicket keeper bagging a bunch of Australians. :D

Mind you, my tank was a late steel Roadster so perhaps it could've been worse than a pair which resembled the tackle on Pink Floyd's inflatable pig. :shock:
 
batrider said:
Should we mention pedestrian slicers while on this topic?
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Yes, as it was considered that mudguard mounted front number plates could (or did) injure pedestrians, so front plates were "no longer required" on motorcycles in the UK from early August 1975, although the removal of existing front number plates wasn't compulsory, many owners did remove them.
 
During an impact the gascap would - could " pop " open and spray petrol directly towards the driver. Reversal of cap opening was to minimize this.
 
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