Fuel tap alignment on Roadster tank

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DogT

DogT

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I have 3 taps. One fits just fine on the left side (I use for main), that is, the lever is parallel with the frame when closed. Neither of the other 2 will line up on the reserve side. One threads in too far and the other not enough by about 1/4 turn or less. I've tried all combinations and only the one works on the left side, none on the right. Anyone have a quick and dirty way of aligning them? I'm using those rubber ringed metal sealing gaskets from Walridge.

Dave
69S
 
Hi Dave
should have a locknut on to hold in position, below the washer I think.
 
Dave.
I put these new taps on my tank.
I got them from Old Britts
You thread them into tank as far as you want with them lining up parallel with tank side then you tighten up the brass nut up against the tank underside (with fiber washer also from Old Britts).
This allows you to align taps.
I did have small fuel ooz so I used gasket compound on the threads before screwing in and and both tight and leak free.

Bob

Fuel tap alignment on Roadster tank
 
KEV-C said:
should have a locknut on to hold in position, below the washer I think.
Click to expand...

Early Commando taps don't have the nut, and the thread on those fuel taps is too short to fit one-I think.

The thickness of fibre sealing washer is usually adjusted, or extra fibre or steel washers are added until a combination is found which results in the tap tightening at the required position-as I don't believe the thick rubber/metal 'Stat-O-Seal' type washers were used at that time.
 
I have the originals on mine, & don't care where they end up.
Tried them with the locknuts once, couldn't stop them leaking, so I chucked them in the bin.
 
Mine didn't have the lock nut. As cheap as I am, I may just make up a gasket to add under the one that screws in a bit too much. I have the old gaskets, but they are hard as a rock. I think I remember that they really didn't line up from the get go. I put new o-rings in them and they seem not to leak and don't pass fuel when off. Good enough for me.

Dave
69S
 
I've used regular hardware store nylon washers for the purpose of aligning taps when I need to. Usually have to drill out the center (a Unibit works great for this), and then surface on a piece of glass with some fine sandpaper of some sort. Lot of trial and error, but it does the trick. Usually do this when one is at some awkward angle I can't reach when riding. I'm on "normal" taps with lock nuts and seal-o-stats on most bikes, but still have one with the old style taps on a Velo tank I have.
 
Nylon washers sound like the plan. Here are my taps with the stat-o-seals and nothing else. At least they work.

Fuel tap alignment on Roadster tank


Dave
69S
 
I really like the stat o seal things, they have worked really well in the past, and stop fuel seeping under your fresh new paint. I have the lock nuts on mine, but for your non lock nut jobs, why not add a washer (shim) betwen the tap and the stat o seal. If you have a lathe make on from alloy, or try various steel to get the thing lined up. This should not compromise your seal.

Cheers Richard
 
Hi Dave,

I've just got to ask: how do you engage the reserve petcock mounted on the right while under way without releasing the throttle?

Looks like you need a gasket stack-up difference of 0.0125" or so to change the orientation 1/4 turn. Shaving off 12 thou will advance it 1/4 turn, and a 12-thou shim will retard it 1/4 turn.
 
rick in seattle said:
Hi Dave,

I've just got to ask: how do you engage the reserve petcock mounted on the right while under way without releasing the throttle?


Why would you need to use the throttle, it has run out of gas anyway ?,so holding the throttle open ain't going to help you.
Click to expand...
 
If it's sputtering, I guess it really doesn't matter at that point. Just tradition from the Riders Handbook. Do you do it on the other side? I don't think it matters, except what you have brought up. Neither of my petcocks have standpipes on them. Came that way as far as I know.

Dave
69S
 
Hi Splatt,

My experience, thankfully, in needing to switch in the reserve is limited. In both cases, however, the fuel starvation from the main resulted in a gradual increase in engine roughness. It took only a second to drop my left hand to the reserve, and the recovery was immediate. I'm sure that if I had ignored the roughness for a few more seconds, the engine would have died. Different strokes, I suppose.
 
I think too, with a 2.5 gallon tank, one is pretty aware of how much fuel is left and how many miles you have gone. Been my experience.

Dave
69S
 
I put the reserve on the right so I could look in the tank and see how much fuel I had before I was pushing. Not that it probably matters if there is no station to be found. I just pull in the clutch, let go the throttle and turn it on. Takes longer to type it probably.

I have always wondered if running without a standpipe would leave a good reserve due to the hump in the center of the tank.

Russ
 
Lowes home improvement stores in the hardware area have really nice washers that have rubber around the bore area on both sides, they are also perfectly sized for threading onto the petcocks.
They do a terrific job sealing against leaks.
 
highdesert said:
Lowes home improvement stores in the hardware area have really nice washers that have rubber around the bore area on both sides, they are also perfectly sized for threading onto the petcocks.
They do a terrific job sealing against leaks.
Click to expand...

Nice to know. I'll have to write it down.
 
rvich said:
I put the reserve on the right so I could look in the tank and see how much fuel I had before I was pushing. Not that it probably matters if there is no station to be found. I just pull in the clutch, let go the throttle and turn it on. Takes longer to type it probably.

I have always wondered if running without a standpipe would leave a good reserve due to the hump in the center of the tank.

Russ
Click to expand...

In theory, you'd have 1 gallon reserve with a Roadster tank due to the hump in the middle, but in practice gas sloshes over the hump so you have about 1/2 gallon with a standpipe, about .01 gallon without. A few years ago, I actually measured this stuff and posted it to an email to a list. I wish I'd saved a copy.

If you have a standpipe you can get a couple more miles down the road using what I call the "redneck reserve" after you've run out of gas. Tip the bike over as far as you can so the gas that's left in the main half of the tank runs over the hump into the reserve half.

-Eric
 
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