Gas cap leaks?

Evening all,

This has probably been discussed to death somewhere else, but I haven't been able to find anything on the topic - if anyone know of any links, please share them...

I'm very new to the Norton world, and the few Nortonists, (Nortonites? Nortonians?) that I've talked with haven't been very encouraging about the seal between gas cap and gas tank. Having had a very poor seal on my Laverda gas tank, I'm painfully well aware of how much mess, in a number of different ways, leaking gas can make.

What's the solution? Different rubber gasket / different gas cap / live with it / switch to an aircraft style filler?

All options are open - my rusted and dented tank is on its way to be "adjusted" and if there's a time to make substantial changes, this would be it. I'm sure someone has tried one of these, for example? http://www.newton-equipment.com/classic.html. I don't particularly want to saw up the tank to install a new filler neck or anything else if I can avoid it, but I won't be happy if I spend money on a nice paint job that ends up quickly ruined by what our Washington humorists laughingly refer to as an economy-enhancing fuel additive. It's a Roadster tank too, so it isn't as if I can leave a lot of space in the tank.

But perhaps this isn't a real problem and most people's tanks seal well enough with standard parts?

Thanks in advance for your help...

Alex

I'm having the same problem with my Dunstall tank. I can fill it to about 3/4 full without leaking via normal "sloshinig", but if I have to do a hard stop soon after leaving the gas station some gas will find its way out and dribble down the side of the tank. I'm sure the gasket is to blame, so for a 1st try at fixing the problem I'm going to try one of these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... MEWNX%3AIT

Guess I'll have to look for another solution if this doesn't work. Not sure if it'll work on your particular tank cap, but I'm putting it out there for folks who have my style of cap.

Alex, I prefer to refer to all's us all Commando motorcyclers as Nortoneers

Factory cap and seal will keep the gasoline inside but rubber seal gets hard-cracked and its possible the filler neck rim gets a bit dinged by gas nozzles. There's some hi hassle ways to drill out the seal holder with old seal, center rivet and put new one on via sheet metal screw, ugh I just bought a couple new rubber rings and pulled/picked old one and and rather too easy for Norton, slipped new compliant one right in, maybe a minute total counting picking items up and getting seated to do it. Pair of rings for two my Cdo's that sprinkled paint.

If rim dinged might stuff rag inside and block sand or file to reveal the low spots and keep going till flat ring around or it too deep roughen and smear JBWeld on then file/sand level. Do not try RTV type stuff and not expect to find soon it inside tank, ugh.

Hi- I solved this problem on my '68 Commando. I got some thin cork-type gasket material (black and tan rubberized cork-like stuff, technically speaking). Cut a nice disc out of it the same size as the diameter of the existing gas cap seal. Cut the center out to make a ring about 3/8ths diameter. Used regular old contact cement to stick it to the existing ring inside the gas cap, then closed the gas cap and let it sit for a few days. Has stayed in place nicely, and not even a hint of a leak with a full tank of fuel. I do have to press down very firmly to get the cap to lock closed, but it makes a really good seal. I also cleaned the filler neck surface just to make sure it was smooth and no rust.

Worked for me! Good luck- ejd

hi alll,
06-7102 gasket for flip up gas cap, $1.90 each when I last purchased, as far as I remember but do check the number for your application.
Slips right in when the old one is removed.
Keep in mind the closure is vented to atmosphere so with sloshing and a high fuel level there is always the possibility of leakage.
I just learned not to fill too much to avoid the problem. The new gasket did not fix my complaint although the old one was crazed with surface checks.

cmessenk said:

I'm having the same problem with my Dunstall tank. I can fill it to about 3/4 full without leaking via normal "sloshinig", but if I have to do a hard stop soon after leaving the gas station some gas will find its way out and dribble down the side of the tank. I'm sure the gasket is to blame, so for a 1st try at fixing the problem I'm going to try one of these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... MEWNX%3AIT

Guess I'll have to look for another solution if this doesn't work. Not sure if it'll work on your particular tank cap, but I'm putting it out there for folks who have my style of cap.

Click to expand...

Please let us know if that works for you. I have a Monza style cap on my alloy tank... leaks gas if I fill it more than 3/4 full, regardless of fiddling with the gasket. Quite annoying.

Cheers,

- HJ