wrong fuel taps?

hi all
on my 72 roadster there are 2 different types of fuel tap
on the right is a lever type one and the left side is a round pull type, (i think the left one is the reserve tap)

i wouldnt worry normally but the round pull one jams shuts when ive left the bike for a week so i want to replace it, but wanted to get the right type

i was told there should be lever type ones on both sides?

thank you again
mattt

http://www.oldbritts.com/13_604512.html



If I recall the ones on the right are stock and the ones on the left work better. I'm going with the ones on the left...

Futher to Dave's post, the taps on the left are made by BAP and are reliable and cost-effective replacements for the OEM parts. I've been running them for a year, and recently tested both (main and reserve) of them; they both produce better than 20 oz/min of fuel flow, twice what is needed to supply a four-stroke engine at 60 HP. The reserve produces a bit less flow than the main, due to a reduced head pressure.

rick in seattle said:

Futher to Dave's post, the taps on the left are made by BAP and are reliable and cost-effective replacements for the OEM parts. I've been running them for a year, and recently tested both (main and reserve) of them; they both produce better than 20 oz/min of fuel flow, twice what is needed to supply a four-stroke engine at 60 HP. The reserve produces a bit less flow than the main, due to a reduced head pressure.

Click to expand...

And the BAP are half the price. Better and cost less? Run, don't walk!

swooshdave said:

http://www.oldbritts.com/13_604512.html


If I recall the ones on the right are stock and the ones on the left work better. I'm going with the ones on the left...

Click to expand...

I think you got it backwards, maybe not. Anyhow, I got rid of the ones on the left and got the ones on the right. I found them to have a MUCH better flow, smooth to turn and easy to understand. The BAP's turn hard and it is unclear as to the position of the reserve (slow learner, fast forgetter).

pvisseriii said:

swooshdave said:

http://www.oldbritts.com/13_604512.html


If I recall the ones on the right are stock and the ones on the left work better. I'm going with the ones on the left...

Click to expand...

I think you got it backwards, maybe not. Anyhow, I got rid of the ones on the left and got the ones on the right. I found them to have a MUCH better flow, smooth to turn and easy to understand. The BAP's turn hard and it is unclear as to the position of the reserve (slow learner, fast forgetter).

Click to expand...

I just read through the forum archives and BAP seems to be the consensus. I suppose I could be wrong.

swooshdave said:

pvisseriii said:

swooshdave said:

http://www.oldbritts.com/13_604512.html


If I recall the ones on the right are stock and the ones on the left work better. I'm going with the ones on the left...

Click to expand...

I think you got it backwards, maybe not. Anyhow, I got rid of the ones on the left and got the ones on the right. I found them to have a MUCH better flow, smooth to turn and easy to understand. The BAP's turn hard and it is unclear as to the position of the reserve (slow learner, fast forgetter).

Click to expand...

I just read through the forum archives and BAP seems to be the consensus. I suppose I could be wrong.

Click to expand...

This is simply my personal experience.

Hi Lads,

Just to add my little bit in.

I have the taps on the right, they seem in good condition & work fine BUT I'm dealing with an issue where the internal circlip popped out and I got a replacement from Dave (thanks Dave )

From my experience of working on the taps I don't like their design, the clip in my opinion is a weak point. I would not like to think what would have happened if the clip came out when I was on a run, sudden gush of petrol/gas onto a hot engine :roll:

I like the look of the taps on the right but I'm going to get a set of the taps on the left just for peace of mind :wink:

Kevin

swooshdave said:

If I recall the ones on the right are stock

Click to expand...

Well...not entirely, they are pattern replacements-the type with the tubular seals which often restrict the flow of fuel.

The original taps had conical brass seats with the fit being maintained by spring pressure. Some later Norton (MkIII?) conical taps had plastic shafts & cones-which broke very easily once they became a little stiff to turn!

The tap shown on the left in the photo below, is the usual cheapo Far Eastern made tubular seal tap, easily identified by the rigid plastic framed gauze filter, and the type generally available today, often thought of as being the original style. [Edit] The lever shafts of these taps can either be chromed or plain brass.

Centre-an original plastic conical seat tap (broken-of course!)

Right-original brass conical seat tap, these have a much better flow rate than any other tap-including BAP or Paioli, and modern versions of these UK-made taps (as they usually have an additional O-ring behind the spring) are, at least, available from a handful of UK suppliers, in both main and reserve forms.

I've had the ones on the right and they self destructed over time. Bought the ones on the left from Old Britts after Ella said the right ones come back and has no problems with left ones.

click said:

From my experience of working on the taps I don't like their design, the clip in my opinion is a weak point. I would not like to think what would have happened if the clip came out when I was on a run, sudden gush of petrol/gas onto a hot engine

Click to expand...

If the clips are correctly fitted in their grooves, (provided they have not been bent, chewed up, or generally butchered by the person who removed them the last time-probably without using proper circlip pliers!) then there's usually no problem.

L.A.B. said:

swooshdave said:

If I recall the ones on the right are stock

Click to expand...

Well...not entirely, they are pattern replacements-the type with the tubular seals which often restrict the flow of fuel.

Click to expand...

I guess by "stock" I mean:

a) probably supplied by Andover-Norton
b) reproduction of original part (although I'm guessing not with the plastic piece)

I tried OEM-style reproduction taps when I first got my 750. They looked similar to swoosh's photo on the right, but without the plate. They were the type that used a rubber sleeve for sealing and they only lasted two weeks before the sleeves disintegrated into little black rubber bits and clogged the petcocks. I sent them back and bought BAP taps. Six years later, no issues.

If you can find some OEM-style taps that don't use the cheezy rubber sealing sleeves maybe they would be ok.

Debby

L.A.B. said:

click said:

From my experience of working on the taps I don't like their design, the clip in my opinion is a weak point. I would not like to think what would have happened if the clip came out when I was on a run, sudden gush of petrol/gas onto a hot engine

Click to expand...

If the clips are correctly fitted in their grooves, (provided they have not been bent, chewed up, or generally butchered by the person who removed them the last time-probably without using proper circlip pliers!) then there's usually no problem.

Click to expand...

Hi L.A.B.,,

Very true, it was just by accident that I applied a bit of pressure to the plate with ON/OFF etc. while tightening the carb feed line to the tap. The clip just popped out, It was in a sorry state & somebody had been at it without the proper tools.

It was something I had not thought of checking, if you don't know the history of your taps I would advise others to check the tap just in case!

Kevin

Re: right taps(thee right taps)
I understand the fuel taps from 1968-1974 were flag delete.
The taps that had the on off flags were fitted on near to end production bikes.
I purchased a pair of Tawain flag taps and the orings became so swelled after 1600 miles.
I was afraid I was going to snap off the lever and they would only open approx. 70 degrees. instead of 90 degrees.
I took them off and threw them in the trash, they were not even worth the time to disect and do a curious looksy inside.
I replaced them w/ the Baps shown above on far left. No problems these seem to open and close smoothly.
Construction is solid so no fuel dump suprises on a hot motor.
I like them and feel they are "close to stock appearance" for a riding bike. Haven't had any one say hey those fuel taps are not stock yet.
As for open/close they take some getting used to. But its easy horizontal closed inverted 90 degrees open. They only turn in one direction. If you have stock fuel lines they are clear and you can see flow. I know they yellow in time but flow can still be observed.
I like the Baps and have not found anything closer to stock made better.
If you found an early set of english new old stock taps that would probably trump the Baps.
maybe the guy w/ the 18 bikes still in the crates had some lying around the shop?
But how often does something of a find like that occur?
Go Bap and forget the fuel issues.
Marshal

L.A.B. said:

Right-original brass conical seat tap, these have a much better flow rate than any other tap-including BAP or Paioli, and modern versions of these UK-made taps (as they usually have an additional O-ring behind the spring) are, at least, available from a handful of UK suppliers, in both main and reserve forms.

Click to expand...

...Interesting. Would you share with us who is offering them in the UK? I've only seen the Asian reproductions here... Thanks L.A.B.!

L.A.B. wrote:
Right-original brass conical seat tap, these have a much better flow rate than any other tap-including BAP or Paioli, and modern versions of these UK-made taps (as they usually have an additional O-ring behind the spring) are, at least, available from a handful of UK suppliers, in both main and reserve forms.

I was all set to order the pair of Bap ones until i read this

SPoke to a helpful guy about the fuel taps
they do the bap ones and some british made ones with the brass inserts

so i bought a pair of these

http://www.classicbikeshop.co.uk/1-4-X- ... AKQZU.aspx

Spaulding said:

L.A.B. said:

Right-original brass conical seat tap, these have a much better flow rate than any other tap-including BAP or Paioli, and modern versions of these UK-made taps (as they usually have an additional O-ring behind the spring) are, at least, available from a handful of UK suppliers, in both main and reserve forms.

Click to expand...

...Interesting. Would you share with us who is offering them in the UK? I've only seen the Asian reproductions here... Thanks L.A.B.!

Click to expand...

I bought them from my local BSA/Triumph spares supplier, Len Craig: http://www.lencraigandsons.co.uk/

Len Craig (trading under the seller name "electrovectors" http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/electrovector ... X:SELLERID) usually has them listed in his ebay shop, but there are only BAPs listed at present, but the ones MATTT has found appear to be exactly the same, and a similar price to the ones I bought from Len.

debby said:

I tried OEM-style reproduction taps when I first got my 750. They looked similar to swoosh's photo on the right, but without the plate. They were the type that used a rubber sleeve for sealing and they only lasted two weeks before the sleeves disintegrated into little black rubber bits and clogged the petcocks. I sent them back and bought BAP taps. Six years later, no issues.

If you can find some OEM-style taps that don't use the cheezy rubber sealing sleeves maybe they would be ok.

Debby

Click to expand...

Ditto on all that. I have a box full of taps of different sources, all with the rubber sleeves. The rubber piece gets chewed up and chunks of it get into the fuel. I'm also using the BAP thingies now and I love them.