Corks in push/pull type petrol tap

jeepster · Post by **jeepster** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 8:41 pm

I have the push / pull type petrol taps and after fitting a new tank, they now leak.

I understand that there are cork washers inside that dry up if left off the bike.

I do not want to fit new levers as I can only find replacements in the dreaded chrome.

Do the push / pull type taps come apart so you can replace the cork?
I cant work out of the nuts on either end are for fitting to the tank or they will allow the tap to be opened. I did try but mine must be really tight as nothing budged. If someone can comfirm if they do open up, I will give it a bit more force.

Thanks

itma · Post by **itma** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 8:54 pm

first soak them in Hot water,or soak in warm thin oil, that may do the trick.

Are they the flat slide type, or the other round barrel kind?
the flat slide type have been covered many times, they are easy to do but easy to cock up irreparably.
If you hang on a bit this week I will ty and assemble a photoguide on how to do it.
Firstly, find yourself with an old 5/8 A/F socket, you will need to grind it a bit.

jeepster · Post by **jeepster** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 9:07 pm

They have a flat slide.
Do they have only the one cork per tap? Does the tap unscrew?

poplargreg · Post by **poplargreg** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 10:04 pm

Ebay item no 120287850105
£1.75, .75p postage for a set of four.
Very good, don't thin them down, they compress when the tap is re-assembled

jeepster · Post by **jeepster** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 10:18 pm

I have just managed to strip apart the taps. Obvious when you know how.

I had no idea that they split apart and they had corks inside?

Thanks for the info on the ebay corks. I had already found them and made an order. Hopefully they will be here in a day or so and I can try them out.

itma · Post by **itma** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:16 pm

careful how you hold the centre part, its very fragile and liable to tear, then it will never seal.

jeepster · Post by **jeepster** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:25 pm

I was looking to hold it with a ground down socket as you suggested.

itma · Post by **itma** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 4:34 pm

spot on
I hold a short extension+ socket in a vice and the body in the socket,
when you get the corks, see how they fit, cut them with a new scalpel blade , so they are just below the body thread, them soften them in hot water, before fiting the nut
they'll be very tight at first, but soon loosen

mick williams · Post by **mick williams** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 6:31 pm

Be warned Jeepster. Ken's Idea of loose may not be the same as you and me. This is a man who replaces valve springs with his bare hands!!

Seriously they do loosen up (but a light oil helps to start with during assembly.

fishsponge · Post by **fishsponge** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 10:49 am

quote:
careful how you hold the centre part, its very fragile and liable to tear, then it will never seal.

i learned that the hard way (almost)!

I was putting my tap back on a few weeks back, turning it by hand, and when i was doing the final tightening by hand, before getting the spanner out, i put a little too much pressure on the actual push-pull slider and sure enough - tore a small piece of metal out the side of the tap, next to the slider - mine still seals, fortunately, but i was very disappointed in myself for not simply slowing down and doing everything "properly" (i.e. don't tighten by hand - always use the correct spanner, and certainly don't use the push-pull slider for extra leverage)!