After shearing yet another tank tap made from high quality butter on my 3 gallon B50SS tank I am wondering has anyone found good replacement fuel taps to fit the tank without re-tapping the threads that can mate up with the standard hose fittings Good quality brass would be preferred, maybe even as standard and reserve versions.
I'll be interested in any replies you get as one on my B50T has just sheared and one on the WDB40 did the same a couple of weeks ago.
Not sure if its to do with ethanol fuel causing the rubber seal to swell so tight that the force you apply to move the lever overcomes the strength of the metal outer?
The main problem is the thread into the tank and material used on the taps makes it impossible to tighten the tap securely without it fracturing. The tap body is so soft it easily deforms if you try to hold it whilst tightening and this can cause the seal to fail and hinder the taps rotation. They really have to be treated with kid gloves and after a few times tightening in and out of the tank they just fail. Maybe its a problem of the quality of replacement taps that are being marketed world wide.
I'm beginning to think that there are various quality available on the market. I use thread tape on my taps and it is very difficult to tighten the nut and sealing washers without the tap turning. This means holding the body of the tap when the material is rather prone to deformation damage. I figure the 1/4 NP thread that goes in the tank stretches on the nut and after a few installations splits the thread.
I have never tried Loctite first and allowing it to cure before tightening up the locking nut. What form do you use Beat?
Canberra wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 2:15 pm
What form do you use Beat?
it has the Nr 577 " thread sealant " . ( also called : the plumber's joy )
commonly, I do not trust this modern stuff, - but in this case I must say : it is working properly and it is fuel-tight.
I found a couple of old original taps which were broken at lever. I notice the metal was distinctly better than what is being sold now as replacement parts and body was a lot thicker in section.
Does anyone know if they the same as used on Commandos with 1/4 NT threads in early 70s? I see later Commando taps had different part numbers
Commando taps were always 1/4 BSP to match the tank, they varied in quality as did the Triumph ones before even the Chinese and Indians became involved. The last decent Triumph tap was one made by BAP of Italy but even then they are copied by India.
As for breaking the taps I have done this but to try to prevent it I use a 1/2 Width nut as on the feked picture and a copper enclosed rubber O ring washer. With this washer you get a seal well before the tap is tight and it allows you to position the tap using the 1/2 width nut.
Do the later taps (which appear to be more substantial) fit on a 3 gallon tank? Bearing in mind the taps on the larger tank is a bit close to the side covers.
Good quality brass would be preferred, maybe even as standard and reserve versions.
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