Motorcycle Racing Forum

Motorcycle Racing => Wrenching => Topic started by: lbk on May 04, 2004, 02:09:55 PM

Title: Aftermarket Gas Cap, Vapor Lock?
Post by: lbk on May 04, 2004, 02:09:55 PM
I have an aftermarket gas cap on my bike, the kind that threads on, and it seems to vapor lock if you do not occasionally open the gas cap. I have a friend who has the same problem on his hawk. I made sure the gas cap is mounted correctly it has a little arrow that points towards the front of the bike. Does anyone have any ideas on how to prevent this?

I've heard suggestions about drilling a really small hole in the gas cap to allow it to vent, would that work, and is this problem common?
Title: Re: Aftermarket Gas Cap, Vapor Lock?
Post by: tzracer on May 05, 2004, 05:23:37 AM
I have a Vortex cap. There is a small hole for venting and there appears to be a small ball to block the vent in case of a tip over. I have heard that in shipping the small ball can become lodged in the cavity (the top) blocking the vent hole. When I shook mine, I could hear the ball moving about.
Title: Re: Aftermarket Gas Cap, Vapor Lock?
Post by: lbk on May 05, 2004, 07:13:21 AM
Interesting, I will check that thanks for your help. :D
Title: Re: Aftermarket Gas Cap, Vapor Lock?
Post by: lbk on May 06, 2004, 07:49:25 AM
Ok I think I got it, but can someone verify this? I took the gas cap off looking for the little ball. Well I noticed there was a tiny allen key in there, once I took it out there was the little ball.

So is it that they put this allen key in there for shipping so the ball isn't lost and you are suppose to remove it?

I did remove it because it makes since that with it removed it would do exactly what you are saying, that if the bike were tipped over then the ball would rise to meet the gas cap that screws in, and therefore not allow gas to pour out.
Title: Re: Aftermarket Gas Cap, Vapor Lock?
Post by: tzracer on May 06, 2004, 08:26:03 AM
Might want to check with the manufacturer/distributor of the cap and ask them. On my cap (Vortex) I did not have to remove anything and my cap works fine.
Title: Re: Aftermarket Gas Cap, Vapor Lock?
Post by: H-man on June 23, 2004, 07:21:10 AM
lbk,

Have you contacted Vortex?  What have you learned?

Inquiring minds want to know ;)

  H-man
Title: Re: Aftermarket Gas Cap, Vapor Lock?
Post by: lbk on June 28, 2004, 02:37:33 PM
Sorry I did get this figured out it was what tzracer posted. There was a small allen key when you removed the gas cap, you remove that which is only for shipping, then the ball he was reffering to is underneath there. After removing the allen key and allowing the ball inside to move freely as it was inteded to do, everything is fine hasn't vapor locked since then.

Also though I realized after I posted this that it isn't a Vortex, it is a Pro-Tech brand gas cap. Picked it up at a local Suzuki dealer.