cant open gas cap

key was hard to fit in but it would eventually turn and open the cap. riding saturday i went to fill up and could not open the gas cap. ive sprayed pb blaster in it and let it penetrate but no go. the key goes in but the lock wont turn. anyone have a remedy? can i drill/punch out the lock part and use the key to turn it without the locking mechanism?

 

I havn't personally had this problem so just pulling this out of my arse, have you tried pushing down (significant pressure) on the cap with your other hand while trying to turn the key? If that's no workie I would probably go to a locksmith and see if they have any tricks. Good luck.
John

 

I have good luck with Fluid Film in locks. It is an amazing lube, really shines in salt water abuse areas like trailers. The Navy buys 1000's of 55 gal drums of it. Long ago I was having the same problem on my CBR 1000 and 1 shot of it in the lock fixed it. I now have a keyless cap as its a track bike now but it worked. Try pushing down on the cap while you work the key back and forth.

 

This sounds suspiciously like a serious vacuum is inside the tank and preventing the cap from being able to open. Two questions for you:

1 - Have you had the tank up recently?
2 - Has it been significantly warm and lots of riding in the past couple of days?

If yes to both of those questions, lift the tank up again and look for a vacuum tube that is out of place or being crushed.

 

I have seen this on several different bikes. I think it might be a combination of a drop of gas that gets in their and strips the lube/graphite in the lock and rain/washing water. I don't think vacuum could keep the mechanical turning of the switch. In fact I think if there was a lot of vacuum it would make opening it easier.

 

Could be a shitload of things. Graphite "pens" are sold by locksmiths. There are several rattlecan lubricants that might work too. Try some of the spray stuff in places other than the keyhole.

Pushing down on the cap while turning the key is like they said..

 

Peoples don't realize those cap locking mechanisms need periodic maintenance to prevent dissimilar-metal corrosion from freezing it up. Once you get it open, spray it all with lube and work the 2 side latches in and out a few times.

 

Best for Locks and Cables "Dry Slide". Hard to find but look for it at Gunsmiths and Locksmiths. Has a 3" needle for getting into tight places. Nothing better!

 

There's also Lock-Ease, which is graphite in a solvent carrier that evaporates away. I've squirted locks with that stuff that have been outside for years and after 2-3 min and a couple key insertion/removals they work like new. Dry Slide is great too, but I find that Lock-Ease is better at "unsticking" where Dry Slide is good to keep things working before you have a problem.

 

I used that liquid graphite on an M17 bull pup a long time ago to help the linkage slide, helped a lot. But then I changed the whole mechanism out for a much better cam linkage. lol I'll look into the Lock ease, good to keep some around it seems.

 

thanks for the tips, I'll look into the lock-ease.

 

also, where can I find a keyless cap? not worried about someone stealing gas or pouring anything into the tank.

 

With enough vacuum it could suck the key into the tank..

If the key turns or rotates normally (90 degrees ??) the mechanism is probably OK. The seals get old and with time get hard, hence the lube factor. A tank pulling a partial vacuum kind of depends on the bike, the fuel delivery system the materials the tank is made from and whether or not a partial vacuum is even possible with a given system. If the stuck filler cap has ambient pressure on the outside and a negative pressure on the inside, the PSIA on both sides (delta p) can make ya start looking for a crowbar.

Some applied physics and pouring warmish water over the tank might raise the forces to equilibrium. Toss in some Meguir's and at the same time wash the bike..

 

Try Google " keyless gas caps for motorcycles" . Looks like just the caps are in the 30 peso range.

The other is a local problem for which the solution is what Clint Eastwood says in "Dirty Harry aboot his .44

 

I had to buy a new/used petrol tank for a bike, the old combo - the cap would not release from the rusted cruddy tank. New petrol tank works like a charm with the old cap. Like someone said above, disimilar metals etc..graphite works for locks, some gun stuff is good for other lubing duties too.

 

I'll try some of these products but after two days of pb blaster it still isn't turning. Anyone do the old 'hammer a screwdriver into the lock and twist' trick? If that would work I'll consider it a valid option.

 

Don't take this wrong but is it the right key? Could the key be damaged? I'd use something different than pb blaster like the above mentioned liquid graphite of the fluid film. You can also try using a hair dryer on it to heat it a bit or sit it in the direct sun for a while. Tapping the key might help, kind of like a mini impact driver.

 

Key is fine. It was hard to insert at first but it goes in fine now but won't turn. Yes, I am pressing down on the gas cap as I try to turn it. Still waiting on feedback about hammering a screwdriver in and turning it as a way of unlocking. I can replace the cap later.

 

Kind of hard to offer any real help if we don't know any more aboot the bike than has been offered.

Find the part on one of the larger online sales outfits and see if the entire filler unit is removable.

If you are pushing down on cap there should be some movement downward.

There are assholes out there that purposely do things to bikes just for the fun of it. You may be a victim of one. One very nasty trick is squirting some superglue into the key slot and variation on that. Get a syringe and inject some acetone into the key slot.. Be careful not to let the acetone hit the rest of the paint on the tank.. Strong stuff.

 

Bike had been sitting for years before I got it and put it back on the road. The key would be hard to insert and turn from time to time but jiggling it would cause it to eventually insert and turn. I had not ridden the bike in over a week and it had been at least three weeks since I out gas in.