Fuel cap issues

Hello everyone! I was jus wondering if anyone had had the issue of the fuel cap not pushing into place amd locking? I bought the bike like this and it bothers me that it wont jus push down and lock closed. Is there a way to fix this? Or do i need to get another cap? And if so can i take the lock out of my faulty one and put it in the new one? Or am i shizz outta luck and need to use the keys provided for the new fuel cap? Thank u for your help!

 

Is the sealing rubber swollen from ethanol fuel or not sitting properly on the cap ?

Does it lock if you turn the key whilst pushing down on the cap ?

 

Im noy sure about the rubber. I will take a look at it. And i am able to push it down but i do have to puzh it and turn the key to lock it.

 

Go and see a locksmith and ask him for some lock lube type product (not wd40 or crc liquid types)

I ride rain hail or shine and as far back as I can remember I have had to actually push the cap down and usually turn the key a least 1/4 turn to retrieve the key from the cap

It will be a bit easier with a freshly lubed key barrel BUT I suspect it will still need pushing down ( a good thing as the seal is tight ) and a bit of a turn of the key

I would imagine that water dust etc makes its way into the key barrel causing the lock to need persuasion to close properly

 

Would i have to take the cap appart to lube it? Or would i jus put it on the key and insert it in the key hole? And i am more or less wanting to jus push the cap down and it will lock. My buddy had an 06 viffer and all he has to do to close it is click it down. He doesnt have to turn the key when its down

 

Try a graphite lubricant call "LockEase"

 

In addition to spraying the lock barrel, try these 2 things: 1. get hold of some dry lubricant and spray into the tabs that stick out from the side of the fuel cap and push on them to ensure that they have movement. 2. Have a look at the rubber gasket around the cap and make sure it's not damaged/dried out; if a bit dried apply some rubber dressing to bring back life/flexibility. Funnily enough I just had to do this to my ST1300 at the weekend. However, it was sticking closed. Turned the key, it popped up a bit but did not release. After doing all previous listed it's now champion. Will give the VFR some similar attention at the weekend to ensure it doesn't have similar issues.

 

Another suggestion: I took off the cap on the '09 and did some dremel modding
on the 2 locking tabs. No more sticking.

 

I will try some of that lock ease stuff this weekend and look at it a little more thoroughly.

 

Would i have to take the cap appart to lube it? Or would i jus put it on the key and insert it in the key hole? And i am more or less wanting to jus push the cap down and it will lock. My buddy had an 06 viffer and all he has to do to close it is click it down. He doesnt have to turn the key when its down. This weekend i inspected it more and saw that it does lock itself when u press it down and hold it. It will pop the tabs out to keep it locked very slowely though. So i need to hold it there for like 3 or 4 seconds to lock it. The key also rotates while it is engaging but slowly.

 

Didnt find the lock ease stuff but i found another dry lubricant spray and it worked like a charm. Thanks for your help guys!

 

I like Highway Star's suggestion and I also suggest that you consider it, even after you have used lubricant. Let me explain my thought process.

First a recommendation. I went to a locksmith after purchasing my bike and he lubricated the gas cap and ignition. This was last summer. He used a fluid called "lok-shot". It is a synthetic lubricant with no organic solvents. They claim that dirt sticks to and builds up on organic solvents (such as WD-40) but dirt will not stick to this liquid. Also, it crawls along surfaces so you can spray it on the outside and it will work its way inside quite effectively. Here is a supplier:

http://locksmithstore.com/bs-692781-lok-shot-synthetic-lubricant.html

It is one year later and the gas cap is sticking again. I am theorizing that a buildup of contaminants on the gas cap is causing the issue. This is typically why a lubricant solves a problem only only temporarily, that it masks the problem that the hardware is in a different state from when it was new.

Highway Star, please help a non-mechanical person here. Your post sounds like you took metal off. Can you comment on this? I am thinking if the metal is cleaned thoroughly of years of buildup, that should do the trick. Number two, how is the gas cap removed? On a scale of 1-10 how difficult is this?