I'm new to the forum and new to the bike ('02). I was told by the previous owner that fuel lid will stick if it isn't lubed once every week or two, making it possible to break the key when wanting to refuel. i have experienced this "sticking" problem and lubing the rubber gasket seems to help, but not for very long (maybe a few days). is this a common problem? is there anything i can do to fix this or something that i can do that won't require constant attention? i don't think it is the two latching levers inside the cap, but maybe i'm wrong. any advice? thanks
This question strikes me as a bit odd - never have heard of the problem. A guess? Try pushing down on the cap on the end thats the opposite of the hinge with your thumb and then turn the key - see if that helps.
Mine sticks once in a while. I squirt some WD-40 in the lock and on the seal and it fixes for quite a while, nuch longer than a few says. Pushing downon the cap, like MD suggests, may also help.
the key turns fine, so it's not the key cylinder. it is either the gasket (which appears to be in good shape) or the two latching levers. but i don't think it is the levers, i may be wrong about those though. :noidea:
it has improved. i sprayed some lube in the key cylinder, but i don't know if that helped because i'm using a "different" method to open the lid now. in the process of turning the key back and forth to work in the lube, the lid opened up real easy. i discovered that if i very lightly pull up on the key as i turn it, the lid will open right before the key is fully turned. so i don't know if it's the new method that is working, or the lube in the key cylinder. but if the problem comes back then i guess it is the lube that is helping
I think you will find that the previous owner was pushing the key down instead of pushing the cap down and has worn the lock cylinder funny. Try using two hands, one to just turn the key, the other to press the cap down against the spring pressure.
i went out and tried that as soon as i read your post. it didn't help. the method i previously posted is still the one working. hopefully it's not the key cylinder that's worn out and about to quit working completely
Try operating it with it open. You may have to fool it into thinking it is closed. If it is still rough turning try some lube on the bolt and in the area where it retracts. If it is smooth then the soultin is either to push the lid while turning the key or clean the bolt and mating surface where it locks with some 0000 steel wool then lube it up nicely with some light grease.
