How to fit a new cork for a fuel tap

[livewire]

Whilst we're on the subject, these are the cheapest that i've seen.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/British-Seagull-B ... 3a646d1557

[Keith.P]

That's the problem you are looking at seagull ones why.
A fuel tap is a fuel tap.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MOTORCYCLE-BIKE-P ... 3a635d59d7

[SAE140]

These are the ones I bought:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FOUR-NEW-PETROL-T ... 53e592a1c4
but only because I didn't spot Keith P's advert ... Nice one.

Still, a quid a piece is still a lot better than some crooks are charging for corks.

[phil]

They are easy enough to make, using your drill press as a lathe, from new or used wine corks [real cork]. Make several at a time, then you will have them when you need them.
Alternately some like to use several o-rings [3?]

[SAE140]

Interesting, Phil - I did think of doing something similar, but thought that the cork would just break up. I'll have a go next time I empty a bottle (which is the best excuse I've heard yet for sourcing cork ...)

I tried the O-ring method (once), but I guess the O-ring material needs to be correct - the ones I used swelled on contact with petrol, and jammed the bl##dy tap closed. Never again.

Talking of using cork - I've just made a gearbox/water-pump gasket out of a cork flooring tile as an experiment. Gave it a couple of coats of red oxide to stiffen it a little. I'll tank test it thoroughly though, to make sure it doesn't break-up in service. I'd have preferred a lino tile, but didn't have any.

[John@sos]

If any tap cork dries out and leaks, the very simple solution is to do what we all did years ago when the world was less complicated and we made our own wine.

Toss the plunger, with it's cork into 3" of water in a billy can and boil it for 15 minutes. It goes nice and soft and swells up. Dry with cloth to squeeze out moisture, lightly oil and refit!

Job done.

If cork falls apart, I sell kits for £4.50, which not only have the cork, but a new washer for the tap and that tiny screw that you have just spent 2 hours grovelling on the workshop floor to find! The kit has a diagram with it showing how to replace cork, that you can understand in all languages! Print it off from the FAQ page if you need it!

Final point. My cork plunger lives in a plastic bag filled with light oil, all over winter, tied to the fuel line. Tank of course is empty. so come summer, just refit nice oily soft cork and refill with fresh fuel/oil, Happy Seagulling.

Now if you want to read all this again, or print it off and a load more, go to the Frequently asked Questions page on the site. That's what I wrote it for.

Regards,
John

[phil]

Some seem to like the o-ring method. One wants to look for Buna Nitrile o-rings to be petrol compatible. I'm not sure the time and effort to make just one from cork is worthwhile, for that reason I like to make at least 4 at a time. Have to enjoy doing that sort of thing to do it.

If you just need 1 John's price seems very fair, the screw IS easy to lose.

[SAE140]

If you just need 1 John's price seems very fair, the screw IS easy to lose.

Agreed - my reference to 'crooks' earlier was directed towards people who charge £6.50 just for one cork - no washer, and no pesky little screw. e.g. Ebay # 370193089998

[John@sos]

There is another thread on this running, plus I have written it all up on the FAQ page, boil them! It really works in 15 minutes.

Regards,
John

[Keith.P]

Does this mean you have to boil them twice.

[John@sos]

How did that happen?

How did that happen?

Opps

Opps

[bychance]

My cork was too far gone so have fitted just 3 nitrile o rings; 3/8 OD & 3/16 ID (tried 4 but the plunger would go in and get stuck) and so far it operates smoothly with no leaks.

12'6" Fairlite Gull with a Seagull Silver Century:

[Keith.P]

Nice Gull, they are a reliable motor, so no need for the big toolbox.

[bychance]

Yeah, the original steel tank rusted away as the motor lived in the bilge of a yacht for many years. The replacement; a 6 litre stainless box on top, it seems to work OK, but I only ever half fill it!

I'm on the lookout for a brass one in Oz.

[bychance]

At last, thanks to Nick from the Oz Seagull group, I have changed my 6 litre "toolbox" stainless tank to a brass one. My range may not be as far, but I never filled the stainless one up to the top anyway. Looks much nicer now!

Before

Before.jpg (31.74 KiB) Viewed 2906 times

After

Afterv3.jpg (29.17 KiB) Viewed 2906 times