Saving Old Seagulls

Hi there, this is my first post. All i need to know is how to get this cork on the fuel tap:



Thanks for your help!

Find a suitable size socket, that will accept the cork end while giving good support to the pull piece disc[not just the edge of it]. Set the piece you show[tap minus cork] in the socket, cork side down. Find a suitable drift, or make one say from a broken drill 7/64" or slightly smaller equivalent diameter. Use it to hammer the shaft visible in the center of the tap pull disc, until you have it free, place cork on in correct place on shaft and reassemble. Now with the cork end metal piece resting on a suitable metal surface use a pointed tool lightly hammered [small hammer] to swell the end of the shaft visible in the center of the disc. I find that a spring loaded center marker for metal work seems to do a quick job, after several applications.

Sorry, i didn't get any of that :S XD

Any change of a url or some pictures of the process?? Thanks

Maybe I can explain in downunder language Turn the f.cker upside down. Put it in something so you can belt the center spindle out. Belt spindle out with nail, broken drill etc. Shove cork on. Put it back together and belt the end of spindle so it wont come out again. Coat with vaseline. Easy huh.

Oh yeah... belt with hammer not fist.

Thanks Hugz, its good a few of you down there are bilingual. There's a little "grist for the mill" Hope they are going to have translators at the Olympics, so we can understand what you Aussies are saying.

Phil I think the direct translation for you North Americans, I mean the continent not the country,
Bilingual in the context of Austrailians means "speaks with forked tongue".

hehe thanks you for your help guys! I will try and do this tomorrow

Thx guys, I need to do same job once new cork located...

Just forget the cork.
It will leak when it dries out.
I have the same fuel taps at my motorcycles.
Best way is to fit 4 or 5 suitable Viton O-rings.
They are fuel resistant and will slide over easily with some lubricant.
Good luck

On the main website there are instructions for

• Rejuvenating a dried out cork.
• Replacing corks
• Preventing corks drying out

All in the FAQs http://www.saving-old-seagulls.co.uk/faq/faq.htm about 1/3 way through

Here's a Better Idea Yet

Toss it in the scrap

Put on a ball valve with a butterfly handle

Somewhere along the line we are moving away from the idea of having them original. Next, somebody will be making a retro seagull!

Now there's an idea.

A re-production Seagull. Just imagine. No leaks & drips & smoke. Easy starting & quiet running. And real HP

But, then again, who would buy that?

...no drips, quiet running, little smoke?

Ah, you mean the QB series! - And no not many people did buy them.

Resurrecting an old thread here ....

I've just replaced a couple of corks - the first I soaked in water for an hour - went on sort-of ok(ish) with the help of some Vaseline .... but the tap is still a tad stiff.

The second I soaked overnight in warm water with a single drop of washing-up liquid added (to help wet the dry cork) - the difference is amazing. Cork became 'spongy' - went on a dream (with Vaseline, of course) - and tap easy to operate straight away. Gotta be the recommended method.