Replacing Gas Cap (Reg. vs Locking Gas Cap)

[Witsend]

So I my R18 came with a chrome locking gas cap. Because I'm trimming it out with Bronze accents I wanted to replace that (believe it or not) with a non locking bronze gas cap.

This is how it arrived --with no screw part. It seems to have a tension ring release needing a two pin tool to contract the ring. However I obviously don't want to remove the locking screw base of the chrome one, assemble the bronze cap on that one, screw it on the tank--then come to find the gas cap is permanently locked on with no key access on the bronze cap.

Does that make sense?





This is the stock one --but I'm not spending another $170. for essentially (all I need is the plastic screw part of it) and I have to take apart just to add the bronze to a plastic

v

 

[Star-Lord]

I replaced my R18 locking gas cap, with the RSD machined cap; I don't remember what I had to do, but I know I replaced the fitting and didn't have any issues lock wise...

I'll take a look when I get back to NJ; maybe download the directions from the Motorrad site for the gas cap accessory? There are directions.. which I had to review, when swapping my cap.

 

[Witsend]

Not finding directions for a gas cap acc.

BMW Motorrad R18 Fuel Cap Machined

The high-quality Machined fuel filler cap with its black and natural aluminum color scheme adds a striking design highlight. The milled cover made of solid aluminum can be easily opened and closed even with gloves thanks to the ribbed grip surface. A laser engraving in the center shows the BMW...

www.shopbmwmotorcycle.com

But that's ok, I can always ask the dealer mechanic when they're back from holiday vacations

 

[Star-Lord]

The installation instructions is only two pages; see below images, I hope this is helpful:

 

[Witsend]

Hey thank you! I looked for 30 minutes and couldn't find directions.

As usual I was making/assuming things more difficult than they were. The base plastic screw part does not look or seem any different than the non-locking plastic screw part.

Is there a trick to unfastening the spring circular tension piece? I've tried needle nose and manged to compress but to keep the tips of the pliers pushing inward to hold the tension, at the same time pulling it up and out --is next to impossible. Obviously one outward pulling defeats the inward push to keep a grasp and the tension on.

 

[Witsend]

And what is the the thing that looks like this, as seen in the first exploded parts diagram?

 

[Witsend]

Oh hell's bells. So here's a thread, right on this forum, I finally managed to trip over in my Google searching...

Thread 'Roland Sands fuel cap install'

Mar 17, 2022

Grrr! I bought the Roland Sands fuel cap, and little did I know it wasn't the entire fuel cap, but only a trim piece meant to replace the original chrome, which means I have to get the chrome piece off. Has anyone tried this yet? I think one needs a pair of ring pliers to get the retainer clip off.

• aicpjim
• Replies: 6
• Forum: BMW R18 Modifications

Turns out I need O ring pliers.

 

[Star-Lord]

Oh hell's bells. So here's a thread, right on this forum, I finally managed to trip over in my Google searching...

Thread 'Roland Sands fuel cap install'

Mar 17, 2022

Grrr! I bought the Roland Sands fuel cap, and little did I know it wasn't the entire fuel cap, but only a trim piece meant to replace the original chrome, which means I have to get the chrome piece off. Has anyone tried this yet? I think one needs a pair of ring pliers to get the retainer clip off.

• aicpjim
• Replies: 6
• Forum: BMW R18 Modifications

Turns out I need O ring pliers.

Rosanna Rosanna Danna - "If it's not one thing it's another"

Avail on Amazon 5'dalla

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000N37C3...psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&ref_=chk_typ_imgToDp

View attachment 16787

Yes, that tool will work for removing the coupling clip; I personally have a tool manufactured by BluePoint and can be reversed for squeezing and spreading

 

[Witsend]

What a blasted nightmare this simply job is turning into... turns out the $5. snap ring pliers from amazon are flimsy crap. am able to grip and close the ring.. but never depressed quite enough to actually pull it out, before the plier's prongs slip out the holes and it snaps back into place.

Even if I DO actually get the ring depressed enough --I fail to see how I can pull it out without losing ANY plier's prongs from the holes --pulling it up and out is exact opposite of pusing the prongs IN to grip the snap rings holes. One action defeats the other.

Total bloody insanity. 30 tries, 3 different tips on the pliers. I could have bronze electroplated over the chrome easier.

 

[Star-Lord]

Yikes... Not bragging, but it took me all of 3 min to swap the gas cap (which included reading the instructions); I can take a picture of the tool that I have. I want to say that the tips of my c clip tool has points that are slightly bent to maintain the tension, once under load.

Where do you live..? Any chance are you in the NY/NJ area; I'd be happy to help..

 

[Witsend]

Maybe --in fact, pretty sure THAT's the issue. The tips of my tool are not even slightly bent. Indeed, I was actually thinking that very thing --that they should make a tool with the tips slightly bent that could hold tension or even slightly dig under the bottom of the clip so when pulling up the prongs don't just pull out. I have not seen none with such as you speak. The tension on my clip is very high.

I'm in CA --but thank you for being so kind to offer.

Bent like this --in red. Would be a huge help.

 

[laennecr]

I had the same issue with some cheap Harbor Freight snap ring pliers. Went to a mechanic friend of mine and using his high quality snap-on tools the ring was removed quickly albeit not easily. As a plus my cheap snap ring pliers also corroded in the gulf south humidity within a month.

 

[Witsend]

I had the same issue with some cheap Harbor Freight snap ring pliers. Went to a mechanic friend of mine and using his high quality snap-on tools the ring was removed quickly albeit not easily. As a plus my cheap snap ring pliers also corroded in the gulf south humidity within a month.

"albeit not easily"...

Thanks for that reply. Seems as far as I could see when compressing the ring with the cheapy pliers --there's still a slight edge of the ring that's tucked under the lip of the caps edge, so it needs to not only compress fully but to also clear that edge when lifting up --which probably means some wiggling WHILE pulling up

An hour invested and I still haven't found any with tips that have a slight bend as @Star-Lord mentioned.

I think I'm going to order these off ebay. I'm hoping by the way they're screwed in maybe I can tilt the prongs inward ever so slightly to be able to insert fully but also provide the needed extra grip when pulling up so as not to slip out.

 

[Star-Lord]

"albeit not easily"...

Thanks for that reply. Seems as far as I could see when compressing the ring with the cheapy pliers --there's still a slight edge of the ring that's tucked under the lip of the caps edge, so it needs to not only compress fully but to also clear that edge when lifting up --which probably means some wiggling WHILE pulling up

An hour invested into the search and I still haven't found any with tips that have a slight bend as @Star-Lord mentioned.

I think I'm going to order these off ebay. I'm hoping by the way they're screwed in maybe I can tilt the prongs inward ever so slightly to be able to insert fully but also provide the needed extra grip when pulling up so as not to slip out.

A project that should take 5 minutes.. it's now days later.. hahaha



View attachment 16812

That looks exactly like the tool that I have..