78E Gas Cap Latch

[Wagner73]

Something seems to be going on with my cap latch but I don't know exactly what. I searched postings but couldn't find one that added any clarity.

The symptoms are that the cap when installed on the tank and pivoted to close will not latch i.e. the latch will not properly engage the cross bar...it seems like it either doesn't open far enough or at all.

Turning the key when tryin' to close does nothing, and anyway, I would think the latch would close without futzing with the key e.g. the latch would move against the closing pressure and spring the latch "closed" then? Mebbe not?

I suspect the root of the problem may be that the guy that painted the tank may have disassembled it. Don't know, don't know why, as I supplied the cap to him detached...he wanted to be able to test fit it when done to ensure it worked properly

Photos of the pieces-parts . I can't help but think it has everything to do with how the spring is assembled / arranged.

Any and all ideas welcome!

 

[gggGary]

Standard or special tank?

 

[Jim]

I can't help but think it has everything to do with how the spring is assembled / arranged.

That'd be my guess. Here's how the spring is supposed to set.

 

[Wagner73]

Standard or special tank?

Standard

 

[gggGary]

It's always kind of a three handed trick getting the parts/spring arranged and the screws installed.

 

[Jim]

That's an incomplete spare cap off a Special. Won't fit your tank, but the guts will likely interchange. Yours for postage if you need it.

 

[gggGary]

your slide plate looks a little tweaked?

 

[Wagner73]

Many thanks @Jim and @gggGary !

So, it had been disassembled and the error on reassembly was that, while the spring was arranged properly i.e. against the top of the cap, pointing toward the opening, I found (from Jim's pics) that you have to rotate the latch as you tighten the screws such that it clears the slide plate mechanism, otherwise it's trapped and underneath and won't rotate into the open position.

And as Gary said..."It's always kind of a three handed trick getting the parts/spring arranged and the screws installed."

And thanks for the offer of the parts Jim, but fortunately no need; this mechanism is in good shape and now works properly. And I agree the slide plate may look slightly tweaked, but with the mech cleaned and greased, seems to work fine. The root cause was that latch was not rotated on assy and was subsequently trapped.

Thanks again for the help!