It's time to restore the fuel taps from my 1981 BMW R100 CS. These are 42 years old, so it's time for new seals and new washers. I've never done this before!
Nice. They're the satisfying little jobs that can be done in the warmth of your house, instead of a cold, damp garage! BTW, I don't think there's a spring missing in the second (older?) tap. On the first tap, the knurled top of the screw cap stops against the body, so the spring has to compress everything, sealing the main washer and pressing the two dimpled washers together for those nice clicky tap positions. On the second tap, the cap screws into the body without a lip to limit it, so you can keep screwing it down against the wavy washer, which when compressed, does the job of the spring ...albeit with quite a bit less force! Great job so far and I look forward to seeing you enjoy the fruits of your labour on the road 👍
Another job done, should get some white paint and go over the lettering on them . Dab paint on the letters and whip off access like how they restore military vehicles .😁
To check if you have the 2 straws in the correct orientation, blow down the long one with the tap in the ‘on’ position. If it’s in the right place the air will escape. If it’s not - your cheeks will puff out 😉 and you just swap the position.
Thanks for the reply, I have a r100 rs1979 thy were knackered, had to buy two new ones so no probs installing ,built the bike up from boxes took a while but worth it it is now for sale I have balance prob s another story, keep up the good work. DB.
I've got an issue with my fuel taps. Quick question, on your rebuild, you show the two reeds. Do they both fit into a gauze filter in the tank? If I look into my tank, all I can see is a metal gauze. Think the reeds have been fitted the wrong way around on my bike, don't seem to have a reserve :)
@@WildlifeMoto Thanks, don't think they are broken, someone has fitted the reeds the wrong way around. So I have no reserve, but if tank is full, the reserve position works fine :) Are you going to the airhead meeting at Sammy Millers the end of July?
@@RobertSmith-ug4it If the reeds are the wrong way around, wouldn’t your “On” position become your reserve? If you have a fuel line cross over, you can have a make shift “reserve” by running one fuel tap on and the other off. When the open side of the tank runs dry you’ll still have a bit of fuel in the lobe on the closed side. Just turn on the opposite tap and get to a petrol station ASAP. Thanks for the heads up on the Airhead meet. I might head over if a get time. Cheers.
@@WildlifeMoto Or maybe there are not reeds or they have been cut to the same size, ie short. I'll have a look in the winter, I know to look for fuel around the 180 mile point. Last year at the Sammy Millers airhead meet there were around 75 airheads.
Nice. They're the satisfying little jobs that can be done in the warmth of your house, instead of a cold, damp garage!
BTW, I don't think there's a spring missing in the second (older?) tap. On the first tap, the knurled top of the screw cap stops against the body, so the spring has to compress everything, sealing the main washer and pressing the two dimpled washers together for those nice clicky tap positions.
On the second tap, the cap screws into the body without a lip to limit it, so you can keep screwing it down against the wavy washer, which when compressed, does the job of the spring ...albeit with quite a bit less force!
Great job so far and I look forward to seeing you enjoy the fruits of your labour on the road 👍
Not boring at all WM...interesting as usual
Thanks Gary. Getting there! Cheers.
Nice one, fiddly jobs but they have to be done....😊
Yes, one of those small jobs, but nothing worse than a leaky tap. Thanks for watching 👍
Another job done, should get some white paint and go over the lettering on them . Dab paint on the letters and whip off access like how they restore military vehicles .😁
Cheers John. Yes I have a white paint pen. Might give it a shot. The dials are quite cheap to replace too.
To check if you have the 2 straws in the correct orientation, blow down the long one with the tap in the ‘on’ position. If it’s in the right place the air will escape. If it’s not - your cheeks will puff out 😉 and you just swap the position.
Yes I did that off camera. Also a good way to tell if it’s sealing. All seems good. Cheers.
The reason you had not so nice action in the second tap there was no spring in it
The two designs are different. I think the one with the spring is later. They both have decent action now. That spring is a right pain though.
Thanks for the reply, I have a r100 rs1979 thy were knackered, had to buy two new ones so no probs installing ,built the bike up from boxes took a while but worth it it is now for sale I have balance prob s another story, keep up the good work. DB.
I've got an issue with my fuel taps. Quick question, on your rebuild, you show the two reeds. Do they both fit into a gauze filter in the tank? If I look into my tank, all I can see is a metal gauze. Think the reeds have been fitted the wrong way around on my bike, don't seem to have a reserve :)
Hi. Yes you should have two reeds on each tap and the gauze fits over the top of both of them. You can pick up replacements on Motoworks if needed.
@@WildlifeMoto Thanks, don't think they are broken, someone has fitted the reeds the wrong way around. So I have no reserve, but if tank is full, the reserve position works fine :) Are you going to the airhead meeting at Sammy Millers the end of July?
@@RobertSmith-ug4it If the reeds are the wrong way around, wouldn’t your “On” position become your reserve? If you have a fuel line cross over, you can have a make shift “reserve” by running one fuel tap on and the other off. When the open side of the tank runs dry you’ll still have a bit of fuel in the lobe on the closed side. Just turn on the opposite tap and get to a petrol station ASAP. Thanks for the heads up on the Airhead meet. I might head over if a get time. Cheers.
@@WildlifeMoto Or maybe there are not reeds or they have been cut to the same size, ie short. I'll have a look in the winter, I know to look for fuel around the 180 mile point. Last year at the Sammy Millers airhead meet there were around 75 airheads.
the devil is in the details .
There are many devils with this bike 😅