FYI--- Gas Caps

[ken hecht]

If anybody is looking or in need of a Taylorcraft replacement gas cap, check this web site out www.caps-necks.com. This company is located in Chatsworth, California Ph#(800)423-5483 or (818)701-2750. The gas cap p/n ca-1768 is 99.9% to the factory spec. Of course, have to braze on the tabs and ram air tube (wing tank gas caps), a safety chain is attached. For the price of $12.99 each plus shipping. IMHO
Ken Hecht
T.F. #375

[M Towsley]

Re: FYI--- Gas Caps

Hi all,

I have been doing some research regarding the cap listed on this thread. It looked correct except for the chain attachment. I found another cap that looked correct without the chain and had the company send me the print drawings for both. The one I found that looks identical has what appears to be the correct dimensions. It is cap CA-1126 that you can see in this link: http://store.capsnecks.com/ca1126.html

While looking at the two drawings I noted on the other one, with the chain, that revision dates go back to 1947 and noted Eaton was originally in Cleveland, Ohio making me think they may have been the original suppliers to Taylorcraft.

As I am a big fan of the original caps I thought I would purchase a few and see if I could create some correct caps for our Taylorcrafts. I am not a metal fabricator and cannot weld or braze but I think I can make the tabs and have a friend of mine braze them on. I am also planning on having the '6 Gal Gas' and '12 Gal Gas' nomenclature engraved on the tabs to make them correct. Hopefully they won't cost too much whan all is done.

If these are not too difficult to make I would like to make them available for anyone who wants one for the cost of materials and labor, nothing more. They would be raw so you could paint or powder coat them as you see fit. This is something that will take me a little time to get going so don't get too excited, but I am planning on going forth with this and see where it goes.

If anyone could provide the following I would appreciate it.

-The material used to make the tubes, copper or brass, or what?

-Are the tabs steel, I am trying to remember from one I had years ago when I had one sand blasted down to raw metal before powder coating it.

-Does someone have a stock main tank cap I can borrow to get the correct size of the tubing, or just provide the length above and below the cap.

I am planning on retiring in 27 days, and though I have plenty of things to keep me busy I thought this would be a project that could help some other guys and gals on this site. Let me know what you think. Thanks!

[M Towsley]

Re: FYI--- Gas Caps

I will see if this scan is better...

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: FYI--- Gas Caps

I have two original pre-war caps for the wings in my lap and could kick myself for not bringing the two main caps home from the airport tonight. One of the main caps is just like your drawing with a short tube and tabs with 12 Gal Gas stamped in them. If it isn't flat out freezing tomorrow I hope to go back out again and will bring them home.
Hank

[M Towsley]

Re: FYI--- Gas Caps

Thanks, Hank!!! What else was it you were going to do at the hangar today? I know you mentioned it earlier today, but I don't remember....??? Did it have something to do with the trim system????

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: FYI--- Gas Caps

I turned it upside down looking for the trim parts till I got so cold I had to leave. If it's that cold tomorrow I guess I'm going to have to light off the heater. Problem is the light is terrible with the doors closed and the heat is useless with them open. I need to take some good lights out tomorrow.
Hank

Did I mention I drive a Miata? How the heck am I going to carry the light stands in a Miata!!! This could be fun.

[jim cooper]

Re: FYI--- Gas Caps

Speaking of gas caps, I think of gas tanks. I have only flown on the main since I bought mine. The gas levers inside are not marked! They go from 3 oclock to 6 oclock. Which is on, which is off? JC (wing tank levers that is.)

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: FYI--- Gas Caps

Normal for a control valve is open when the lever is in line with the fuel line and off when it is across it, but on the valves under the panel horizontal is off and vertical is on because you DON'T want that valve sticking down as it's normal position. It will tear your leg up.

On the valves in the wing I only know what they did on my 45 (never checked the later ones). On mine the valve is through the headliner straight out of the wing tank. Down is open and horizontal was closed. Same logic. The only time it was down was to transfer fuel. If you left it down it would remind you to close it when you got out of the plane by splitting your forehead open.

One thing I did find out was that if you want to make sure the fuel transfers when you need it (sometimes it JUST WON'T START DRAINING!) fill the wing FIRST and open the valve till you hear fuel draining. Shut it off and top the wing tank, THEN fill the main. That primes the lines with fuel so it will start to flow easier. It DOES work if you have had a wing tank that refuses to transfer. The other thing I was doing at the airport todsay was putting a new fuel line from the wing to the main to replace the one with that hidden kink!!!

Hank

Soon to be back to using 18 Gal for the first time in years!

[M Towsley]

Re: FYI--- Gas Caps

Hank,

That was it! Hey, don't freeze looking for drawings. It can wait until warmer weather... thanks, though!

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: FYI--- Gas Caps

The drawings SHOULD be at home. They were here before we did the Christmas decorating clean up, now I can't find them (but DID find a bunch of other drawings I am mailing out to other people). I think I must have drawn every part I made for my plane. Lot of aviation archeology. No wonder it is taking me forever to put it back together!
Hank

[M Towsley]

Re: FYI--- Gas Caps

You are the Indiana Jones of Taylorcraft archeology!

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: FYI--- Gas Caps

I wish I was. If I was I would have kept that Waco on floats! I LOVED that plane!
Hank

Running from the giant stone ball rolling down the cave path!

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: FYI--- Gas Caps

Made it out to the airport today and finally found the fuel caps. I think they may be based on the caps you found. If so I will have the originals at home and should be able to get details on the markings for the tabs so you can have the markings engraved in them before you braze them on the caps. The engraver I have been working with should be able to do it if you don't have someone there to do it. Let me know what you find out on the cap availability ad cost. I have a guy here who needs one too.
Hank

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: FYI--- Gas Caps

Tabs on the main cap say "GAS" and "12 GAL"
The wing caps were slightly different. They are based on the same basic cap with a breather tube. One tube looked to me like it has been cut shorter. The tabs on the cap say "GAS" and "6 GAL". One cap has a hole drilled through and the other breaths around the arms on the bottom.
Hank

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: FYI--- Gas Caps

OK, One more set. The previous ones were for a post war plane. These are some extra caps I had with my 41. The one with the HUGE vent tube was on it when I bought it. I'm not sure where I got the rusty one. The main cap looked like the post war one (in fact I'm not sure which one is which).
Hank