twink oil filler cap

Post by: **Pistacchio sprint 72** » Sun Feb 10, 2013 4:38 pm

Hello, my oil filler cap aint shiny anymore, the mettalic string is broken. Any advice to make look it good again.

I might be able to solder back in place the string to its plate.

But what about the ternish look of the cap...?

Thanks :mrgreen:

Post by: **RogerFrench** » Sun Feb 10, 2013 5:44 pm

You can polish it on a buffer, or get a beautiful screw-in cap from Ray at Rdent.com - only $49.

No interest other than a satisfied customer, though I don't have his filler cap on either TC engine!

Post by: **oldelanman** » Sun Feb 10, 2013 6:41 pm

The retaining wire is probably stainless steel and therefore would be difficult to solder - you could use a crimp-on electrical ring terminal and remove the coloured insulation sleeve.

: Ring terminal.gif (3.2 KiB) Viewed 2064 times

I think the filler cap itself is also stainless steel - at least mine looks to be - if that is so it should clean up with metal polish.

Post by: **1964 S1** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 4:38 am

? ? ?
Is this a put on?
Stateside, Eric

Post by: **rgh0** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 6:08 am

oldelanman wrote:The retaining wire is probably stainless steel and therefore would be difficult to solder - you could use a crimp-on electrical ring terminal and remove the coloured insulation sleeve.
Ring terminal.gif

I think the filler cap itself is also stainless steel - at least mine looks to be - if that is so it should clean up with metal polish.

Exactly what I have done on mine

cheers
Rohan

Post by: **Pistacchio sprint 72** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 12:50 pm

thanks for the tip.
I will try to do so.

these caps are kind of expensive!

Post by: **Pistacchio sprint 72** » Sat Feb 16, 2013 8:16 am

Ok done!
But the chrome finish on the cap seems unrecoverable...

Post by: **RogerFrench** » Sat Feb 16, 2013 4:54 pm

Have you tried buffing it on a wheel? Something like http://www.anvilfire.com/FAQs/motor_buffer.php

Post by: **Pistacchio sprint 72** » Sat Feb 16, 2013 4:59 pm

Nope.

Post by: **avro** » Sat Feb 16, 2013 10:19 pm

I've just checked with a magnet some old caps that I have in stock and some are stainless steel ( non magnetic) and others with less nickel content (magnetic) With stainless caps they will normally polish up well and their appearance is usually only spoilt by dents and scratches as oposed to a deterioration of the finish . However some of the oil caps on later engines were electro plated. I'm not sure of the exact electroplating process but they were certainly of an inferior quality and it does show after a period of time. The surface corrosion and tarnished finish does not polish out.
You can just prepare and spray paint this type of oil cap using a can of wheel silver or similar paint and the appearance is much improved..

As for the wire, there is a gentleman on ebay who sells new retaining wires with a soldered on eyelet (listed under Lotus Twin Cam parts) and they are supplied with instructions on how to secure the plain end of the wire into the cap. Its a rather cunning and simple idea. You bend the wire tightly back on itself about 3/4 inch from the end and with a pair of pliers crimp the bend tightly together. If you then try and straighten the wire with your fingers it wants to spring back into place. It's this action that retains the wire in the cap!! You simply open up the wire as much as you need to so the end can be inserted in the centre hole of the cap, push it in hard past the kink in the wire and when fully home it springs back into place within the cap and this stops the wire from being pulled back out.

Nick

PS If they're not listed at the moment and anybody wants one, I'll get him to put some more on.