Oil tank pressure

[george48pan]

It is 42* outside and I decided to start my bike. I checked the battery voltage and the plug gap. I started kicking to circulate oil through the engine. The cap to the oil tank popped off. I have an aftermarket horseshoe oil tank with a side fill spout welded in. A rubber ribbed cap plugs the fill spout.

I have used straight 70W oil since the 70's and don't recall the cap popping off when kicking the bike over. I was thinking the problem would solve itself when the bike runs and warms up a little. I have a spark but need to replace the gas to get it to run.

Any thoughts on why the cap would pop off? It does not sit in the spout tightly. Maybe the rubber is stiff.

[PanPal]

Sounds like you have a belly full of oil. Don't attempt to top off the oil tank until you are able to run it and pump what's in the belly back to the tank. I hear from guys loosing those caps often. Would like to hear ingenious ways of securing them because I have one mounted on the top of my gas tank next to my gas cap and don't need it popping off and splattering me with hot oil.

[Mongrel505558]

Cap doesn't fit tight enough. I have one of those side fill horseshoe oil tanks and the had that happen. My filler plug has a chrome cap on it with a threaded stud that fastened it to the rubber part. I found a pipe plug with an outside diameter that would slightly expand the rubber "stopper" when pushed into the stopper I.D. I drilled and tapped the blind end of the plug and threaded it onto the stud, using red Locktite. It's a bit stiffer to remove, but it's not going to ever pop out again. You can use anything of the right diameter that can stand up to the hot, oily conditions.

[Mongrel505558]

Cap doesn't fit tight enough. I have one of those side fill horseshoe oil tanks and the had that happen. My filler plug has a chrome cap on it with a threaded stud that fastened it to the rubber part. I found a pipe plug with an outside diameter that would slightly expand the rubber "stopper" when pushed into the stopper I.D. I drilled and tapped the blind end of the plug and threaded it onto the stud, using red Locktite. It's a bit stiffer to remove, but it's not going to ever pop out again. You can use anything of the right diameter that can stand up to the hot, oily conditions.

[Mongrel505558]

I have no idea why my reply posted twice.

[panhead]

I have no idea why my reply posted twice.

That can happen if the network connection is slow.

[george48pan]

Sounds like you have a belly full of oil. Don't attempt to top off the oil tank until you are able to run it and pump what's in the belly back to the tank. I hear from guys loosing those caps often. Would like to hear ingenious ways of securing them because I have one mounted on the top of my gas tank next to my gas cap and don't need it popping off and splattering me with hot oil.

Now I remember ... years ago I was riding and my cap fell off. I replaced it with the a newer ribbed cap. It fit more snug. Maybe it is time to buy a new cap.

Thanks for jogging my memory.