I have a couple loose fuel caps on my PA-28 180. New gaskets but it still will get water in the tank after a rain. It was reported that some gas was leaking from both caps during flight. Can I get new caps to solve the problem or is it more complicated. New tanks installed about 50 flight hours ago...thanks for your input....jerry
Were the gaskets rubber or fiber? The rubber ones tend to be thicker and may seal better. If you had new tanks put on, then you should have the new style stainless steel necks which are actually better at sealing and keeping water out. So the caps feel snug when you close them?
You might take a look at the spring washers under the gaskets as well. Most owners overlook this item when caps leak or tanks take on water because they are unfamiliar with their function. I don't know if they are available from Piper individualy but If they haven't gone completly flat You can work them on a cone mandrel to restore some of thier spring.
Also, if need be, the retainer tabs on the cap can be bent slightly to hold tighter, and the gaskets come in different thicknesses. You don't need new caps (the retainer mechanism is just held into the caps by two machine screws anyway....)
JimC
Jim is correct. Sometimes the retainers under the caps get a groove cut in them from taking on and off. I replaced both retainers on ours, it was no big deal.
Mine are grooved quite deeply at the pair of tabs. Where can I buy new Retainers and gaskets? I assume there is a rebuild kit that might consist of these parts, but haven't been able to find it.
Jim G.
I recently sent my fuel caps out to be cleaned up as they were very corroded. I made the mistake of sending them out with the seals in place. The shop returned them all disassembled. Can anyone help me out in the correct order for the parts? Brass ring, plastic ring, rubber gasket. This is the self-venting type where the air comes in from the underside of the cap down a narrow channel.
Hi Mark, You have the order correct. Against the cap sits the brass spring, then the plastic ring, this allows the cap to turn after the rubber gasket contacts the filler neck. I'm assuming You got new vent valves with Your caps? These are the small red rubber one way "Flapper" type valves in the center of the steel piece. (They are the same part that can be found in the accelerator pump circuits of many motorcraft and autolite carbs). If You have to install them, just lube the stem of the vave and the hole it goes through with a drop of oil and gently pull it through until the first little "Ball" pops through the back side, holding the valve in place. Use loctite on the screws (You don't want to fish those out of Your tank) and Screw the parts together making sure the gasket is centered so it turnd after the screws are snug.
